Behavior Analyst Licensure Program Orientation

Goals of the program To improve current preparation of educators in the Greater St. Louis Area with dedicated coursework that increases program participants’ understanding, competence and skills necessary to providing high quality behavior analytic services to a variety of clients and students in a variety of settings To provide contemporary, best practices-based preparation of professionals who specialize in providing applied behavior analysis services to clients and students To teach students to use empirical evidence to determine the function of client’s problem behaviors and design and implement behavior analytic procedures to decrease problem behaviors and increase replacement behaviors To prepare personnel to educate and support individuals with ASD, which includes autism, Asperger Syndrome, and other pervasive developmental disorders To address the complex needs of students with ASD, including those who require intensive and highly individualized programs, to those who require less intensive modifications to succeed in their educational, functional, and life goals To increase the current body of scholarly and applied knowledge pertaining to the science and practice in area of behavior analysis.

Why? Growing need for Behavior Analysts Need for other professionals who work with individuals with developmental disabilities (OT, teachers, SLPs) to have working knowledge of behavior analytic strategies Insurance requires behavior consultants to be board certified and state licensed BCBA Certification provides an advantage when applying for positions working with individuals with developmental disabilities

Courses To Be Taken SPCED 6630 Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis SPCED 6660 Advanced Principles of ABA SPCED 6325 Advanced Behavior Management SPCED 6620 Assessment and Interventions for Children and Youth with ASD SPCED 6415 The Law and Special Education See attached breakdown of how hours apply to the BCBA requirements

Practicum Courses to be Taken SPCED 6650 Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis SPCED 6670 Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis II All students are required to engage in practicum activities in a work setting for hours weekly (must have onsite BCBA supervisor) Assistance in locating a work assignment will be provided for students who do not currently work in such a setting

Course Schedule Fall 2013 SPCED 6630 Principles of ABA Spring 2014 SPCED 6650 Practicum 1 Summer 2014 SPCED 6660 Advanced Principles of ABA Fall 2014 SPCED 6670 Practicum 2 Other required courses for students who have not obtained their Autism Certificate can be taken at student’s discretion, based on course availability Students take the courses during the above semesters

When? Where? Etc. Courses will meet every other Tuesday evening on the UMSL Campus – Time: 4:30-7:00 pm – Will have assignments/discussions to be submitted online through My Gateway on opposing Tuesdays Courses will be held in Marillac Hall and the South Campus – Sigma Aldrich Room of the TLC for Fall 2013

For Your First Class of Semester Starts 8/20 Syllabus review (see attached) Review of text to buy Review of readings for the first class Please have readings assigned for 8/20 completed PRIOR to the class on 8/20 Please read and review the entire syllabus PRIOR to the class on 8/20

Reminders for Classes Importance of attendance Importance of review of material on My Gateway Considerations for others in class – Phones on vibrate – No texting during class – Will have a 10 minute break during each class to use phone, etc.

Practicum Information See attached syllabus for first practicum Class will be held on campus every other Tuesday Assignments to be completed online on opposing Tuesday 50% of your supervision hour requirements will be completed during these classes both on campus and on My Gateway

Practicum Information Cont. Outside of class – Must work 25 hours per week doing behavior analytic activities in employment/volunteer setting – Complete weekly logs documenting: Your name Dates and hours worked for the week Activities performed each day Signature of your on-site supervisor

Practicum Information cont. Outside of class cont. – Must have onsite supervisor who Is a BCBA in current good standing or approved university supervisor (see attached requirements) Is willing to complete the other 50% of the supervision hours Must have contract with supervisor (see contract-template.pdf for sample contracts) contract-template.pdf If you don’t have access to a BCBA supervisor, we will assist you in finding one. (While we will make every effort to assist you in finding a supervisor who can work with you in your current employment setting, this cannot be guaranteed and you may need to work in another or additional setting to access supervision.

Supervision Requirements Intensive Practicum: Students must complete, with a passing grade, 750 hours of Intensive Practicum in behavior analysis within a university practicum program approved by the BACB and offered for graduate academic credit in order to meet BCBA requirements. – The distribution of Intensive Practicum hours must be at least 10 hours per week, but not more than 25 hours per week for a minimum of 3 weeks per month – In order to complete supervision requirements for practicum, must be 25 hours a week.

Supervision Requirements Cont. 750 total hours – At 25 hours a week, 325 hours will be completed during the Spring 2013 semester 325 completed during Spring 2014 semester 75 hours minimum of supervision – 39 hours will be provided through practicum classes – Must have at least 35 hours provided by onsite supervisor – Must meet with onsite supervisor at least once a week during practicum semesters (some can be through or phone)

Activities that can be counted towards hours (from BACB website) Conducting assessment activities related to the need for 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 such as attending planning meetings regarding the behavior analysis program, researching the literature related to the program, talking to individuals about the program; plus any additional activities related to oversight of behavioral programming such as behavior analyst supervision issues, or evaluation of behavior analysts' performance. The supervisor will determine if activities qualify.

Activities that cannot be counted towards hours (from BACB.COM) attending meetings with little or no behavior analytic content providing interventions that are not based in behavior analysis doing non-behavior analytic administrative activities any other activities that are not directly related to behavior analysis.

Your “to do” List  Enroll in SPCED 6630 for fall 2013 semester  Complete supervisor information form to Lisa  Purchase text for 6630  Complete readings for week of 8/20 and read syllabus for 6630 prior to class  Enroll in other courses needed for coursework at your discretion  Ensure you are enrolled in the graduate school if you have not already done so  Familiarize yourself with My Gateway prior to 8/20  Begin identifying setting for your Spring 2014 practicum (if you are not already in one)

Questions?

Resources Lisa Gilbertsen, MA, BCBA Patricia Kopetz, PhD Behavior Analysis Certification Board information Task List