BCBA |

  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a Master’s degree.
  • Actively credentialed BCBA’s have completed extensive professional and educational requirements governed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), and have passed the BCBA Board Exam, which qualifies them to provide professional ABA services to clients.
  • BCBA’s must maintain their Board credential by completing yearly Board-approved educational trainings, and must deliver services that adhere to the BACB’s Professional and Ethical Compliance Codes.

BCaBA | 

  • Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst, with a Bachelor’s degree.
  • Actively credentialed BCBA’s have completed extensive professional and educational requirements governed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), and have passed the BCaBA Board Exam, which qualifies them to provide professional ABA services to clients.
  • In addition to maintaining their credential just as BCBA’s,  BCaBA’s must also receive monthly supervision by a qualified BCBA supervisor throughout the duration of their practice.

RBT |

  • Registered Behavior Technician, with at least a high school diploma and completion of a BACB-approved 40-hour training course.
  • Actively registered RBT’s have completed the required amount of supervised application of ABA services clients, and have passed the BACB’s competency assessment and RBT examination.
  • RBT’s must maintain their Board registration through obtaining monthly supervision requirements by a qualifying BCaBA or BCBA supervisor, complete yearly examinations, and deliver services that adhere to the BACB’s Professional and Ethical Compliance Codes

BT | 

  • Behavior Technician, commonly with no minimum educational requirements.
  • Behavior technicians are not required to complete Board-approved trainings or examinations.  In some cases, Health Insurance Plans and employers require Behavior Technicians to complete training courses and show experience in ABA service delivery.  Additionally, it is a standard practice for Health Plans and employers to require proof of a clean Federal Background Check prior to hire.
  • Behavior Technicians are not required to maintain any Board-related credentials.
  • Note: Behavior Technicians cannot provide ABA services without the active supervision of a BCBA or BCaBA.  Trusting the quality and effectiveness of services delivered by behavior technicians is solely reliant upon you, and the supervising BCBA/BCaBA.  Currently, there are many behavior technicians without an RBT credential who provide exemplary services with high quality supervision however, it is crucial to have proof of their background, conduct, and experience, in addition to proof of the supervising analysts’ active Board credential. 

 

A Tiered Model Of Service Delivery

Source: The BACB | “ABA Guidelines For ASD Treatment”

  • Additional information and visuals to show how ABA professionals deliver ABA Services as a team.

 

How ABA Providers Become Credentialed