It's long, I don't feel very super competent doing it. I became a bcaba about 6 months ago. It takes so long and no company ever pays me the hours it takes for me to write.
Please don't judge. I'm venting, but also looking for some advice. Has anyone felt this way at first or still or ever?
I get anxiety thinking of the next BIP I have to write or reauthorization. I also feel like it's completely unfair that I barely get paid for it. Like 2 hours for endless hours of work.
I've been working at a new job around 3 months and hate it. I thought I'd like it since I worked in a clinic as an rbt, but as a bcba it is incredibly overstimulating and overwhelming. I honestly also don't feel like the higher ups like me and am receiving a lot of micro aggressions that add up. 3 days last week I was trying not to cry going into work. Would 1 month be adequate notice?
For context, I’m an RBT. I have been my kiddos RBT for 3 1/2 years. I have noticed, almost like CLOCKWORK-around the same time each year…the same behaviors return. I noticed around October of EACH year…he really struggles with falling to the ground as escape/struggles with control.
Every year, without fail. I began to notice this happened in 2024…then 2025…and again this October.
His routines have ALWAYS been the same. He only started school this year and he is definitely still adjusting to that.
But that’s not the only thing I have noticed! He also is interested in certain songs depending on the time of year. Every October, it’s one song specifically. Every August, it’s where is thumbkin.
I’m sure there is other variables that I guess remind him? I don’t know. I sound like a crazy person right now lol but man i do observe certain behaviors and interests to be cyclical. I’m just curious if anyone has experienced this with their clients where things return on certain dates/anniversaries.
Am I allowed to classify myself as a BCBA on linked in? Or do I need to await licensure? I know that I have to continue practicing under an LBA until licensure but what about saying I’m a “ BCBA at __( insert company name) “if not, what is the proper title? Would it still be behavior analyst trainee?
EDIT: I passed my exam and some supervisors are telling me mixed things- some say I can call myself a BCBA just obviously avoid LBA / practicing as a BCBA without license but others say without license in Arizona I still can’t call myself a BCBA
Hi everyone! I am a fresh grad student, and recently began accruing hours! I was collecting restricted/unrestricted hours pretty consistently for a few months, then switched companies so I went from just being a BT to a case manager (exciting). With that being said I did not log hours for 2 months (yikes IK). Overall, I am just looking for some encouragement and wise words from others! How long did it take you to accrue hours? any tips?
Also, how does everyone feel about paying for supervision, is it worth it?
Help! I am in an underserved area and after going into (and commuting daily for) clinic based work for the last 4 years I am burnt out. I’m missing the flexibility in my schedule when I need it, not feeling so micro managed, and dealing with way more work than what I’m paid for. I am really interested in providing direct BCBA services in my surrounding area and maybe eventually taking on RBTs in the future. But I have no experience with the billing and insurance side. I am trying to find resources or consulting on REALLY breaking down the steps on how to go independent, in an explain-it-like-I’m-5 way lol. I would love to transition to this in the next year but I just need help on exactly how to start. Any resources or BCBAs who love helping w this?
Currently practicing in a clinical setting but looking for career growth opportunities and I have an interview scheduled for a “supervisor of behavior supports” in a school district. Anyone that can share what their experience has been like in a position like this ?
I took the exam in July and did not pass. I’ve been studying intermittently since then. I want to test again in November before my RBT credential expires but I have no motivation and am not sure how to study. Everyone tells me to just review the sections that I struggled with but it doesn’t feel like I’m doing enough. I don’t know if I’ll be ready to retest? Any advice would be appreciated 😫
It just occurred to me that there is a TV show that uses stimulus shape transformation called “WordWorld”, I know Daniel Tiger does an excellent job of video modeling. I haven’t watched it but I suspect that Bluey does the same but it’s modeling extends to parents as well. Do you have other recommendations for shows that are effective and adhere to behavior analytic principles?
I'm looking for clarification on this RBT application form.
I reside in NJ.
I am a school direct-hire para and my BCBA is also school based, direct -hire.
I am looking for finish up my RBT documentation so that I can schedule the exam.
This form, attached below, has been a problem.
I have asked HR about this section and besides the " archive fingerprints" ( which I have processed recently ),there is not much that they say they can do..
The BCBA has left the spot blank, although " unavailable" could be an option.
I have talked to the BCBA and it is NOT clear yet if the BCBA or HR should/ could initiate the Child Abuse registry check on my behalf.( as per info I see online, I can NOT initiate/ should not this process myself as an employee/ unlicensed individual.
I just do not want to submit to BACB with a blank spot ( that spot) as I have submitted before with other errors and I don't want to do that anymore.
ALSO , above that spot, the date of the updated archived fingerprints( I'm assuming the archived fingerprints - please confirm if you can), should be checked in which box?
The background check was conducted:
-On the Date ............(within 180 days of application being submitted)
A BCBA is beginning services with a 10-year-old who has a history of severe aggression. Record review reveals: (1) a rare metabolic disorder documented in the medical record, (2) prior use of a loud alarm as a punisher that was associated with significant distress, (3) a strong preference for puzzles, and (4) grade-level reading skills.
Before selecting initial assessment conditions and candidate treatment stimuli, which information MOST warrants direct follow-up because it could materially affect safety or treatment planning?
A. The alarm-treatment history and puzzle preference, because both warrant consideration when selecting stimuli and potential reinforcers.
B. The medical note and alarm-treatment history, because both could materially affect safe assessment and treatment planning.
C. The medical note and reading level, because both warrant consideration when arranging instructions and assessment demands.
D. The medical note and puzzle preference, because both warrant consideration when arranging session conditions and potential reinforcers.
Hi, I work at a school district as Para SpEd. I have a Bachelor's in Psychology. I have always wanted to be a BCBA since I learned about the field. I did not get a chance to do it for personal reasons. Now, I want to pursue it but because of my age (46 y/o) I can't afford to make a mistake because of finances. I've saved up enough money to pay for tuition. I have 14 years total experience in Early Childhood Ed. I wanted to be an RBT but there's not a lot of clinics in Reno, NV that offer health insurance. I am planning on looking for a part-time RBT position with afternoon-evening hours.
Also, if it is worth it. Can someone tell me how to best proceed?
Overall: I’m honestly at the point where I’m questioning why I’m still here. I want to do good clinical work, not constantly fight to get basic concerns taken seriously. At what point do you accept that the problem isn’t how you’re raising concerns, but the organization you’re raising them to?
My go-to manager has never even worked with a child with autism, and, it shows. She’s 20 and making clinical decisions without actual ABA experience. Her only apparent qualification is being related to the owner.
Reported suspected billing fraud and got brushed off. I raised concerns about therapists reporting hours that didn’t match what was actually happening, and basically got told to mind my business. It makes me question whether anyone actually cares about billing accuracy.
Whenever I report a serious safety issue, I get crickets. A student was repeatedly trying to throw himself out through a second-floor window with no window guard. I asked the parents three times and tried escalating it, and couldn’t even get a return phone call from the office. Apparently, that wasn’t urgent enough.
Therapist misconduct gets five minutes of attention and then disappears. Fake data, ignoring feedback, and allegedly cursing at parents. I’ve raised these concerns, and nothing meaningful seems to happen. Meanwhile, let me take too long to respond to an email and suddenly everyone knows how to follow up.
Scheduling is a constant mess. Cancellations, early departures, inconsistent communication, and discrepancies in reported hours. I’ve escalated these issues across multiple cases, and somehow I keep ending up in the same position.
The people I’m told to go to for support are the problem. I’m repeatedly directed back to the same people I’ve already approached without getting anywhere. Then the focus shifts to who I should have contacted instead of addressing what I actually reported.
Has anyone used the ABA Made Simple mock exams to prepare for the BCBA exam? If so, what were your thoughts on them? 😊 Were the questions similar in difficulty and wording to the actual BCBA exam? I’m curious to hear how well they prepared you and whether you felt they were a good representation of the real exam! Any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated! 🤍
Haha, title kind of describes it. I understand that becoming a BCBA is a long term commitment that takes financial investment. But between my Masters student loans, housing, and I was recently married I just can’t scale together a 5-800$ study platform. Any tips for passing on a budget? I have a cooper book I plan on reading every day but I have heard that this isn’t enough. PSA I am testing after 2027.
I am currently in a bachelor's program for psychology of ABA at Purdue Global (I know, I know). Before any of you tell me how much this school sucks, just know it was basically my only option at the time, but I still should've made a better choice. Now I feel so stupid. I knew that PG was not ABAI accredited, but I didn't think this would ever be a problem. I'm scared that they will not become accredited in 2032 when pathway 2 is going away, and my entire degree will be for nothing.
I am expected to graduate with my master's in ABA at Purdue by 2029 by the latest, and that just leaves a very small window of time before the pathway 2 goes away. I only chose Purdue because I didn't have very good grades from my previous college, and Purdue was the only college to accept me. I know that some people think it is a diploma mill, but I read some reviews on here from BCBAs that went to PG and say it was fine. I do a lot of extra reading and learning outside of class time to supplement my learning because I know that some people think the quality of education at PG is low. I can't say for sure if it is because I have only gone to one other local community college before this for a year and a half.
What can I do? I have tried looking into transferring colleges, and basically no other programs accept PG transfer credits. I feel so discouraged because I am already in so much debt and I cannot afford to restart school. If I can't get my BCBA by 2032, then I have no choice but to quit the field entirely and find something else to do. I have been an RBT for 5 years now, and I can't see myself doing anything else. Being a BCBA is my dream. Now I'm also scared that I won't be as good as a BCBA as others are because I got a subpar education from PG.
Anyone with advice, please help me because I'm literally freaking out!
🧠 Question of the Day
📚 Domain B — Concepts and Principles
Difficulty: 5/10
A teacher contingently removes a student from the classroom following each instance of disruptive behavior. During removal, access to classroom activities, peers, and teacher attention is unavailable. Across subsequent sessions, the rate of disruptive behavior decreases. Which option MOST accurately classifies this procedure and explains the basis for that classification?
A. Negative punishment, because access to reinforcing classroom events is withdrawn after disruption and the behavior decreases.
B. Negative reinforcement, because leaving the classroom removes demands and therefore increases disruptive behavior over time.
C. Positive punishment, because the teacher adds an aversive event after disruption and the behavior subsequently decreases.
D. Response cost, because a specified amount of an already available reinforcer is removed after each instance of disruption.
💬 Drop your answer in the comments — no peeking!
✅ Correct answer revealed tomorrow.
Hello everyone, I am examining the operational workflows surrounding student behavioral documentation, IEP/504 progress monitoring, and compliance record-keeping in K-12 special education. Maintaining detailed, chronologically accurate records of behavioral interventions, especially for manifestation determination reviews and parent audits, frequently creates a heavy administrative bottleneck for school teams.
I would appreciate your professional insights on the following:
Current Systems: What primary methods or tools (e.g., paper logs, internal spreadsheets, specialized software) are currently utilized for daily behavioral tracking?
Time Investment: Approximately how many hours per week do staff dedicate to organizing, transcribing, or compiling these records into formal compliance reports?
Documentation Bottlenecks: What is the primary friction point when preparing defensible records for administrative, legal, or parent reviews?
This question is meant for BCBAs and administrative staff who have experience working for both PE owned and Privately owned ABA Companies and can give some insight into the differences and similarities in working for both. What stood out as the most obvious difference(s) between the two and what are some things that were similar? Also, which one do you prefer and why? Thanks
TL;DR: I completed my master’s at Capella in 2020 and additional BCBA bridge coursework at FIT in 2024. Now neither university will complete my Pathway 2 attestation. FIT has a policy against attesting to combined coursework, despite my completing the courses before the policy was communicated. Has anyone experienced this or found a resolution?
I’m reaching out to see if anyone in the ABA community has experienced a similar situation or has any advice on how to move forward.
I’ve been working toward becoming a BCBA since 2018, and I’m currently feeling incredibly discouraged after spending years pursuing this certification.
I completed my Master’s in Psychology with a specialization in ABA through Capella University in 2020 under the BACB’s 4th Edition coursework requirements. I was previously approved by the BACB to sit for the BCBA examination.
In 2024, knowing that I needed to satisfy the updated coursework requirements, I enrolled in additional bridge courses through Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). I completed these courses successfully and paid for them out of pocket. My understanding when enrolling was that these courses, combined with my previous graduate coursework, would allow me to meet the updated educational requirements.
Now, in 2026, I’m preparing to submit a new application under Pathway 2 before the requirements change in 2027, and I’ve encountered a significant issue. Neither university is willing to complete my Pathway 2 coursework attestation.
Capella has explained that because my original coursework was completed under the 4th Edition requirements, they cannot independently attest that I meet the current requirements. They have offered to provide the Inter-University Partial Coursework Communication Form to assist with the evaluation of my combined coursework.
FIT, however, has informed me that it implemented a policy in 2025 stating that it will not complete attestations for students who did not complete their entire coursework sequence through FIT. The frustrating part is that I completed my bridge coursework in 2024, before this policy was introduced.
I specifically enrolled in those courses to meet the updated BACB requirements. Had I known that FIT would later refuse to evaluate or attest to coursework completed across institutions, I would have made different educational decisions.
I’ve contacted the BACB directly and was informed that either institution may submit the attestation, provided the institution is willing and able to evaluate the coursework.
I’ve spent the past several weeks communicating with both universities. Unfortunately, Capella continues to refer me to FIT, and FIT maintains that its policy does not permit exceptions.
I’m currently in communication with FIT’s academic coordinator and continuing to advocate for a resolution.
What makes this particularly difficult is that I’ve invested years of education, supervised fieldwork, and thousands of dollars toward this goal. I currently work as a Licensed Behavior Specialist and remain extremely passionate about the field of ABA.
I’m not asking either university to attest to coursework that doesn’t meet the requirements. I’m simply asking for my combined coursework to be reviewed to determine whether it meets the current standards, rather than being unable to move forward because of an institutional policy that was implemented after I completed my education. I’m wondering if anyone here has experienced something similar:
Has anyone completed their original ABA coursework at Capella and later taken bridge courses through FIT?
Has anyone successfully obtained a Pathway 2 attestation using coursework from two different universities?
Has anyone dealt with a university changing its attestation policy after coursework was already completed?
Does anyone know whether there are additional avenues for requesting a formal review or escalating this situation?
I’ve worked toward becoming a BCBA for nearly eight years, and it’s incredibly disheartening to feel like I’m at a standstill over an attestation process after completing the additional education I believed was necessary.
I’m hoping someone here might have insight, guidance, or a similar experience to share. I genuinely want to find a way to move forward without having to repeat coursework I’ve already completed and paid for.
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this or offer advice.
