BACB Supervision FAQ

BCBA certification requires 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork under the standard model, or 1,500 hours under the concentrated supervision model. At least 5% of these hours must be supervised, with a minimum of 60% being individual supervision.

The concentrated supervision model requires 1,500 fieldwork hours with enhanced supervision (10-15% supervision ratio), while the standard model requires 2,000 hours with standard supervision (5% ratio). Concentrated supervision provides more mentorship but requires finding a supervisor offering this model.

Yes, BCBA supervision can be conducted via telehealth/video conferencing. The BACB allows remote supervision as long as it meets all other requirements including direct observation of client interactions when required.

Becoming a BCBA typically takes 2-3 years after completing undergraduate education. This includes completing a master's degree in behavior analysis or related field (2 years), accumulating fieldwork hours (1-2 years, can overlap with coursework), and passing the BCBA exam.

At least 5% of total fieldwork hours must be supervised for the standard model, or 10-15% for the concentrated model. For example, with 2,000 hours of fieldwork, at least 100 hours must be supervision time.

No, BCaBAs cannot supervise BCBA candidates. Only certified BCBAs or BCBA-Ds who have completed the 8-hour supervision training can provide supervision for BCBA fieldwork.

Restricted activities require the physical presence of a BCBA supervisor and include conducting assessments, designing behavior intervention plans, training others to implement programs, and making clinical decisions that affect client welfare.

Unrestricted activities can be performed independently and include direct implementation of behavior plans, data collection, graphing, preparing materials, and other activities that don't require immediate supervisor oversight.

BCBA candidates must have at least 4 supervision contacts per month, with contacts occurring in at least 3 different weeks. At least 1 contact must include direct observation of the supervisee with a client.

Yes, you can accumulate fieldwork hours part-time. However, you must accumulate at least 20 hours per month to count toward certification. There is no maximum, but hours must be accrued within a 5-year window.

The concentrated supervision model is an intensive fieldwork option requiring 1,500 hours instead of 2,000, but with a higher supervision ratio (10-15% instead of 5%). It provides more mentorship and may accelerate the certification timeline.

You can find BCBA supervisors through your graduate program, local ABA agencies, the BACB certificant registry, professional networking events, ABAI conferences, or platforms like Supervision Studio that connect supervisees with supervisors.

Yes, you can switch supervisors during fieldwork. You must properly close out your supervision relationship with your current supervisor, ensure all documentation is complete, and establish a new supervision contract with your new supervisor.

If your supervisor loses certification, hours accrued under their supervision remain valid up to the date they were certified. You must find a new supervisor immediately to continue accumulating hours. Document the transition carefully.

BCBA supervision hours should be documented with date, duration, supervision type (individual/group), activities conducted, and signatures from both supervisor and supervisee. Monthly attestations are required summarizing supervision activities.

RBTs must receive supervision for at least 5% of the hours they deliver ABA services each month. Additionally, they must have at least 2 face-to-face supervision contacts per month with their supervising BCBA or BCaBA.

RBTs need a minimum of 2 supervision contacts per month, occurring in at least 2 different calendar weeks. The total supervision time must equal at least 5% of the hours spent providing ABA services that month.

Yes, RBT supervision can be conducted via telehealth. However, at least 1 supervision contact per month should include direct observation of the RBT working with clients, which can be done via live video.

The 5% requirement means RBTs need supervision time equal to 5% of their service hours. For example, if an RBT provides 100 hours of ABA services in a month, they need at least 5 hours of supervision that month.

RBTs need at least 2 face-to-face supervision contacts per month. These contacts must occur in at least 2 different calendar weeks and can include direct observation, feedback meetings, and training.

Yes, BCaBAs can supervise RBTs for their ongoing supervision requirements. However, the BCaBA must themselves be supervised by a BCBA when providing this supervision.

Direct supervision involves the supervisor observing the RBT working with clients in real-time. Indirect supervision includes reviewing data, discussing cases, providing feedback, and training without direct client observation.

RBT supervision should be documented with dates, duration, type of supervision (direct/indirect), topics covered, and signatures. Monthly supervision attestations must be completed and signed by both the RBT and supervisor.

The RBT competency assessment is an evaluation where a BCBA observes and rates the RBT on their ability to perform required skills. It must be completed during initial training and annually for renewal.

RBT certification is valid for 1 year from the date of certification. RBTs must renew annually by completing continuing education, maintaining supervision requirements, and submitting a renewal application.

RBT renewal requires: ongoing supervision compliance throughout the year, a new competency assessment within 90 days of renewal, background check renewal, and payment of the renewal fee.

RBTs must always work under the supervision of a BCBA or BCaBA. They cannot independently assess clients, create treatment plans, or make clinical decisions. Direct service delivery is always under supervisor oversight.

If RBT supervision requirements are not met, the RBT should not provide ABA services until supervision is restored. Chronic non-compliance can result in certification issues and must be documented and addressed.

Multiply your total service hours by 0.05. For example: 80 service hours x 0.05 = 4 hours of required supervision. Remember this is the minimum; more supervision is beneficial for professional development.

A monthly RBT attestation is a signed document where the supervisor confirms that the RBT received adequate supervision that month and met all requirements. Both the RBT and supervisor must sign.

A monthly attestation is a signed document where a supervisor verifies that supervision occurred as required by the BACB. It summarizes supervision hours, types, and confirms compliance with requirements. Both parties must sign.

Both the supervisor and the supervisee must sign the attestation. The supervisor attests to providing the supervision, and the supervisee confirms receiving it and that the information is accurate.

BACB requires attestations and supervision documentation to be kept for at least 7 years. This applies to both supervisors and supervisees. Consider keeping records longer for reference.

Yes, electronic signatures are accepted by the BACB for attestations. The signature must be legally binding and traceable to the signer. Many supervision tracking platforms offer e-signature features.

Attestations should include: supervisee and supervisor names and credentials, time period covered, total supervision hours, breakdown by type (individual/group), activities conducted, and both signatures with dates.

Missing attestations can invalidate hours for that period. If discovered before submission, work with your supervisor to recreate the documentation. If discovered during audit, those hours may not count toward certification.

Attestations should ideally be signed at the end of each month. While late signing is better than no signature, significantly backdated attestations may raise audit concerns. Establish a regular signing schedule.

Individual contacts should be logged, but formal attestations are typically completed monthly summarizing all supervision for that period. Keep detailed session notes in addition to monthly attestations.

A final attestation is completed when a supervision relationship ends, summarizing all hours accrued and confirming the supervisee is ready to end the relationship. It is the official closure of supervision documentation.

For minor errors, create an addendum with the correction, dated and signed by both parties. For significant errors, contact the BACB for guidance. Do not alter original signed documents; add corrections as supplementary documentation.

BACB supervision ethics include: maintaining competence, providing adequate supervision time, avoiding dual relationships, ensuring client welfare, documenting accurately, and modeling ethical behavior for supervisees.

Supervising family members is strongly discouraged due to dual relationship concerns. If unavoidable, document the relationship, ensure objective evaluation, and consider having a third party review documentation.

A dual relationship occurs when a supervisor has another significant relationship with a supervisee (romantic, business, familial). These relationships can compromise objectivity and should be avoided.

Report ethics violations to the BACB through their Notice of Alleged Violation form available on bacb.com. Include documentation of the alleged violation. Reports can be anonymous but documentation strengthens cases.

BACB audits may require: supervision contracts, monthly attestations, session logs, supervisor credentials verification, proof of supervisor training, and any correspondence regarding supervision.

Keep supervision records for at least 7 years per BACB requirements. This includes attestations, session logs, contracts, and any related correspondence. Digital secure storage is recommended.

A BACB audit is a verification process where the Board reviews your supervision documentation to ensure compliance. Audits can be random or triggered by complaints. Pass rates improve with organized documentation.

Prepare by organizing all attestations, verifying supervisor credentials were valid during supervision, ensuring hours align with documentation, and having contracts readily available. Use supervision software for organized records.

Supervision contacts must include at least some individual supervision (50% for BCBA, varies for RBT), occur across multiple weeks per month, and include direct observation of supervisee with clients.

No, supervision hours only count when your designated supervisor is providing oversight. During supervisor absences, supervision may pause or be covered by a qualified backup supervisor with proper documentation.

Supervision Studio is a top-rated BCBA supervision tracking platform offering digital hour logging, automated attestations, compliance monitoring, and HIPAA-compliant storage. It serves universities, clinics, and individual practitioners.

While spreadsheets can track hours, they lack compliance monitoring, secure storage, automated attestations, and audit-ready reports. Purpose-built supervision software reduces errors and saves time.

Essential features include: hour logging, compliance tracking, digital attestations, PDF exports, multi-supervisor support, HIPAA compliance, mobile access, and automatic calculations for supervision ratios.

Yes, Supervision Studio is fully HIPAA compliant. All data is encrypted, stored securely, and access is controlled. The platform is designed specifically for healthcare supervision documentation.

Export your current records as PDFs or CSV files. Set up your new account with accurate historical data. Continue tracking new hours in the new system. Keep old records for the required retention period.

Yes, Supervision Studio supports multi-supervisor arrangements. Each supervisor can log their own hours and attestations, and supervisees see consolidated progress toward requirements.

Yes, Supervision Studio automatically generates monthly attestations from your logged hours. Both parties can sign electronically, and PDFs are generated for your records.

Supervision Studio allows you to export individual attestations as PDFs, complete supervision logs as CSV files, and compliance reports for BACB submission or audits.

Digital attestation is an electronic supervision attestation with legally-binding e-signatures. It eliminates paper tracking, reduces errors, and provides instant access to signed documentation.

Some supervision platforms offer integrations. Supervision Studio is designed as a standalone solution that works alongside your practice management system without requiring integration.

BCaBA certification requires 1,300 hours of supervised fieldwork under the standard model, or 1,000 hours under the concentrated model. At least 5% must be supervised with 50% being individual supervision.

BCaBA requires a bachelor's degree and works under BCBA supervision. BCBA requires a master's degree and can work independently. BCaBAs need ongoing supervision; BCBAs do not after certification.

No, BCaBAs must work under the supervision of a BCBA at all times. They cannot independently run practices or provide services without BCBA oversight.

Certified BCaBAs must receive ongoing supervision from a BCBA. Requirements vary by state and employer, but typically include regular supervision contacts and oversight of clinical decisions.

Yes, BCaBAs can provide ongoing supervision to RBTs, but the BCaBA must be under the supervision of a BCBA when doing so. The supervising BCBA maintains ultimate responsibility.

Texas requires state licensure for behavior analysts in addition to BACB certification. The Texas Behavior Analyst Advisory Board oversees licensure, which includes additional application and fees.

California has specific supervision ratio requirements and licensure through the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Supervisors must register with the state, and there are additional documentation requirements.

State requirements add to, but do not replace, BACB requirements. You must meet both state and BACB supervision requirements. Some states have stricter supervision ratios.

Most states now require behavior analyst licensure. States without licensure laws are becoming rare. Check your state licensing board for current requirements.

Interstate supervision is possible but complex. You may need licensure in both states, and telehealth supervision regulations apply. Always verify compliance with both states' requirements.

In 2027, the BACB is updating supervision requirements including the exam content outline, fieldwork requirements, and supervision standards. These changes aim to modernize certification and improve training quality.

Candidates who begin fieldwork before 2027 may complete under current requirements if finished in time. Those starting after the changes must follow new requirements. Transition guidance is available from the BACB.

Hours accrued under current requirements typically count if you complete certification before the new requirements take full effect. Document everything carefully and verify with BACB for your specific situation.

Starting now allows you to complete under current requirements, which are well-understood. Waiting means adapting to new requirements. Consider your timeline and consult with your supervisor.

Official information about 2027 changes is available on the BACB website (bacb.com). They publish newsletters, webinars, and detailed guides about upcoming requirements.