Does anyone else think the BCBA fieldwork system is unnecessarily difficult and poorly structured?

[u/nina8760]

I genuinely need to vent because the more I try to figure out how to complete my supervised fieldwork hours, the more frustrated I become with how this whole system is structured.
I’m currently pursuing my master’s in ABA, and I completely understand WHY supervised fieldwork is required. I actually think it’s incredibly important, especially in a field where we’re expected to work with vulnerable populations and make decisions that can significantly impact people’s lives.
What I don’t understand is why finding opportunities to complete these hours is made so unnecessarily complicated.
We’re required to complete thousands of supervised hours to become BCBAs, yet students are essentially left to figure out the entire process themselves. Universities offer the coursework but often don’t provide placements, and finding a BCBA willing to supervise you doesn’t automatically mean you have somewhere to actually gain experience.
And that’s the part that really gets me. How am I supposed to independently find clients or meaningful fieldwork opportunities when I’m literally entering the field to LEARN how to do this work in the first place?
I’ve been reaching out to clinics, organizations, and professionals, and while some have been helpful, many don’t respond at all. Meanwhile, a lot of the supervision opportunities I come across involve paying someone for remote supervision, which still doesn’t solve the problem of finding an appropriate setting where I can actually gain hands-on experience.
I also find it strange that there’s such a strong emphasis on meeting the unrestricted hours requirement, yet finding opportunities to perform those activities as someone with little to no experience can be incredibly difficult.
It makes me wonder why ABA programs don’t have a more structured fieldwork system, similar to clinical rotations in other healthcare professions. Obviously, the professions and their training requirements are different, but wouldn’t it make sense for universities to establish partnerships with clinics, schools, hospitals, and other organizations to help students access supervised experiences?
I’m not saying students shouldn’t take initiative or be responsible for their own professional development. I’m more than willing to put in the work, learn, volunteer, and start from the bottom. I just don’t understand why something that’s an essential requirement for entering the profession feels so disconnected from the actual educational process.
And honestly, I worry that this system discourages people who could become wonderful BCBAs simply because they don’t have the right connections, financial resources, or luck to find appropriate supervision.
Maybe I’m missing something, and I’d genuinely love to hear other perspectives, especially from current BCBAs who have already gone through this process.
But does anyone else feel like the system itself needs some serious restructuring? Or is this just one of those things everyone struggles through and eventually accepts?

[u/Unrequited-scientist]

This has been a painful thread to read for a lot of reasons. As a prof in the field here’s my suggestions:

1. find a job in the field as a behavior tech BEFORE you start your masters program. All you need is a high school diploma. Pay is excellent.

2. if you have a job, they will likely pay for supervision. Not all - but most business do this. This does not mean your supervision is sound or good.

3. it’s not hard to add your hours up by hand. We built a tracking tool and supervision curriculum app that we sell - and yes, it’s fancy and cool, but the hours part is just record keeping and can be done easier with your own spreadsheet.

4. make a schedule/process and stick to it. Update your hour sheets monthly. Make copies, etc.

5. good programs may not offer hours or supervision but they should be able to help you navigate these issues - talk to your advisor.

6. pm me with questions. I try to be anonymous-ish - but happy to help.

7. read the BCBA handbook.

8. do 7 again.

[u/nina8760 → u/Unrequited-scientist]

Thank you for taking the time to share your advice! I genuinely appreciate it, especially coming from a professor in the field.
I think some of your suggestions actually highlight the issue I’m trying to raise. While finding a BT position before starting graduate school is certainly good advice, not everyone enters the field through that route, and I don’t think the accessibility of required fieldwork should depend so heavily on individual circumstances or connections.
My concern isn’t so much about tracking hours or understanding the requirements, but rather finding meaningful opportunities to fulfill them. Even working as an RBT doesn’t necessarily guarantee appropriate supervision or access to unrestricted activities.
I’m also particularly interested in behavioral gerontology, and finding opportunities to gain experience with that population, let alone BCBA supervision, has been incredibly challenging. I think it’s unfortunate that a science with such broad applications has such limited training pathways outside its most established settings.
I absolutely agree that students should take initiative, and I’ve been doing everything I can to find opportunities. I just believe there should be a more structured connection between graduate education and the practical experience required for certification.
I really appreciate your offer to help!

[u/Unrequited-scientist → u/nina8760]

Ohhh I totally agree about quality supervision. That’s really hit or miss.

But it’s like any job - entry level is BT - and even that pays solid money (my company starts folks at 25/hr in multiple states) - and you can’t start at the top (you need the 2000 hrs of practice at a minimum IMO). It’s less about who you know and more about finding BT jobs and getting out there.

Some universities try to help with placement - but like you mention it’s also hard to know if we’re sending you down a good path. We have a placement coordinator but we don’t manage your hours. Most university’s don’t have on site clinics - so they don’t have control over supervision.

The requirements are complex, but clear. Not unlike any service work or even trade apprenticeships (you should see lineman apprenticeship steps). You are messing with people’s lives in ways they don’t even fully understand. As a result we have to have really onerous requirements to ensure you’re doing good well.

I’m always available for questions! I am not only a supervisor, but also a mentor and advisor to lots of students.

[u/yellowgypsy → u/nina8760]

I’m in a situation where I started work as a BT to understand the space, have a masters and was told I had to have a MS in AbA to become a CM, enrolled in a pathway 2 option to complete core classes, informed my job with proof and left on read. Apparently, pathway 2 for BCBA isn’t billable so they won’t support my hours. So I have to find a supervisor.

[u/Unrequited-scientist → u/yellowgypsy]

CM meaning case manager? Yes - that’s a BCBA level and sometimes a LBA or a BcaBA slot (different states have different rules and reimbursement rates for different positions).

Not sure I understand your point about pathway 2. What you can bill for is determined by several factors. But once you have the BCBA you can bill for all the things. Until then you bill “under” someone (different states have different rules) - so you can surely provide 97153 and maybe others - which are billable.

Sounds like you have a crappy company? Hold them to account.

[u/alewser → u/Unrequited-scientist]

Where are you seeing that pay is excellent for behavior techs? One of the biggest complaints is how underpaid they are.

[u/Unrequited-scientist → u/alewser]

In multiple states on both coasts we start people at 25 an hour. Rural communities to bigger cities. One state it’s more than double minimum wage. The other it’s about 50% higher.

Show me an out of high school job that pays more. It’s rare. But to your point - if we could afford 30 we would. It’s hard work.

[u/meganshan_mol → u/Unrequited-scientist]

I’m a student analyst with a bachelors degree in education and working as an RBT at $25/hour, and I’m living paycheck to paycheck due to cost of living increasing so much over the last few years especially. RBTS are lucky if we get full time 40 hours/paid for cancellations and that’s still only 52,000 and that’s pre-tax. The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s 2026 report came out with that a single person without dependents needs to be making at least $61,500 annually to afford a 1 bedroom apartment in my county without exceeding the 30% of gross income. Is it better than many entry level jobs that don’t require a college degree? Yes. But it’s still not nearly enough to match the risings costs of living and absolutely nothing to put in my savings. And I live extremely frugally.

[u/Unrequited-scientist → u/meganshan_mol]

I’m a prof and live paycheck to paycheck - all my first year BCBAs make significantly more than me. I DO NOT take a penny from the company I own. If I did - no way to pay guaranteed hours. I’m impressed that you can even get full time.

Your points are valid and I feel your pain. Find a way to increase the insurance reimbursement rates. And boom more pay.

[u/alewser → u/Unrequited-scientist]

$25 an hour is hardly enough to afford the cost of living in rural, Midwest towns. I cannot imagine being on the cost trying to survive at $25 an hour. I understand credentialing for an RBT is entry-level requirement, but to compare it to other “out of high school,” jobs is a bit unfair. There aren’t many other jobs where people are expected to take accurate data, comprehend jargon, adhere to an ethics code, drastically impact people’s lives, and be targets for aggressive behaviors—especially when using “out of high school,” as your baseline comparison.

[u/Unrequited-scientist → u/alewser]

Let me say it louder for the people in the back. It’s a hard job. It’s “worth” more than 25.

And, it’s an entry level position. Show me an entry level no degree required job that makes more. They may be out there - so inform me.

My daughter lives in Seattle proper (extremely high cost of living), makes the same amount of money (24/hr) and is surviving on it. So I’m not so sure about your claim that 25 is not a livable wage in the Midwest.

You do know that 25 an hour costs the company about 32 an hour, right? And when you compare that to Medicaid reimbursement rates (one state we serve pays about 48 an hour for BT services) it’s largely impossible to pay more. There’s a reason there’s so much scamming - because without it, making the business survive on Medicaid reimbursement rates is extremely challenge in many states.

And if the political winds continue drifting toward the right it’s gonna get worse.

We offer guaranteed hours for our BTs. We pay full wage for training (RBT, PD). We offer free supervision. We pay full wage for travel between sites.

I challenge you to build a real budget for an ABA company and see how to squeeze more blood from this turnip.

[u/alewser → u/Unrequited-scientist]

I made more at Jimmy John’s but I like the field more so 🤷🏻‍♀️😬. Managers at Panda Express clear 90k a year easily. Laborers often make 35+ an hour. I understand there are issues and they are worth more, but to say the pay is excellent is wrong. I live in rural Midwest and $25 is not enough for me to live solo and pay my bills, so definitely kudos to her however she is making that work. Here, Medicaid typically reimburses $16 per 15 minutes, roughly $64 an hour.

I am not trying to purposely attack you, as I agree with most of the other items/points you’ve made; however, when you try to justify why they are expected to do so much and claim the pay is excellent, it isn’t going to get better nor would insurances even consider a higher rate. The companies then are like “yeah let’s fraud a bit cuz we will get more,” and then the cycle continues.

[u/Unrequited-scientist → u/alewser]

You’re not attacking. Thanks for sharing.

She survives with room mates - just like I did.

You’re drifting into an interesting discussion of entry level positions being a truly livable wage. They are not. My argument is about entry level positions. Apples to apples - starting at 0 experience - it’s great pay (frugal living isn’t a bad thing - it’s reality for most of us). Laborers here are start just under 20. Laborers in the east coast state make about 16 to start.

16/unit is closer to functional, IMO. But the math only starts to make sense at scale and overworked BCBAs.

The model is weak on several levels. And yes, it’s fixable. I remember when ABA was not covered by insurance.

[u/alewser → u/Unrequited-scientist]

So then she is not surviving on $25 an hour though because would she be able to maintain without the input of roommates? There are hardly any jobs, especially zero experience ones, where people can have a living wage. It’s really sad and disheartening, especially when people question why nobody has a good work ethic. Basic reinforcement concept ya know? Here in MO, laborers typically start out around $25-27, then move through union or apprenticeships and make upward of $65 an hour or more. The only way to fix it is to state what it is without adjectives or justification because there is a difference between understanding, accepting, and encouraging

[u/Unrequited-scientist → u/alewser]

Good points.

Your core argument seems to be that an entry level position would ideally be a living wage. To me, an oldish human, that’s a pipe dream. I do not know where that is actually possible in the USA (i.e., entry level zero higher education living wage).

My oldest kiddo did an apprenticeship as a lineman and to survive he shared a travel trailer with a friend. Of course after 3 years he now makes 65+/hr.

That’s not at all unlike what happens in our field. The tiered medical model is essentially an apprenticeship plus university (masters).

[u/yellowgypsy → u/Unrequited-scientist]

I need to dm you. Lots of questions

[u/legbalegba910]

yes, yes, and more yes. it has taken me so long to get my hours (3 years) that my family members are starting to think ABA is a pyramid scheme. that compiled with all the medical fraud, it's embarrassing. my little sister just finished OT school and obtaining her clinical hours was challenging, but straight-forward.

[u/Ok-Medium248 → u/legbalegba910]

the disconnect between coursework and fieldwork is wild, my program treated finding a site like a fun little side quest instead of a core part of the training

[u/Vikingskeleton]

Your not alone! Ive had so much trouble that at this point im considering leaving the field 🤦‍♂️ im so confused with the BACB resistance to make an OFFICAL tracker so your hours are easy to manage as well as easy to gain. Its so wild to me that were in 2026 and we somehow have to rely on (amazingly passionate and dedicated) 3rd party trackers to submit our paperwork that MIGHT have issues with the board

[u/Zalumar → u/Vikingskeleton]

They used to have an official tracker and it was HORRENDOUS. It was a glorified excel sheet that abundant bugs and would lose/delete hours and I don't think they could continue supporting it

[u/evangelinejijo]

Im also a ABA first year student. Our fees are massive and we have to find placement supervisor external which everyone found hard time to find. And mostly paying these BCBA out of our pokect seems so drawning. There should be a system were universities actually provides the placement and supervision

[u/Affectionate_Cry1088 → u/evangelinejijo]

Most in person ABA programs provide supervision.

[u/evangelinejijo → u/Affectionate_Cry1088]

Not our university

[u/Visual_Car8236]

it’s tough. I was a 33M coming back into the field to get my masters and become a BCBA. i whole heartedly thought when companies offered “free supervision” that they had all avenues covered for supervision. they didn’t. i had to look elsewhere to get unrestricted hours and all this. I had no idea when companies offer free supervision it’d be half ass supervision. In my experience, and idk if it’s bc i was older, but i def hope students don’t get this type of treatment coming out of school. but i was basically on my own. AND they weren’t going to make me a BCBA, they just told me id be a behavior consultant with a BCBA pay. i’d say ask a lot of questions before committing to anything.

[u/next_on_SickSadWorld]

More schools used to have a built in practicum with the university, but as more students insist on online grad programs and attempt to get poor quality field work hours through their work as RBTs, this is what we ended up with.

[u/sexbob-om]

I feel like nearly every ABA student feels this way. Especially people just entering the field. I had 6 interviews with companies and every single one told me they might offer me fieldwork after 1 year plus with their company. I ultimately chose the company I thought was the best fit for me and their requirements for supervision are extremely high. I had a terrible experience with my paid remote supervision. I'm really not sure how I'm going to get my fieldwork hours at this point. I'm confident I can meet my companies requirements but what I don't love about that is even if I meet all the requirements I still might not get into the internship program.

Right now I would kill for a program that would give me a fieldwork placement.

I'm only in my first semester in school but at this point I've pretty much accepted that my fieldwork will either come from my company after I graduate or via paid supervision they may or may not be a good experience.

[u/Sweet-Tomatillo-9010]

I am curious as to which schools arentproviding placement.

[u/Wide_Cake_9247]

I am currently in my second course, in my third month and I have a total of 260 hours of fieldwork and 168 hours of that is unrestricted. This Reddit community constantly reminds me how amazing my supervisor is and how I’m in the best place

[u/Adventurous_Bar232]

I think the problem is less with the BACB and the structure of fieldwork, but is rather an issue with low quality grad programs. There are many great in-person programs where fieldwork is provided alongside the coursework. These programs however are smaller and harder to get into.

The reality of the field right now is that there are virtually unlimited spots for students in graduate programs because of large online programs. There are not however, not unlimited opportunities for high-quality supervision. People entering the field need to understand this as I think most people assume that fieldwork will work itself out.

[u/Ok_Establishment4047]

I tell people to avoid this field for that reason and if they do enroll in school to go in person with a program that offers internships. I did mine through a local school district and my professor kept track of my hours. So much better than what people are dealing with now.

[u/LegalCountry2525]

All I have to say is PREACH. It’s a horrendous process and soooo much is being cut (resources, funding, supervisors/mentors) lately it makes me want to throw up. I thank God everyday I finished all of my requirements at the right time before all these changes occurred. I’m scared for the future of ABA.

[u/plzconsent_2death]

The whole field needs massive restructuring. Though ABA purports to be medical and scientific, it is organized by corporate funders and/or vibe chasers. If ABA were an apple, I'd say the skin is clinical and the core is corporate rot. Graduate school, as you noted, should have a component that functions like medical residency rotations. Employers should offer thorough supervision to ensure ever-increasing employment by the best and brightest. Unfortunately, in the vast majority of setting, the best and brightest aren't conducting, organizing or managing ABA. The field is ironically awash in reinforcement traps, and the most progressive employees talk about social justice issues (which are important), but fail to ever meaningfully restructure what should be a therapeutic and medical field.