How Long Does It Take to Become a BCBA?

If your passion is helping children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, then becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) might be a great career for you. As a BCBA, you will be tasked with administering applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy), following its principles and using various strategies to help children with autism build skills, modify behaviors and grow.

BCBAs play an integral role in children on the autism spectrum building the essential skills they need to live more independently. They have hands-on experience working with children with autism; coordinating with parents, caregivers, teachers and other support personnel; and crafting ABA therapy treatment plans based on data collection and analysis.

As a BCBA, you can make a huge impact in people’s lives.

Since a BCBA has a lot of responsibilities, and must have a wealth of knowledge and experience, it takes a while to get that certification. But, how long does it take to become a BCBA?

Let’s discuss the factors that affect the timeline below.

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What Does It Take to Become a BCBA?

Since BCBAs are essentially the coordinators of ABA therapy —supervising other therapists such as Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) — they must have a combination of education, skills and experience.

There are currently four different pathways that someone can take to become a BCBA, though two of those pathways will be eliminated as of 2027. Therefore, we will concentrate on the remaining two paths only in this article.

There will be either three or four steps that a BCBA candidate must complete before receiving certification, depending on which pathway you take. That includes education, related coursework, supervised field work and an official BCBA examination.

In total, this process will usually take at least eight years, though it could also take 10 years or more depending on your own pace.

Step One: Education Requirements

A BCBA must hold at least a master’s degree.

Pathway 1 is the most streamlined process, as your master’s degree will be all you need. To go this route, the degree you obtain must be accredited or recognized by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI).

For Pathway 2, your master’s degree can be in the field of your choosing, as long as you receive it from a qualifying institution. However, if you go this route, there will be additional coursework that you will need to complete.

Step Two: Additional Coursework

If you take Pathway 1 for your education, you will skip Step 2. The additional coursework is only necessary if you took Pathway 2.

One important thing to note is that starting in 2032, the only way you can become a BCBA is following Pathway 1. So, this will only be an option for you if you have already started your college courses or are close to doing so.

The additional coursework you will be required to take includes various topics about behavior analysis. This includes things such as behavior assessments;  experimental design; the BACB Ethics Code as well as how the code is enforced; data measurement, collection, display and analysis; procedures for behavior changes as well as choosing and implementing certain interventions; and general concepts, principles, professionalism and management of ABA therapy.

Step Three: Supervised Fieldwork

After completing your classroom instruction, you will start to get hands-on experience working in the field of ABA therapy. During this fieldwork, which will be supervised, you will learn how to apply what you learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios.

To become a BCBA, you must first complete 1,500 hours of fieldwork, under a supervisor who is qualified. Every month, 5% of your hours must be supervised, and you must have at least four contacts with your supervisor.

The other option is the concentrated supervised fieldwork path, which requires 2,000 total hours of fieldwork, with 10% of your monthly workload supervised and six monthly contacts with your supervisor.

These hours can be stretched out over longer periods of time, though you must adhere to the standards laid out above, and complete all of the hours within a five-year time period. In addition, you have to accrue at least 20 hours each month, and can’t exceed 130 hours each month.

Of the total hours that you work, 60% at least must be unrestricted. This includes things such as attending meetings with supervised, data analysis, research and writing reports.

A maximum of 40% of your hours can be restricted. This includes working with clients directly to implement any ABA therapy services.

Finally, you can’t have more than half of these hours come in a group setting.

Step Four: Official BCBA Examination

After your supervised fieldwork is completed, you’ll be eligible to take the official BCBA examination.

This test currently has 175 different questions that are multiple-choice, as well as 10 other “pilot questions, which are currently unscored. Every candidate has four hours to complete the 185 total questions.

 

The exam will test your knowledge of various topics, including ethics, behavior assessment, procedures for behavior change, basic principles and concepts, experimental design, personnel management and supervision, and more.

Once you pass this exam, you will receive your official certification and be allowed to work as a BCBA.

Blue Gems ABA’s BCBAs Help Support Children with ASD

Becoming a BCBA takes a lot of hard work and time, but it’s an extremely rewarding career that can make a huge impact in people’s lives. If you want to become a BCBA, planning is critical, as it can take at least eight years to complete all the required steps.

At Blue Gems ABA, we employ a team of experienced and dedicated BCBAs who help administer ABA therapy services to children with ASD. We help children on the autism spectrum build the social, communication and daily life skills with which they commonly struggle.

To learn more, please contact us today.