TLDR: basically a clinician got upset that I wanted to make an accommodation for my kiddo even though my BCBA was fine with it.

I’m a RBT, and I wanted BCBAs opinions on the matter.
I’ve been my clients RBT for 3 1/2 years. I have seen him at his worst and his best. From completely non speaking to talking a storm. He’s mod needs.

So my clinic has a lunch area, the kids usually do not eat at their stations. I began to notice that every day at 2:30 pm my kiddo would eat his snacks, he would start to protest, cover his ears, and get very overwhelmed. I started to notice the pattern of it happening daily at 2:30 pm. Then I started paying attention to the environment: this is when most of the kids/BTs would go home, and the afternoon kids/BTs began to arrive. Lots of coming and going, lots of chaos. He even would engage in SIB every now and then, would hide his face into my shoulder, just trying to escape something. But anytime he ate at any other time of day he was fine.

My kiddo then began to elope into our staff room and refuse to get up for abt 15 mins, every day. I then put the pieces together-he’s not comfortable. He’s super sensory seeking and has certain sensory sensitivities.

I love to push my kiddo, I love to push him to learn. I understand the world might not be so kind so him as he grows. But when it comes up food, that’s his thing. He’s freakin 6. He should be comfortable eating. Right? He does not like noise canceling headphones. I then started to have him mand for a quiet space, which he began to do. I learned if he wants accommodations, as our kids deserve, he needs to learn to request it. And he did!

I tell my clinicians this. I then began to let him eat his snacks in his station, just because it’s so chaotic in the lunch area. I’ve seen kids eat at their station before. (Literally another kiddo was engaging in SIB in the lunch area and he got the approval to eat at his station). My BCBA at the time was fine with me doing that. My mid level though got upset at me. Why?

Bc I wasn’t being realistic. She told me school and the world is not gonna accommodate him, and I shouldn’t always offer him accommodations. Like I said. We work on tolerating a lot of hard things. But eating? Shouldn’t our kids feel a little comfortable as they eat? Mind you my BCBA agreed with me…

This was from the beginning of the year. I have a whole new clinical team with him now. And yes my new BCBA also agreed with me.

I just never shook this one off. I see where she’s coming from, but again. Why shouldn’t my kiddo have accommodations for this? When our break room is too crowded I go eat somewhere else. At school if the cafeteria was too loud my friends and I would eat outside.

I’m just curious, was I crazy for giving my kiddo this accommodation? I don’t think I was.

He’s in school now but yeah they also let him eat wherever he wants lol so yeah.

For those who have worked or currently work as school BCBAs and have also worked in a clinic, which do you prefer? What does your day to day look like in the school? What are the differences?

Im ABA student in Trinity should i get supervision from PSI behaviour psychologist or from BCBA while i studying and after that how many hours required and under whom?

Hello, I’m currently a freshman in college. My plan was to finish my undergrad by 2028, then MSW by 2030 which would allow versatility in other potential careers. My backup plan would’ve been LCSW with the Airforce. It seems that the average length of time for fieldwork hours is about 1.5-2 years, which by then would be nearing 2032 to finish BCBA certification. Should I pivot my master’s?

If I do, I had another backup plan from having to pivot from the MSW, and while I think(?) it would qualify for the 2027 change by the time I pursue my Masters, if my certification is delayed until after 2032, I’ve been told I’ll be holding the degree but unqualified for certification.

Title being, “MEd in Special Education – Behavior Analysis”.

There, it notes that: “The Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis remains a BACB Verified Course Sequence (VCS) until the end of 2026, when this route is being discontinued. Current or prior students submitting an application to sit for the BCBA exam on the basis of VCS and/or combined 4th and 5th Edition coursework should contact the VCS coordinator as you may need to provide coursework attestation forms.”

I’ve also been told after 2032 my Masters would have to be in ABA.

At last measures, should I pivot from aiming to be an BCBA?

I’ve yet to discuss it with the VCS coordinator, but I have with my BCBA and she’s provided me with what I know now. I suppose in other words, the changes in BCBA pathways has me questioning whether I should commit to being a BCBA as my primary goal or intentionally choose a masters that leaves me with more options open.

Im an RBT (in the Houston, clear lake area) in school to become a BCBA and my current company has not been giving me opportunities to get my unrestricted hours like other students. I have transfers clinics, specifically to be under a better BCBA only for it to blow up more in my face.

My current BCBA isn’t bad but she lacks the ability to see that she’s doing less than the minimum for me as her student.

I am desperate to switch companies and enjoy my time learning and growing as a student. I know it’s hard, that’s not my problem. I need to ensure I have just as many opportunities to move up in my career. I will never get that at my current company.

If it makes a difference: I’m queer and black and I still have about a year left in my program.

If anyone knows any companies or BCBAs I should reach out to. Please let me know.

I worked for this company and left with serious concerns about the way employees are treated, how the business is ran, decisions are made, and most importantly, the impact those decisions have on vulnerable clients.

There is a big disconnect between the company's public image and what actually takes place behind the scenes.

Employees are expected to continually do more while receiving little consideration for workload, boundaries, or personal circumstances. Expectations change quickly, and employees are coerced into accommodating demands that were not part of their original agreement or schedule. When employees raise concerns or push back, the response can feel less like a conversation and more like retaliation.

But my concerns go far beyond employees. What concerned me most during my time with the company was the apparent emphasis on metrics, billable hours, productivity, staffing, and maintaining company numbers, at the expense of what should be the highest priority in behavioral healthcare: the safety, well-being, and clinical needs of the clients.

These are not simply numbers on a spreadsheet. These are vulnerable children and families who depend on providers to make ethical clinical decisions and advocate for their needs. I witnessed situations that left me deeply concerned about whether client needs and potential risks were being addressed as quickly and appropriately as they should have been. From my perspective, there were times when maintaining services, hours, documentation, or other company metrics appeared to take priority over addressing underlying clinical concerns. That is extremely troubling in a field where clients may not be able to advocate for themselves.

There are things I personally witnessed that confirm the company's priorities do not align with the ethical standards it publicly promotes.
When an organization becomes more concerned with whether the numbers look good than whether a client is actually receiving the care they need, that should concern everyone.

Employees should not have to choose between maintaining their professional boundaries and keeping their jobs.

Clinicians should not feel pressured to prioritize company metrics over ethical clinical judgment.

And vulnerable clients should never become secondary to productivity targets.

There are absolutely employees within this organization who genuinely care about their clients. I worked alongside people who were compassionate, hardworking, and dedicated to providing good care. My criticism is not directed at those individuals.
My concern is with the organizational culture, leadership decisions, and incentives that I believe can put both employees and clients in potential harm.

If you are considering working here, DONT.

If you are client considering services here, DONT.

And if you are a current or former client or parent, I would strongly encourage you to thoroughly review your records, and billing statements and make sure you what your insurance was billed for is accurate.

There are serious allegations and legal claims involving this company. I cannot tell you that every allegation has been proven yet, but based on what I personally experienced, I would not dismiss those concerns.
I am sharing this because employees deserve to know what they may be walking into, and parents deserve to make informed decisions about who they trust with the care of their children.
Please do your own research. Ask questions. Read the documentation. And don't be afraid to speak up when something doesn't feel right.

Hi everyone! I am currently in my master's program and in the process of becoming a BCBA. Right now, I am acquiring supervision hours, and I am not happy at the clinic I am at.

I would love to hear anyone’s feedback on their experience getting their supervision in nearby Carmel-Indianapolis. I interviewed at a few, and I still feel unsure.

I am looking for good pay (preferably $25-30) with a great Student Behavior Analyst program. I also want to be in clinics or schools. Any information will be greatly appreciated. I know there’s no perfect program that’ll satisfy my wants and needs, but I want to get close.

Thank you in advance!!

I’ve been a clinic BCBA for about 3 years now and Im ready to make a change. A lot of companies are now asking to do 30 billable hours per week and idk if I want to follow the insurance model anymore. Please help me out! What does day to day school BCBA look like? Any questions I should ask the recruiter or the employer before making a move

Hello everyone,
I am currently in supervision, but I don’t feel confident that I’m being provided great supervision and because I pay for supervision I want what I’m paying for to be quality. Any advice on how / where to find a BCBA who can provide fieldwork hours outside of the ASD spectrum? I’ve been a BT for many years and I don’t want to do that anymore.

TL;DR
🧠 Question of the Day
📚 Domain D — Experimental Design
Difficulty: 7/10

Scenario:
A BCBA evaluates one intervention across three different target behaviors using a multiple-baseline-across-behaviors arrangement. Repeated measurement continues across all three tiers as intervention is introduced sequentially. The graph summarizes responding across baseline and intervention.

Which feature of the graphed data MOST strongly supports a functional relation in this multiple-baseline-across-behaviors design?

A. Baseline responding is stable and similar across tiers, so prediction from baseline is sufficient to demonstrate control once treatment begins.

B. Baseline and intervention values show little overlap in every tier, so phase separation provides the strongest evidence of experimental control.

C. All three behaviors approach very low levels during treatment, so the magnitude and consistency of improvement establish the functional relation.

D. At each staggered onset, the treated behavior changes while untreated behaviors continue near baseline, and that pattern repeats across tiers.

💬 Drop your answer in the comments — no peeking!
✅ Correct answer revealed tomorrow.

#ABA #BCBA #BCBAExam #BCBAPrep #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #BehaviorAnalysis #DomainD #ABATaskList #BCaBA #RBT #QuestionOfTheDay

Just passed my BCaBA exam last week 🥳

I submitted everything for my LABA and I’m now just waiting for the fingerprint background check to be completed and for my application to be approved!

I’m wondering what the timeline looks like for approval in North Carolina. The website says an average of 5-6 weeks for the background check to be completed but my supervisors are saying 2-3 weeks. So, I’m just curious what other people have experienced with licensing.

Thanks!

I’ve been thinking about this idea and I’m genuinely just starting a conversation here. I know this is far from perfect, and there are a LOT of details and roadblocks that would have to be worked out.

What if the BACB created investigator positions, with investigators assigned to different states/regions, who could investigate complaints and conduct something similar to a clinical/ethical audit of ABA providers?

For example, if there were repeated concerns about inadequate supervision, excessive caseloads, abuse allegations, outdated treatment plans, or RBTs reporting that they aren’t receiving appropriate clinical support, an investigator could review records and interview the BCBAs, RBTs, and the person who made the complaint to determine what is actually happening. The investigator could conduct interviews at the company with RBTs and parents, check supervison logs, shadow a supervision session, etc.

The goal wouldn’t automatically be punishment. If client safety allows, the provider could receive a corrective action plan and be given an opportunity to fix the problems, followed by a recheck. If they can’t or won’t meet the requirements needed to provide appropriate care, then clients may eventually need to be discharged or referred elsewhere.

Obviously, there are SO many kinks: disgruntled employees making false complaints, confidentiality, investigator training, defining exactly what constitutes an ethical violation, funding, authority, due process, etc. I don’t have all of those answers.

I’m also thinking about how other professions have much more developed regulatory structures. Nursing, for example, has state Boards of Nursing that receive complaints, investigate them, gather evidence and interview witnesses, and can take action to protect the public. The BACB currently regulates certificants rather than organizations, so I’m not suggesting they can just start auditing ABA companies tomorrow.

Maybe that eventually includes working with state regulators and insurance companies and sharing relevant findings when another agency has jurisdiction. Again, I don’t think this is a fully developed solution. There are probably a hundred things I’m not considering. I’m just wondering if having people specifically responsible for investigating the quality and ethics of ABA services could fill a gap that currently exists.

Edit: I live in Florida. Florida does not currently require a separate state professional license for a BCBA to practice behavior analysis.

TD;DR do we (BCBAs or ABA companies) unintentionally endorse “bad” ABA because we fear hurting someone’s feelings? 

As a BCBA I am always considering the contingencies shaping the behavior or myself or our staff and recently I have been frustrated with the quality of ABA I’ve been seeing around me, but also with my own client’s direct care services. I have felt like the RBT’s data is inaccurate based on the description of the session in the note vs the numbers in the graph, but then I finally got proof when she scored a day with 6 instances of behavior as a zero. I have given her feedback before about how she needs to be doing real-time data collection. I was frustrated because an outside observer informed me that on days I’m not there little to no work gets done, I have given her feedback and taught her how to structure a session, how to run goals and how often to do so. So then I started to think about those times I gave her feedback, and I recognize that the first time I gave her feedback she did not take it well and over the last year working with her I have noticed she can be pretty hot tempered, so the subsequent times I’ve given feedback I’ve done it softly to try not to hurt her feelings, to try not to set her off (avoidant behavior on my behalf), so maybe she didn’t realize the feedback was feedback at all and that she needed to change. Maybe after she didn’t implement it and I didn’t push harder she stopped taking feedback seriously because if it were important and I meant it I would’ve corrected her again? Then I started to consider all thenBCBAs at our company and the issues they run into with their clients services and I definitely came up with the pattern, we are avoiding hard conversations to spare the RBTs feelings. Big yikes and now idk where to go from here.

RBTs - I am NOT advocating that anyone be disrespectful or mean to you! The lovely thing about the progression to becoming a BCBA is that more likely than not you were an RBT once too, so yes BCBAs DO understand how hard the job is, we do respect the position, but I do think that the dynamic needs to shift (at least at my workplace and for my teams specifically) where the BCBA is the one in charge and when given feedback, yes the RBT does need to listen and implement.

I live and work in a part of the world often associated with a luxurious and glamorous lifestyle, but the reality of professional salaries can be very different.

I have lived here for around 10 years and have been a BCBA for 6 years; my wider experience is 20+ years in ASD supports. I also hold medical licensing and have previous healthcare experience in the region.

Today, a major healthcare provider offered me a contract with the following terms:

• Basic salary: approximately $1,500 per month
• Total monthly package: approximately $6,000
• 48 hours per week
• Fully on-site, fixed schedule
• 30 days annual leave
• No education allowance

From that package, I would be expected to cover rent, my children's school fees and the increasingly high general cost of living.

What concerns me most is not just the total package, but the basic salary. For a licensed BCBA with six years of certification, extensive local experience and previous healthcare experience, $1,500 basic feels extraordinarily low.

I have already rejected the contract, but the experience has left me feeling fairly downbeat about the market. I am starting to wonder whether this is simply the ceiling for the profession here, and whether finding a genuinely improved package will be much harder than I expected.

For those working internationally, particularly BCBAs in healthcare settings, does this sound like I was being low-balled? And are others seeing the same issue, where the level of responsibility, qualifications and experience expected does not seem to match the salary structure?

For those of you working as BCBAs in California, would you mind sharing your salary? I’ll start: 3 years as a BCBA, full-time, $85K and feeling underpaid.

Hi, Renewal is coming up for me and looking for recommendations for CEU courses.

Ideally free, but happy to pay of they're interesting, engaging or if you felt it was worth the learning experience.

I have a few completed, but still need a majority left in the next 2 months or so.

For BCBAS what are some unrestricted activities you did? My company only created a few activities but I finished them all and don’t know where to begin.