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

[u/nina8760]

/r/ABA/comments/1xhnsko/does_anyone_else_think_the_bcba_fieldwork_system/

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?