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BEHAVIOURAL CONSULTATION SERVICES
BCBA/BCaBA Supervision
Supervision for those pursuing certification through the Behaviour Analyst Certification Board (BACB) is available to Instructor Therapists (IT) working with Quinte Assessment and Treatment Group for the hours that are spent delivering ABA-based interventions for the agency’s clients. (For more information about Behaviour Analysis and BCBA/BCaBA Certification see Section below)
The following is a description of the supervised independent fieldwork requirements from the BACB:
To qualify for certification as a BCBA, supervisees must complete 1500 hours of Supervised Independent Fieldwork in behaviour analysis. To qualify under this standard at the BCaBA level, supervisees must complete 1000 hours of Supervised Independent Fieldwork in behaviour analysis. A supervisory period is two weeks. In order to count experience hours within any given supervisory period, supervisees must be supervised at least once during that period for no less than 5% of the total hours spent in Supervised Independent Fieldwork. For example, 20 hours of experience would include at least 1 supervised hour.
ITs at Quinte Assessment and Treatment Group who are enrolled in or who have completed a BACB approved Undergraduate Program in ABA or a BACB approved Masters Program in ABA and have completed the supervisee training module on the BACB website, are eligible to commence the Supervised Independent Fieldwork.
The BACB indicates that for those pursuing BCBA certification, direct implementation of behavioural programs may not count for more than 50% of the total accrued supervised independent fieldwork hours. Direct implementation does not refer to all time spent working with clients. Rather, it refers to time spent delivering therapeutic and instructional procedures. Activities that are not considered direct implementation and thus account for the remaining 50% or greater of the total accrued hours include designing behavioural programs, naturalistic observation, staff and caregiver training, researching the literature related to the program, and conducting assessments related to the need for behavioural intervention.
An individualized supervision contract can be created for all ITs who are interested in Supervised Independent Fieldwork which outlines the expectations for the both the supervisor and the supervisee. For further information please contact Quinte Assessment and Treatment Group.
Behaviour Analysis and BCBA/BCaBA Certification
The field of Behaviour Analysis grew out of the scientific study of principles of learning and behaviour. It has two main branches: experimental and applied behaviour analysis. The experimental analysis of behaviour is the basic science of this field and has over many decades accumulated a substantial and well-respected body of research literature. This literature provides the scientific foundation for applied behaviour analysis, which is both an applied science that develops methods of changing behaviour and a profession that provides services to meet diverse behavioural needs. Briefly, professionals in applied behaviour analysis engage in the specific and comprehensive use of principles of learning in order to address behavioural needs of widely varying individuals in diverse settings. Examples of these applications include: building the skills and achievements of children in school settings; enhancing the development, abilities, and choices of children and adults with different kinds of disabilities; and augmenting the performance and satisfaction of employees in organizations and businesses.
Applied Behaviour Analysis is a well-developed discipline among the helping professions, with a mature body of scientific knowledge, established standards for evidence-based practice, distinct methods of service, recognized experience and educational requirements for practice, and identified sources of requisite education in universities.
The Behaviour Analyst Certification Board®, Inc. (BACB®) is a nonprofit corporation established in 1998 to meet professional credentialing needs identified by behaviour analysts, governments, and consumers of behaviour analysis services.
The BACB has developed:
Board Certified Behaviour Analyst® (BCBA):
BCBAs are Masters level independent practitioners who also may work as employees or independent contractors for an organization. They have completed a minimum of 1500 hours of supervised independent field work under the supervision of a BCBA, have completed the required BACB approved coursework and have passed a comprehensive exam after the completion of fieldwork and coursework.
The BCBA conducts descriptive and systematic behavioural assessments, including functional analyses, and provides behaviour analytic interpretations of the results. The BCBA designs and supervises behaviour analytic interventions. The BCBA is able to effectively develop and implement appropriate assessment and intervention methods for use in unfamiliar situations and for a range of cases. The BCBA seeks the consultation of more experienced practitioners when necessary. The BCBA teaches others to carry out ethical and effective behaviour analytic interventions based on published research and designs and delivers instruction in behaviour analysis. BCBAs supervise the work of Board Certified Assistant Behaviour Analysts and others who implement behaviour analytic interventions.
Board Certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst® (BCaBA):
BCaBAs are undergraduate level practitioners who have completed 1000 hours of supervised independent fieldwork supervised by a BCBA, have completed the required BACB approved coursework, and have passed a comprehensive exam after the completion of fieldwork and coursework. The BCaBA conducts descriptive behavioural assessments and is able to interpret the results and design ethical and effective behaviour analytic interventions for clients. The BCaBA designs and oversees interventions in familiar cases (e.g., similar to those encountered during their training) that are consistent with the dimensions of applied behaviour analysis. The BCaBA obtains technical direction from a BCBA for unfamiliar situations. The BCaBA is able to teach others to carry out interventions once the BCaBA has demonstrated competency with the procedures involved under the direct supervision of a BCBA. The BCaBA may assist a BCBA with the design and delivery of introductory level instruction in behaviour analysis. It is mandatory that each BCaBA practice under the supervision of a BCBA.
The information above as well as additional information about the credentialing process can be found at www.BACB.com.
Created by Laura Campbell, MA, BCBA, June 2015
Laura Campbell is a Senior Therapist, Autism Assessment and Therapy Services and Behavioural Consultant, Behavioural Consultation Services with Quinte Assessment and Treatment Group
