RECENT UPDATES

The BACB is thrilled to announce the release of 4 new resources for BCBA/BCBA-D and BCaBA applicants and certificants.

NEW RESOURCES
BCBA Handbook	These handbooks outline the current eligibility and maintenance requirements for BCBA/BCBA-D and BCaBA certification.
BCaBA Handbook
BCBA 2022 Eligibility Requirements	These handbooks outline the new eligibility requirements that will be implemented in 2022 for BCBA/BCBA-D and BCaBA certification.
BCaBA 2022 Eligibility Requirements

The release of these handbooks has prompted certain changes to the BACB’s website, including web-page integrations and updates. Now, all of the most important BCBA and BCaBA information, including resource documents previously located on our website (e.g., Experience Standards), can be found in the handbooks in an organized, easy-to-navigate format. To learn more about these new resources, please check out the most recent episode of the Inside the BACB podcast, Introducing the BCBA and BCaBA Handbooks.

Update: The nominations window has now closed. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
The deadline to submit a nomination for the BACB’s Board of Directors has been extended to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, 2020. If you have not yet submitted a nomination, we highly encourage you to do so by visiting our Call for Nominations web page. Remember that self-nomination is permitted.

Update: The nominations window has now closed. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

The BACB is holding nominations for two openings on its Board of Directors. BCBA/BCBA-D and BCaBA certificants may submit nominations, and self-nomination is permitted. For more information and to submit a nomination, please visit our Call for Nominations web page. Nominations will be accepted until 5 p.m. MST on Tuesday, November 17, 2020.

A number of new BCBA and BCaBA eligibility requirements will go into effect in 2022. We recently received several requests to delay the implementation of these requirements from individuals who were planning to apply prior to 2022 under the existing requirements, but whose progress has been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We feel for the students and trainees in this situation. Because the BACB is not permitted to accept two different sets of certification standards during the same time period, the BACB Board of Directors considered the possibility of a delayed implementation of the 2022 requirements. Given how the 2022 BCBA and BCaBA eligibility requirements (i.e., degree, coursework, fieldwork) were developed and how our certification programs are accredited, it is not possible to delay only one requirement (e.g., fieldwork). Thus, the Board considered the feasibility and various impacts of delaying all of the 2022 requirements. Among their considerations were:

• possible negative impacts on individuals planning to apply in 2022 under the new requirements (e.g., new fieldwork requirements are not backward compatible with existing requirements, individuals with academic degrees that do not currently qualify but will in 2022)
• possible negative impacts on university training programs that have already been training under the 2022 requirements
• possible negative impacts on the profession (e.g., delayed implementation of more rigorous requirements)
• potential confusion for students, trainees, supervisors, and faculty who have been preparing for the 2022 requirements since their announcements 3+ years ago
• the availability of our existing compassionate appeal process for special circumstances

Ultimately, the Board decided to proceed with the originally planned 2022 implementation of the new BCBA and BCaBA eligibility requirements. Guidance. We offer the following guidance for BCBA and BCaBA trainees who are unsure whether they will be able to apply prior to 2022. First, we encourage a careful self-audit of all requirements that have been completed and those that will likely be completed in the next 14 months. Faculty and supervisors should be able to assist with this process. This audit should include a determination of whether existing COVID-19 temporary allowances are relevant. Students and trainees who are still uncertain about when they will apply should review our BCBA and BCaBA transition resource documents. In general, if students and trainees are unsure whether they will be able to apply before 2022, we recommend meeting both the current and 2022 requirements to be safe. Finally, if a student or trainee has taken all of these steps and is not able to meet the 2022 requirements as a direct result of the pandemic, they should review our compassionate appeal process (located within the Administrative Appeal Request Form). This process was specifically designed to provide flexibility to individuals who can demonstrate that extenuating circumstances prevented them from meeting BACB certification requirements. Keep in mind, however, that submitting a compassionate appeal will not guarantee an extension and that the outcome will be based on a full analysis of how the pandemic has impacted the training timeline.

As one of the oldest organizations in a young profession, the BACB and its functions are often surrounded by misconceptions. To learn the surprising truths behind these common misunderstandings, join CEO Dr. Jim Carr and Deputy CEO Dr. Melissa Nosik as they explore the BACB’s history and more in the latest episode of Inside the BACB.

The BACB is pleased to call for nominations for the 2021 Michael Hemingway Behavior Analysis Award. In memory of the life and contributions of Michael Hemingway, this annual award honors an individual distinguished for their contributions to public policy related to behavior analysis and/or for their efforts to increase the availability of behavior-analytic services.

We are accepting nominations until 5:00 PM MST on October 20, 2020.

The BACB is sad to announce that Dr. José Martinez-Diaz passed away suddenly on September 21, 2020. José served on the BACB Board of Directors from 2004 to 2011 and made meaningful contributions to the organization’s early infrastructure. He also contributed greatly to ABA service delivery, public policy, and university training. José had a big heart and positively impacted thousands of lives. Thank you, José. We will miss you.
 

We are pleased to share updated demographic and practice-area data from BACB certificants. These data are available on the BACB Certificant Data web page and will be updated periodically as certificants update their account information. Many thanks to those who have already done so, as your input has made it possible for us to publish this preliminary snapshot of certificant characteristics.

The BACB has recently experienced delays in RBT application processing. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience, as we understand the importance of credentialing to the profession and that any delay is critical to many of you. We are working as quickly as possible to process your applications and have implemented new systems that will allow us to better manage the greater-than-expected growth of our profession.

We are pleased to announce that we are now processing applications received less than a week ago and should be back to our historical 1-2 day turnaround within a week or so. For current processing times, please visit our Customer Service Updates web page.

In the most recent addition to the BACB blog, we define important examination terms and debunk common myths and misconceptions surrounding the examination-development process. Read on to find out who writes examination questions, how examinations measure success, and much more.