What Are the Requirements for BCBA Certification?

The requirements for BCBA certification are posted on the BACB website under the section entitled “Become Certified” . Please go to this website and read all of the requirements and FAQs pertaining to BCBA certification before continuing to read this page.

In summary, the requirements include: 

• A Masters or higher degree from an accredited University in the United States or Canada (such as UBC), or from an institution of higher education outside of the U.S. or Canada that meets specific requirements.

• Approved graduate coursework totaling 225 contact hours and covering specific content areas. In February, 2005, the BACB approved a series of five graduate courses at the University of British Columbia (UBC) as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the BCBA examination. Applicants will also have to meet all of the other requirements to qualify.

• Completion of a specified number of hours of supervised experience that meet the BACB requirements. Supervised experience is not available through UBC at the present time; students must make their own arrangements in this regard – see FAQ.

Individuals who meet all of these requirements may apply to the BACB to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst examination. ONLY individuals who achieve a passing grade on this exam can refer to themselves as Board Certified Behavior Analysts.

What Are the Coursework Requirements Available at UBC?

Five graduate courses in the Dept. of Educational and Counseling Psychology and Special Education (ECPS) at UBC have been approved as meeting the BCBA coursework requirement. These courses may be taken in conjunction with an M.Ed., M.A, or Ph.D. degree in ECPS or another UBC Department; or (for individuals who already have Masters degree or higher) as individual courses in which students are enrolled as “unclassified students.” The five approved courses are as follows:

* EPSE 504, Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credits; no prerequisite). This course is offered online annually, during the September semester.

* EPSE 532, Assessment and Positive Behavior Support in School and Community Settings (3 credits; no prerequisite). This course is offered on the UBC campus and is taught during the September semester. It is a prerequisite for EPSE 514.

* EPSE 514, Seminar in Functional Assessment and Positive Behavior Support (3 credits; prerequisite: EPSE 532). This course is offered on the UBC campus and is taught during the January semester.

* EPSE 513, Seminar in Developmental Disabilities (3 credits; no prerequisite). This course is offered on the UBC campus and is taught in even years during the Summer semester (e.g., 2008, 2010, etc.).

* EPSE 593, Research Methods for Small Samples and Single Subjects (3 credits; no prerequisite). This course is offered on the UBC campus and is taught in odd years during the September semester (e.g., 2009, 2011, etc.)