What's the Difference Between a BCBA and BCaBA?

The Board Certified Behavior Analyst^® (BCBA^®) and Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® (BCaBA^®) certifications are intended to help protect vulnerable populations. Certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board^® (BACB^®) is voluntary and, in addition to licensure, mandated in 37 states. Behavior analyst professionals electing certification agree to adhere to a code of ethics, certain practice requirements, and disciplinary measures.

Demand for analysts with BCBA or BCaBA certification has significantly increased every year since 2010, according to the BACB. Nationwide, demand for BCBA holders was up 14% in 2023 over the previous year, though it dropped by 3% for BCaBA holders.

While there was slightly less demand for BCaBA certification holders, it's still high overall with over 6,200 job openings in 2023 either requiring or preferring certificate holders. While BCBAs and BCaBAs perform many similar tasks, they differ in how long it takes to get certified and what you can do with each certification.

BCBA vs. BCaBA: What's the Difference?

A BCBA is a master's-level certification that allows you to practice without supervision, while a BCaBA is a bachelor's-level certification that requires ongoing supervision under a BCBA. 

What Is a BCaBA?

As a BCaBA, you are able to conduct assessments, analyze data, help create interventions, and supervise registered behavior technicians (RBTs) in the field. Many times, people obtain their BCaBA first and then get their BCBA certification once they further their education and gain experience in the field.

How to Become a BCaBA

There are two pathways that can lead to BCaBA certification, according to the BACB. Both of the pathways require earning a bachelor's degree and passing the BCaBA certification exam.

BCaBA Pathway 1

The first pathway starts with earning a bachelor’s degree or higher from a program accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). The program must have been accredited at the time you earned your degree.

You must also have completed 1,300 hours of supervised fieldwork or 1,000 hours of concentrated supervised fieldwork. For regular supervised fieldwork, 5% of your hours must be spent in formal supervision, while concentrated supervised fieldwork requires that 10% of your hours be formally supervised.

Your supervisor must also have certain qualifications to ensure eligibility.

BCaBA Pathway 2

While the second pathway also requires a bachelor’s degree or higher and supervised fieldwork requirements, the degree does not have to come from an ABAI-accredited program. That is replaced by behavior-analytic coursework that must encompass these content areas:

• BACB Ethics Code and Code-Enforcement System; Professionalism
• Philosophical Underpinnings; Concepts and Principles
• Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation; Experimental Design
• Behavior Assessment
• Behavior-Change Procedures; Selecting and Implementing Interventions
• Personnel Supervision and Management

Both BCaBA pathways close with passing the certification exam.

What Is a BCBA?

With BCBA certification, you can provide behavior-analytic services as an independent practitioner. This could include helping your clients improve communication skills, daily living and self-care skills, social skills, behavioral regulation, and more.

How to Become a BCBA

There are four pathways to BCBA certification, according to the BACB. All of the pathways require earning a master's degree or higher and passing the BCBA examination.

BCBA Pathway 1

In this pathway, you must first earn a master’s degree from a program that’s either accredited by the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) or accredited or recognized by the ABAI.

You are then required to complete either 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork or 1,500 hours of concentrated supervised fieldwork. The supervision hours per supervisory period must either be 5% or 10% for concentrated supervised fieldwork. The supervisor eligibility requirements are the same as for the BCaBA.

Purdue Global's online master's degree in applied behavior analysis is verified by the ABAI to meet the coursework requirements of becoming a BCBA.

BCBA Pathway 2

This pathway has the same supervised fieldwork requirements, but the graduate degree does not have to come from an APBA- or ABAI-accredited program. Instead, you are required to complete behavior-analytic coursework that encompasses these content areas:

• BACB Ethics Code and Code-Enforcement System; Professionalism
• Philosophical Underpinnings; Concepts and Principles
• Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation; Experimental Design
• Behavior Assessment
• Behavior-Change Procedures; Selecting and Implementing Interventions
• Personnel Supervision and Management

BCBA Pathway 3

Just like Pathway 2, you’ll need a master’s degree and supervised fieldwork, but where this pathway differs is with a faculty appointment.

To apply for BCBA certification with Pathway 3, you’re required to have worked full-time as a faculty member at a qualifying institution for at least 3 cumulative years over a 5-year period. According to the BCBA handbook, the faculty appointment must have specific teaching characteristics.

In addition to the teaching requirements, you must also have published at least one journal article at any point in your career with you as the first, second, or corresponding author. The article must:

• Be behavior-analytic in nature
• Include at least one experimental evaluation
• Be published in a high-quality, peer-reviewed journal

BCBA Pathway 4

The final pathway option requires a doctoral degree conferred at least 10 years ago and 10 years of postdoctoral work. You’ll also need 500 hours of fieldwork, 5% of which will be supervised.

Regarding the postdoctoral work, you must have completed 10 years of full-time experience practicing behavior analysis, not just teaching it. Your time spent teaching the topic does not count toward the required experience. Additionally, your time in practice must have occurred while you had a state license or national professional credential.

All four of these pathways close up with passing the exam to earn your BCBA certificate, but those people completing BCBA Pathway 4 may receive the designation of BCBA-Doctoral. However, it does not confer additional privileges nor do certification maintenance requirements change.

>> Read: What Happens After You Pass a BCBA Exam?

Selecting a BCBA or BCaBA Program

For BACB certification, candidates must complete a verified course sequence or qualified program prior to performing required fieldwork or sitting for the certification exams. The BACB recommends asking yourself these questions when you're considering programs for your coursework:

• Focus: Does a program's focus align with your career goals? Is it led by instructors with interests similar to yours?
• Size: Does a program's size (number of students) fit your learning style?
• Structure: Does a program's delivery method (online, hybrid, onsite) align with your learning style?
• Faculty: Look at a program's student-to-faculty ratio. A lower student-to-faculty ratio typically means that faculty can spend more time providing individualized feedback to students.
• Institution pass rates: Does the training help prepare you to pass the BCBA and BCaBA exams?

What Can You Do with These Certifications?

Behavior analyst jobs typically involve working with individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism. Behavior analyst professionals observe the relationships between behaviors and environments, and they work with their clients to develop or modify new behaviors. As a behavior analyst, you may work in a clinical practice, public school, or corporate office specializing in organizational behavior management.

Increasingly, different types of behavior analyst jobs are opening up. For example, the FBI hires behavior analysis professionals for its behavioral analysis units. Duties may include looking into the psychological aspects behind terrorist acts and crimes in which adults and children are victims.

Other ABA paths you might pursue include:

• Brain injury patient skill development
• Behavior gerontology
• Behavioral sport psychology
• Substance use disorders
• Behavior analysis in environmental sustainability

A BCaBA or BCBA certification is required for many behavior analyst jobs since it shows employers and clients that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide behavior analysis services.

>> Read: Beyond Autism: The Diversification of Applied Behavior Analysis Interventions

Launch a Career in Applied Behavior Analysis With Purdue Global

Behavior analysts work to improve lives one person at a time. There are several higher education options available for those looking to become a behavior analyst.

Programs that support BCaBA certification:

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology in Applied Behavior Analysis
• Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis

Programs that support BCBA certification:

• Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis
• Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis

The online psychology programs at Purdue Global are tailored to the needs of busy working adults. Learn more about the above programs by requesting more information today.