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Exam Information
Official specifications published by BACB
Exam Format
240 min
185
Graduate
Registration
$125 USD
Pearson VUE
English
Validity
2 years (recertification cycle)
32 CEUs every 2 years (including 4 ethics and 4 supervision CEUs for supervisors); Retake and pass current BCBA examination
BCBA Exam Topics and Domains
BCBA is organized into 9 weighted domains.
1
A. Behaviorism and Philosophical Foundations
5%
Goals of behavior analysis as a science
- description
- prediction
- control
- Understanding scientific goals
- Distinguishing between goals
Identify the goals of behavior analysis as a science (i.e., description, prediction, control)
Philosophical assumptions
- selectionism
- determinism
- empiricism
- parsimony
- pragmatism
- Understanding each assumption
- Application to practice
Explain the philosophical assumptions underlying the science of behavior analysis
Radical behaviorism
- radical behaviorism
- private events
- behavior perspective
- Radical behaviorism principles
- Distinguishing from other approaches
Explain behavior from the perspective of radical behaviorism
Distinguishing behavior analysis fields
- behaviorism
- experimental analysis
- applied behavior analysis
- professional practice
- Distinguishing between fields
- Identifying characteristics of each
Distinguish among behaviorism, the experimental analysis of behavior, applied behavior analysis, and professional practice guided by the science of behavior analysis
Dimensions of ABA
- applied
- behavioral
- analytic
- technological
- conceptually systematic
- effective
- generality
- Seven dimensions of ABA
- Identifying examples of each dimension
Identify and describe dimensions of applied behavior analysis
2
B. Concepts and Principles
14%
Basic behavioral units
- behavior
- response
- response class
- stimulus
- stimulus class
- Identifying examples
- Distinguishing between concepts
- Identify and distinguish among behavior, response, and response class
- Identify and distinguish between stimulus and stimulus class
Types of conditioning
- respondent conditioning
- operant conditioning
- classical conditioning
- Identifying examples of each
- Key differences
Identify and distinguish between respondent and operant conditioning
Reinforcement and punishment
- positive reinforcement
- negative reinforcement
- positive punishment
- negative punishment
- Identifying contingency types
- Effects on behavior
- Identify and distinguish between positive and negative reinforcement contingencies
- Identify and distinguish between positive and negative punishment contingencies
Types of consequences
- automatic reinforcement
- socially mediated
- unconditioned
- conditioned
- generalized
- Identifying types
- Examples of each
- Identify and distinguish between automatic and socially mediated contingencies
- Identify and distinguish among unconditioned, conditioned, and generalized reinforcers
- Identify and distinguish among unconditioned, conditioned, and generalized punishers
Schedules of reinforcement
- fixed ratio
- variable ratio
- fixed interval
- variable interval
- concurrent
- multiple
- mixed
- chained
- Schedule characteristics
- Response patterns
- Identify and distinguish among simple schedules of reinforcement
- Identify and distinguish among concurrent, multiple, mixed, and chained schedules of reinforcement
Stimulus control and generalization
- extinction
- stimulus control
- discrimination
- generalization
- maintenance
- Identifying processes
- Examples in practice
- Identify and distinguish between operant and respondent extinction
- Identify examples of stimulus control
- Identify examples of stimulus discrimination
- Identify and distinguish between stimulus and response generalization
- Identify examples of response maintenance
Motivating operations
- establishing operations
- abolishing operations
- value-altering
- behavior-altering
- Identifying MOs
- Distinguishing from SDs
- Identify examples of motivating operations
- Distinguish between motivating operations and stimulus control
Verbal behavior
- mand
- tact
- echoic
- intraverbal
- textual
- transcription
- multiple control
- Identifying verbal operants
- Examples of multiple control
- Identify and distinguish between rule-governed and contingency-shaped behavior
- Identify and distinguish among verbal operants
- Identify the role of multiple control in verbal behavior
Advanced concepts
- emergent relations
- behavioral momentum
- matching law
- imitation
- observational learning
- Application examples
- Theoretical understanding
- Identify examples of processes that promote emergent relations and generative performance
- Identify ways behavioral momentum can be used to understand response persistence
- Identify ways the matching law can be used to interpret response allocation
- Identify and distinguish between imitation and observational learning
3
C. Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation
12%
Defining and measuring behavior
- operational definitions
- direct measures
- indirect measures
- permanent products
- Writing clear definitions
- Selecting measurement types
- Create operational definitions of behavior
- Distinguish among direct, indirect, and product measures of behavior
Measurement procedures
- frequency
- rate
- duration
- latency
- IRT
- interval recording
- time sampling
- Calculating measures
- Selecting appropriate procedures
- Measure occurrence
- Measure temporal dimensions of behavior
- Distinguish between continuous and discontinuous measurement procedures
- Design and apply discontinuous measurement procedures
Measurement quality
- trials to criterion
- cost-benefit analysis
- validity
- reliability
- IOA
- Calculating IOA
- Evaluating measurement quality
- Measure efficiency
- Evaluate the validity and reliability of measurement procedures
- Select a measurement procedure to obtain representative data
Data display and interpretation
- equal-interval graphs
- bar graphs
- cumulative records
- visual analysis
- Creating appropriate graphs
- Interpreting data patterns
- Graph data to communicate relevant quantitative relations
- Interpret graphed data
Procedural integrity
- treatment fidelity
- procedural integrity
- accuracy
- dosage
- Measuring implementation
- Ensuring treatment fidelity
Select a measurement procedure to obtain representative procedural integrity data
4
D. Experimental Design
7%
Research fundamentals
- dependent variable
- independent variable
- internal validity
- external validity
- history
- maturation
- Identifying variables
- Recognizing threats to validity
- Distinguish between dependent and independent variables
- Distinguish between internal and external validity
- Identify threats to internal validity
Single-case designs
- baseline logic
- prediction
- verification
- replication
- individual as control
- Design characteristics
- Interpreting results
- Identify the defining features of single-case experimental designs
- Identify the relative strengths of single-case experimental designs and group designs
- Critique and interpret data from single-case experimental designs
Design types
- ABAB
- multiple baseline
- alternating treatments
- changing criterion
- Selecting appropriate designs
- Identifying design elements
Distinguish among reversal, multiple-baseline, multielement, and changing-criterion designs
Applied research
- comparative analysis
- component analysis
- parametric analysis
- Research applications
- Design implementation
- Identify rationales for conducting comparative, component, and parametric analyses
- Apply single-case experimental designs
5
E. Ethical and Professional Issues
13%
Core ethics principles
- benefit others
- dignity and respect
- integrity
- professional boundaries
- Ethical decision-making
- Identifying violations
- Identify and apply core principles underlying the ethics codes for BACB certificants
- Identify the risks to oneself, others, and the profession as a result of engaging in unethical behavior
Professional conduct
- competence
- confidentiality
- HIPAA
- social media
- professional representation
- Maintaining competence
- Protecting information
- Develop and maintain competence by engaging in professional development activities
- Identify and comply with requirements for collecting, using, protecting, and disclosing confidential information
- Identify and comply with requirements for making public statements
Professional relationships
- service discontinuation
- multiple relationships
- collaboration
- communication
- Managing relationships
- Transitions and termination
- Identify conditions for discontinuing services
- Identify types of and risks associated with multiple relationships
- Apply interpersonal skills to establish professional relationships
Cultural competence
- cultural humility
- cultural responsiveness
- bias recognition
- inclusive practice
- Cultural considerations
- Addressing biases
- Engage in cultural humility in service delivery
- Apply culturally responsive and inclusive service
- Identify personal biases
Legal and regulatory compliance
- licensure
- jurisprudence
- funding requirements
- certification
- Legal compliance
- Regulatory requirements
Identify and apply legal, regulatory, and practice requirements
6
F. Behavior Assessment
13%
Assessment preparation
- record review
- cultural variables
- assessment planning
- Gathering information
- Cultural considerations
- Identify relevant sources of information in records
- Identify and integrate relevant cultural variables in the assessment process
Skill and preference assessments
- skill assessment
- preference assessment
- paired stimulus
- MSWO
- single stimulus
- Assessment selection
- Interpreting results
- Design and evaluate assessments of relevant skill strengths and areas of need
- Design and evaluate preference assessments
Functional assessments
- ABC data
- scatterplot
- functional analysis
- analog conditions
- FA conditions
- Interpreting FA results
- Design and evaluate descriptive assessments
- Design and evaluate functional analyses
Assessment interpretation
- social significance
- prioritization
- goal selection
- referral decisions
- Data interpretation
- Goal development
- Interpret assessment data to determine the need for behavior-analytic services
- Interpret assessment data to identify and prioritize goals
7
G. Behavior-Change Procedures
14%
Reinforcement procedures
- DRA
- DRO
- DRL
- DRH
- NCR
- fixed-time schedules
- Selecting DR procedures
- Implementation details
- Design and evaluate positive and negative reinforcement procedures
- Design and evaluate differential reinforcement procedures
- Design and evaluate time-based reinforcement schedules
Antecedent interventions
- token economy
- MO manipulation
- discrimination training
- Token system design
- Antecedent strategies
- Identify procedures to establish conditioned reinforcers
- Incorporate motivating operations and discriminative stimuli
- Design procedures to produce discriminations
Teaching procedures
- errorless teaching
- prompt fading
- modeling
- rules
- Prompt selection
- Fading strategies
- Select and evaluate stimulus and response prompting procedures
- Design procedures to fade prompts
- Design and evaluate modeling procedures
- Design and evaluate instructions and rules
Complex procedures
- shaping
- forward chaining
- backward chaining
- DTT
- NET
- group contingencies
- Procedure selection
- Implementation steps
- Shape dimensions of behavior
- Select and implement chaining procedures
- Design trial-based and free-operant procedures
- Design and evaluate group contingencies
Generalization and maintenance
- generalization programming
- maintenance strategies
- time-out
- response cost
- Programming generalization
- Ethical considerations
- Design procedures to promote stimulus and response generalization
- Design procedures to maintain behavior change
- Design and evaluate punishment procedures
- Evaluate emotional effects of procedures
- Design procedures to promote emergent relations
8
H. Selecting and Implementing Interventions
11%
Intervention planning
- goal writing
- evidence-based practice
- replacement behavior
- Writing measurable goals
- Selecting interventions
- Develop intervention goals in observable and measurable terms
- Identify and recommend interventions based on assessment results
- Select socially valid alternative behavior
Managing intervention effects
- side effects
- relapse prevention
- maintenance planning
- Anticipating problems
- Prevention strategies
- Plan for and mitigate unwanted effects
- Plan for and attempt to mitigate possible relapse
Data-based decision making
- treatment integrity
- data analysis
- collaboration
- interdisciplinary teams
- Using data for decisions
- Team collaboration
- Make data-based decisions about procedural integrity
- Make data-based decisions about intervention effectiveness
- Collaborate with others to support client services
9
I. Personnel Supervision and Management
11%
Supervision foundations
- supervision benefits
- supervision contracts
- equity
- clear expectations
- Supervision setup
- Relationship management
- Identify the benefits of using behavior-analytic supervision
- Apply strategies for establishing effective supervisory relationships
- Identify and implement methods that promote equity in supervision
Performance management
- BST
- performance diagnostics
- feedback
- reinforcement
- task clarification
- Training methods
- Performance improvement
- Select supervision goals based on assessment
- Apply empirically validated performance management procedures
- Apply a function-based approach to improve supervisee behavior
Evaluating supervision
- supervision effectiveness
- data collection
- outcome measurement
- Measuring supervision outcomes
- Making improvements
Make data-based decisions about the efficacy of supervisory practices
How do I earn this certification?
Passing BCBA earns the Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification. It sits in the Behavior Analysis track.
Next Level Options
BCBA-D - Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral
Alternative Paths
- State Licensure Required for independent practice in many states
- Qualified Applied Behavior Analyst Alternative credential recognized by some organizations
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for BCBA is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2025-01-01
- Announcement date: 2022-02-01
Updates
- Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts 2022 Edition Major focus in Domain E (13% of exam) • Release date: 2022-01-01
- Cultural Competence Standards Integrated in 6th Edition New emphasis on cultural humility and responsive services • Release date: 2025-01-01
- Telehealth Guidelines Post-COVID Updates Service delivery considerations in ethics domain • Release date: 2023-2024
Who should take this exam?
Graduate degree from qualifying institution
Behavior-analytic coursework (via Pathway 1 or 2)
Supervised fieldwork (2000 hours standard or 1500 hours concentrated)
Pass BCBA examination
- Experience with applied behavior analysis
- Familiarity with Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts
- Understanding of single-case research design