1. The Evolution of Certification Standards in Behavior Analysis
James E. Carr, PhD, BCBA-D
Chief Executive Officer

2. 44 6 20+ 22,000 Today’s Presentation
The History of Behavior Analyst Credentials
The Evolution of BACB Standards
The BACB Today 44 6
20+
22,000
43 years ago
BACB is the 5th credentialing effort
Over 20 times
Over 20,000

3. Professional Credentials
Registration
Certification
Licensure
Protects Public & Profession

4. The History of Professional Credentials
in Behavior Analysis

5. Early Discussion
As the field continues to grow, we can no longer dismiss lightly mundane issues such as standardized training programs and licensing. The days when it was possible to be on a first name basis with all of the behavior modifiers in the country no longer exist. No longer is it possible to list all of the behavior modifiers by listing the past students of Skinner, Bijou, Baer, Michael, Azrin, and the rest. No longer is it possible to list all of the behavior modifiers by references to the university from which they were graduated.
- Thomas (1972)
1972: Conference on Behavior Analysis in Education (Lawrence, KS)
Panel session on certification & licensure

6. Early Discussion
1974: Drake Conference on Professional Issues in Behavior Analysis (Des Moines, IA)
Majority of the program focused on regulation
: Midwestern Association for Behavior Analysis Conventions (Chicago, IL)
1977: MABA Education and Evaluation Committee recommendations
Executive Council added certification as committee function (1978)

7. 1. The Minnesota Certification Program
1975: Hierarchy of ABA positions in state disability system
Placement determined by:
Multiple-choice testing of survey-derived competencies (Sulzer-Azaroff et al., 1975)
Job performance during probationary period

8. Thomas (1979) Behavior Analyst III Behavior Analyst II
Specialist (Sr.)
Specialist
Technician (Sr.)
Technician

9. 2. Association for Behavior Analysis Certification Program
1978: MABA Education and Evaluation Committee recommended two-stage certification model
1-Oral examination on behavioral principles
2-Oral examination and practice assessment
1979: Executive Council approval
: First-stage assessments administered
1986: Executive Council review
1987: Program suspension
1988: Task Force study led to discontinuation
No certifications were granted

10. 3. The Florida Certificate program
Florida Developmental Services Program Office
1975: Workshop series offered around the state
1979: 2-day written exam added to assess workshop effectiveness
Open-ended questions for staff
90% correct
No eligibility requirements
Direct observation added following exam
Several dozen certificates issued

11. 4. The Florida Certification program
CBA: Certified Behavior Analyst
Eligibility: workshops or ABA self-study
Content: State behavior programming manual
1985
95 multiple-choice items +
59 free-response items
1991
Free-response items eliminated (subjectivity & resources)
1994: First Edition Task List
1994: Eligibility changes (BA/BS + 1 course)
1996: Florida Certified Associate Behavior Analyst (CABA)
1998: Second Edition Task List

12. 4. The Florida Certification program
Over 15 years, Florida certified more than 2,000 behavior analysts
1993: Oklahoma used Florida exam
: California, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York

13. 5: Behavior Analyst Certification Board
(1998)
Still have Calirfornia, Illinois, and North Carolina in legistlature

14. 6. US State Licensure: 2016
Still have Calirfornia, Illinois, and North Carolina in legistlature 24

15. The Evolution of BACB Standards

16. Standard 13: Panel Composition
The certification program must use panels of qualified subject-matter experts (SMEs) to provide insight and guidance and to participate in job analysis, standard setting, and other examination development activities.

17. Standards Development
Temporal or Professional Trigger
CEO Presentation to Board
Board of Directors Authorization
Research Compiled/Conducted
SME Workgroup
Report to Board
Board Review & Approval

18. SME Workgroup Diversity

19. When will it end?

20. Eligibility: Degree BCBA BCaBA (masters) 1999 2016 2011 2013
BA, natural science,
education, human services,
engineering, medicine
BA, education,
psychology
Any domain
1999
2016
2011
2013
Any domain
BA, natural science,
education, human services,
engineering, medicine
Any domain
BCaBA
(bachelors)

21. Eligibility: Coursework (BCBA)
270
225
180

22. Eligibility: Coursework (BCaBA)
180
135 90

23. Eligibility: Experience
BCBA
12 mo. supervised experience
18 mo. mentored experience
“behavioral” supervisor
1500 hrs supervised experience*
BCBA supervisor
Required
supervisor
training
1999
2015
2006
6 mo. supervised experience
12 mo. mentored experience
“behavioral” supervisor
1000 hrs supervised experience*
BCBA supervisor
Required
supervisor
training
BCaBA

24. Supervision of BCaBAs BCaBA 1999 2017 2009 2% of services,
Supervisor liability
None (encouraged)
1 hr / month
1999
2017
2009

25. Annual CEU Requirements: BCBA

26. Annual CEU Requirements: BCaBA

27. Ethics Documents 1999 Disciplinary Standards 2001 Conduct Guidelines
timeline
1999 Disciplinary Standards
2001 Conduct Guidelines
2004 revision
2010 revision
2010 Revised Disciplinary Standards
Conduct Guidelines & Standards linked
2016

28. Job Analyses & Task Lists
Versions
1st: 1994 (FL)
2nd: 1998 (FL)
3rd: 2002
4th: 2010
5th Edition Task List
May 2015: initial input surveys
November 2015: workgroup
February 2016: validation survey
June 2016: Board approval
Fall 2016: publication

29. The BACB Today

31. Overall # of BCBAs per Year
19,795

32. Overall # of BCaBAs per Year
22,179
certificants!
2,327

33. Registered Behavior Technicians
15,324

34. Approved Course Sequences
Pre-approved sequences of required coursework in behavior analysis

35. Approved Course Sequences
at 293 Institutions

36. The BACB’s Mission & Vision
Our Global Mission
We protect consumers of behavior analysis services worldwide by systematically establishing, promoting, and disseminating professional standards.
Our Global Vision
Solve a wider variety of socially significant problems by increasing the availability of qualified behavior analysts around the world.

37. BACB Board of Directors
Jonathan Baker, PhD, BCBA-D
Iser DeLeon, PhD, BCBA-D
Eric Larsson, PhD, BCBA-D
Suzanne Letso, MA, BCBA
Mark Lister, BCaBA
Christos Nikopoulos, PhD, BCBA-D
Stephanie Peterson, PhD, BCBA-D
Pamela Skudlarek, RBT
Bridget Taylor, PsyD, BCBA-D
Dianna Varady
Javier Virues-Ortega, PhD, BCBA-D

38. Yearly # of Certificants Outside of the United States
1,764

39. 1,764 Certificants in 70 Countries
31+
11-30
1-10

40. 74 Institutions in 29 Countries
Course Sequences at
74 Institutions in 29 Countries

41. Exam Languages Language BCBA BCaBA English Avail. Spanish Chinese 2017
Hebrew
Italian
Brazilian Portuguese
2016
Russian
Korean
Polish
Japanese
2018
French
Arabic
2019
Hindi
Better relate int’l development to rest of talk

43. Thank you