BCBA Handbook - Requirements for Obtaining and Maintaining BCBA Certification

Sep 19, 2026

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BCBA Handbook outlines eligibility requirements and ongoing obligations for obtaining and maintaining BCBA certification, including requirements effective January 1, 2022. Applicants and certificants must comply with handbook instructions, or face summary action such as suspension, revocation, or invalidation, and/or submission of a Notice of Alleged Violation to the BACB Ethics Department. The handbook also provides navigation via clickable links, PDF bookmarks, and a clickable Table of Contents icon, and explains exam version timing for future-year applications.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages72

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Overview

About the Behavior Analyst Certification Board

What Is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst?

Jurisdiction

Accreditation

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Pathways

Supervised Fieldwork Requirements

Applying for BCBA Certification

Submit Your Application

Schedule Your Examination Appointment

Fees

Examination

Examination Development

Preparation

Examination Outline

Scheduling

Pearson VUE Examination Fees

Examination Accommodations

What to Expect on Examination Day

General Rules for Taking the Examination

Examination Terms and Conditions

This handbook describes the requirements for obtaining and maintaining BCBA certification, including the eligibility requirements that went into effect on January 1, 2022. Applicants and certificants must comply with the requirements outlined in this handbook. Failure to do so may result in the BACB taking summary action (e.g. , suspension, revocation, invalidation) against your eligibility or certification and/or submitting a Notice of Alleged Violation to the BACB Ethics Department. This handbook contains clickable images that link directly to BACB documents and web pages. To help with navigation, this handbook also includes PDF bookmarks and a clickable Table of Contents icon ) on the corner of each page. New versions of the BCBA Handbook will be published quarterly as needed. Applicants completing requirements in a future year should make note of upcoming implementation dates for revised requirements, as they must meet the requirements in place at the time they apply and take the version of the examination in effect when they schedule their examination appointment. Please refer to the BACB Newsletter and the Upcoming Changes webpage for the most updated information on future certification requirements. The BACB does not discriminate against any individual because of race, ethnicity, gender, age, creed, disability, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin. Allegations of discrimination can be reported via our Administrative Appeal Request Form. For a complete list of updates included in this version of the BCBA Handbook, please see page 67. The BACB reserves the right to amend the procedures outlined in this handbook. Copyright © 2022 by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®, Inc. (“BACB®”), all rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, copying, or transmission in any medium is strictly prohibited. ®The trademarks “Behavior Analyst Certification Board®, Inc. ,”“BACB®,”“Board Certified Behavior Analyst®,”“BCBA®,”“Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst®,”“BCaBA®,” and “RBT®,” are owned by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® . Unauthorized use or misrepresentation is strictly prohibited. Updated 03/2023, Copyright© 2023, BACB® | All rights reserved. Behavior Analyst Certification Board | Board Certified Behavior Analyst® Handbook | ii Contents Overview................................................................................................................ 1 About the Behavior Analyst Certification Board ............................................................................................................ 1 What Is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst? .................................................................................................................. 1 Jurisdiction ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Accreditation ............................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Eligibility Requirements ......................................................................................... 5 Eligibility Pathways ................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Supervised Fieldwork Requirements ..............................................................................................................................14 Applying for BCBA Certification .......................................................................... 26 Submit Your Application .................................................................................................................................................... 26 Schedule Your Examination Appointment ......................

FAQs

When did the eligibility requirements go into effect for BCBA certification?

The handbook states that the eligibility requirements took effect on January 1, 2022.

What happens if applicants or certificants do not comply with the handbook requirements?

Noncompliance may lead the BACB to take summary action (such as suspension, revocation, or invalidation) against eligibility or certification, and/or submit a Notice of Alleged Violation to the BACB Ethics Department.

How should applicants handle revised requirements in future years?

Applicants completing requirements in a future year must note implementation dates and meet the requirements in place when they apply and take the version of the examination in effect when scheduling their appointment.

Sep 19, 2026

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