1. Certification in Behavior Analysis Florida International University Department of Psychology

2. About Behavior Analysis • The field of Behavior Analysis grew out of the scientific study of principles of learning and behavior. • Two branches • Experimental Analysis of Behavior: A natural science approach to the study of behavior as a subject matter founded by Skinner. • Applied Behavior Analysis: This science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior are applied to improve socially significant behavior.

3. About the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) • The Behavior Analyst Certification Board is a nonprofit corporation established in 1998 to meet professional credentialing needs identified by behavior analysts, governments, and consumers of behavior analysis services. • The BACB adheres to the national standards for boards that grant professional credentials. • Certifications from the BACB are national.

4. What is a Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst and Board Certified Behavior Analyst? • Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) is a certification conferred by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) • A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is requried

5. WHAT DOES A BCaBA DO? • Conducts descriptive behavioral assessments • Interprets results from assessments • Designs ethical and effective behavior-analytic treatment plans for clients • Oversees implementation of programming in familiar cases (e.g., similar to those encountered during their training) • Teach others to carry out interventions once the BCBA has trained the BCaBA BCaBAs must be supervised by a BCBA

6. Skills Required to Work as a BCaBA • BCaBAs must be able to work in a variety of settings comfortably dealing with people with behavior problems. • Must be a team player (many times behavior analysts are part of treatment teams) • They must be good observers, detail-oriented, compassionate, and possess excellent written and communication skills.

7. WHERE DO BCaBAS WORK? Most BCaBAs work in settings such as: • Clinics • Private family homes • Group homes • Foster homes • Residential facilities • Assisted living facilities • Schools • Hospitals

8. Job Opportunities • Board Certified assistant Behavior Analysts are in demand • BCaBAs can work as consultants or employees • BCaBA consultants in Miami are typically paid approximately $25 to $35 an hour. • BCaBA employees in Miami are typically paid a salary of approximately $30,000 to $40,000 a year

9. How do I become certified? • You need to meet three requirements to become ELIGIBLE to take the BCaBA certification exam. • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university • 180 hours of coursework in behavior analysis • 1000 hours of independent supervised fieldwork • Upon completing the requirements for the certification exam, you must apply to take the exam, and then pass the exam to become board certified.

10. BACB Coursework Requirement • The applicant must complete a total of 135 classroom hours of instruction in behavior analysis. These hours must be allocated as per the BACB requirements in specific content areas: • A. Ethical & Professional Conduct – 15 hours • Concepts & Principles of Behavior Analysis – 45 hours • Research Methods in Behavior Analysis – 15 hours • Applied Behavior Analysis – 90 hours • Discretionary – 15 hours

11. FIU Undergraduate Behavior Analysis Course Sequence The FIU behavior analysis course sequence is approved by the BACB as meeting the course content requirements for the certification: • EAB 3002:  Introduction to Experimental Analysis of Behavior (3 credits) • EAB 4794: Theories and Principles of Behavior Modification (3 credits) • EAB 3765:  Behavior Analysis of Child Behavior Problems (3 credits) • EAB 4798: Single Case Methods (3 credits) • PSY 4931: Senior Seminar in Behavior Analysis (2 credits)* * Only the “Behavior Analysis” section counts toward certification For more information visit http://casgroup.fiu.edu/behavior

12. Who teaches these courses? • As per BACB requirements, all courses are taught by Board Certified Behavior Analysts. • The behavior analysis faculty include: • Dr. Maricel Cigales, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Program Director • Dr. Anibal Gutierrez, Ph.D., BCBA-D • Dr. David Lubin, Ph.D., BCBA • Adam Ventura, M.S., BCBA  • Sara Richardson, M.S., BCBA • Alejandro Dominguez, M.S., BCBA

13. BACB Fieldwork Requirement • Applicants must complete 1000 hours of Supervised Independent Fieldwork in behavior analysis.  • The distribution of Supervised Independent Fieldwork hours must be at least 10 hours per week, but not more than 30 hours per week, for a minimum of 3 weeks per month.  • Applicants must be supervised at least once every 2 weeks for 5% of the total hours they spend in Supervised Independent Fieldwork.  A supervisory period is two weeks. • Applicants may not start accumulating experience until they have begun the behavior analysis coursework.

14. BACB Fieldwork Requirements

15. BACB Fieldwork Requirement • How do I find a site to accumulate my fieldwork hours? • There are several agencies in Miami that have created paid internships to meet the BACB fieldwork requirements. • Can I have multiple supervisor? • The BACB encourages applicants to have experiences in multiple sites and with multiple supervisors. 

16. BACB Fieldwork Requirement • What activities are appropriate for Independent Supervised Fieldwork? • Conducting assessment activities related to the development of behavioral interventions • Designing, implementing, and monitoring behavior analysis programs for clients • Overseeing the implementation of behavior analysis programs by others • Other activities normally performed by a behavior analyst that are directly related to behavior analysis (e.g., researching the literature related to the program)

17. BACB Fieldwork Requirement • Where does supervision occur, and does it need to be documented? • The supervisor (i.e., BCBA) must observe the applicant engaging in behavior-analytic activities in the natural environment at least once every two weeks.  The supervisor must provide specific feedback to applicant on his/her performance. Half of the supervision meetings can be via webcam or in small groups. • Supervisors are responsible for providing documentation for each supervisory period on a feedback form provided by the BACB. 

18. When can I take the exam? • Exams are administered four times per year. Go to http://www.bacb.com/index.php?page=64for details. • Exams are computer-based and offered at various testing sites. • Upon meeting all of the requirements for the certification exam, you to your preferred exam administration

19. BACB information For more information regarding behavior analyst certification, visit: www.BACB.com