What Does a BCBA Do?
A board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) helps those with behavioral challenges make positive changes in their lives. Learn more about BCBA certification and career prospects.At Psychology.org we believe in providing trustworthy and actionable information about degree programs, careers, professional issues, and regional laws concerning the psychology, counseling, and social work professions. Our writers and editors leverage the latest data from primary sources across the site.
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What Education Is Required to Become a BCBA?
- Becoming a BCBA requires at least a master’s degree from an accredited behavior analysis program, or a graduate degree and approved courses in specific behavior analytic content areas.
- Other pathways to BCBA certification are available for applicants with full-time faculty experience in behavior analysis, or doctoral degree-holders in behavior analysis, education, or psychology.
- Regardless of the chosen pathway, candidates must complete 1,500-2,000 hours of fieldwork in applied behavior analysis supervised by a board-certified behavior analyst and pass the BCBA certification exam.
Board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) promote positive behavioral changes and often specialize in autism, developmental disabilities, and brain injuries.
BCBAs need a graduate degree in behavior analysis or a related field, meet supervised experience requirements, and pass the BCBA exam to achieve certification through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).
Learn what a BCBA does, certification requirements, and career and salary prospects in this guide.
What Is a BCBA?
A BCBA is a therapist with a graduate-level certification through the BACB who assesses, analyzes, and develops interventions for behavior-related challenges. BCBAs often work with individuals who have developmental disabilities or behavioral disorders in various settings, including hospitals, educational institutions, government and nonprofit agencies, and private homes.
BCBAs are highly trained professionals who use evidence-based treatment techniques derived from applied behavior analysis principles, such as positive reinforcement, conditioning, and other behavior modification skills. They identify the factors that trigger or increase unwanted behaviors and help reduce them by modifying their patients’ reactions to the social environment.
Responsibilities typically include designing and implementing behavior-analytic interventions, conducting assessments, and ensuring ethical practices. Other duties include training and supervising board-certified assistant behavior analysts (BCaBAs), registered behavior technicians (RBTs), and other applied behavior analysis practitioners.
BCBA Specialties
Specializations can help BCBAs advance their careers and boost salary potential. Growing recognition of the value of applied behavior analysis in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities continues to drive demand for highly specialized BCBAs.
The following is a list of the five most common BCBA specialties, according to data from BACB:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders: 82.11%
- Education: 6.75%
- Clinical Behavior Analysis: 4.92%
- Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities: 2.59%
- Behavioral Pediatrics: 1.27%
How Much Do BCBAs Make?
Board certified behavior analysts make an average annual salary of $74,000, with the highest earners making over $90,000, according to Payscale data from April 2025. Annual salary levels increase steadily as BCBAs gain experience, from $65,000 annually for those just beginning their careers to over $76,000 for BCBAs with ten years or more of work experience.
Where Do BCBAs Work?
The demand for individuals with BCBA or BCBA-D certification has grown continuously since 2010 and has accelerated in recent years. The rate of employment has increased 58% from 2023 to 2024. In 2024, demand was highest in California, Massachusetts, Texas, New Jersey, and Florida. These states account for 40% of the recent demand for behavior analysts, with California accounting for 19% of the 2024 demand.
The following table shows the change in BCBA demand from 2023 to 2024.
| State | 2023 Job Postings | 2024 Job Postings | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 12,084 | 19,578 | 62% |
| Massachusetts | 4,178 | 6,132 | 47% |
| Texas | 3,645 | 5,889 | 62% |
| New Jersey | 3,027 | 5,154 | 70% |
| Florida | 3,245 | 4,709 | 45% |
| Illinois | 2,652 | 4,680 | 76% |
| Georgia | 3,030 | 4,315 | 42% |
| North Carolina | 2,390 | 4,228 | 77% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,489 | 3,828 | 54% |
| Virginia | 2,119 | 3,425 | 62% |
Requirements to Become a BCBA
Becoming a BCBA is a rigorous process with strict requirements. Applicants for BCBA certification must hold a graduate degree in a relevant field, receive passing grades in graduate-level coursework in behavior analysis, complete supervised fieldwork hours, and pass the BCBA examination.
The BACB offers four pathways to certification. The two most common pathways require a master’s degree or higher from an accredited behavior analysis program or a graduate degree and completion of behavior analysis coursework. The other two pathways are designed for applicants with full-time faculty experience in behavior analysis or those with a doctorate in behavior analysis, education, or psychology.
- 1Earn an Accredited or Recognized Graduate Degree from a Qualifying Institution
Pathway 1 requires a master’s or higher from a program accredited by the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) or the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). The curriculum generally includes 270 hours of graduate-level classes in specific concentrations, covering research methods, behavior analysis concepts, and ethical and professional conduct.
Candidates for Pathway 2 certification must have a graduate degree from a qualifying institution and complete 315 hours of a verified course sequence in specific behavior-analytic content areas with a grade of C or better in each course. Qualifying institutions include any schools listed in the Council for Higher Education Accreditation directory. However, only coursework recognized by the ABAI as part of a verified course sequence counts for certification.
- 2Complete Supervised Fieldwork
Candidates for BCBA certification must fulfill either 1,500 hours of concentrated supervised fieldwork or 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork. Although the concentrated fieldwork path takes fewer hours, it requires more intensive supervision. The supervised fieldwork option often works best for working professionals or others with limited time to meet with supervisors. In each month-long supervision period, candidates must complete between 20 and 130 hours of fieldwork. All fieldwork requirements must be completed within five years.
Total fieldwork hours consist of both independent hours without supervision and supervised hours. Candidates spend the rest of their fieldwork hours in unrestricted activities focusing on organizational, analytical, and training areas. Fieldwork supervisors must meet BACB requirements, including a current Board Certified Behavior Analyst or Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) credential.
- 3Apply for BCBA Certification
You must submit your application online through the BACB website, along with documentation proving that you have completed the appropriate degree, required coursework, and supervised fieldwork experience. BCBA certification requires a $245 application fee submitted by credit card or mailed check. You have 90 days from the time of payment to submit all required documents.
The BACB processes all applications in the order received. You can expect approval for your application within 45 days of receipt of payment and all necessary documents. Within 24-48 hours of approval, you will receive an email with instructions on scheduling your certification examination.
- 4Schedule and Pass Your BCBA Certification Examination
You have two years from your application approval to take the BCBA certification exam. To schedule your exam, you need to create an account with Pearson VUE, which offers regularly scheduled in-person testing dates at sites across the country, and choose an exam date, time, and location.
The four-hour exam comprises 185 questions covering philosophical foundations, concepts, and principles, analytical content, such as measurement and experimental design. It also explores client-centered responsibilities, including assessment, intervention and personnel supervision.
After completing the exam, you will receive a pass/fail report before leaving the testing center. You should receive your BCBA certification number in your BACB account within 24 hours of passing the examination and your BCBA certificate in the mail within 4–6 weeks. If you did not earn a passing score, the BACB allows you to retake the exam eight times within two years. You must pay the $125 appointment fee and a $140 examination retake fee for every attempt.
While most BCBA candidates pursue certification through the first two pathways, two less common options are available.
Candidates holding a full-time faculty position in behavior analysis with significant research and teaching experience may choose Pathway 3, earning their certification by providing documentation of their faculty experience, completing supervised fieldwork, and passing the BCBA exam.
Pathway 4, designed for candidates with a doctoral degree and postdoctoral professional experience in applied behavior analysis, requires submission of evidence of relevant postdoctoral experience, completion of fieldwork, and a passing grade on the BCBA exam.
Maintaining BCBA Certification
To continue practicing as a BCBA, you must renew your certification every two years.
This process requires submitting a recertification application with a $215 renewal fee, complying with BACB ethics requirements, and completing 32 continuing education units (CEUs) during the two-year recertification period, including four CEUs in ethics and three in supervision (for board-approved supervisors).
You must retake the certification exam if you fail to complete enough CEUs by logging your participation in approved courses, seminars, and other approved activities.
Is Becoming a BCBA Right for You?
BCBA certification can lead to fulfilling careers in a growing field, but it may not be the right career path for everyone. Before becoming a BCBA, consider the benefits alongside the challenges.
Pros
- Increasing demand in response to the growing recognition of the effectiveness of applied behavioral analysis in the treatment of autism and other developmental challenges
- Higher salaries than those in other behavioral health roles that do not require graduate degrees or certification
- Career flexibility and professional growth in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, research centers, and private practice
- Impactful and personally rewarding work of helping improve the lives of individuals with developmental and behavioral challenges
Cons
- Significant investment of time and money to complete graduate education and supervised experience and pay for examination and application fees
- Difficulty of the BCBA exam required for certification, due to its comprehensive scope and its emphasis on real-life applications rather than memorization
- Stressful work environment, sometimes dealing with difficult and even violent behaviors in emotionally demanding conditions
- Considerable time required for continuing education and professional development to maintain certification and stay current with best practices.
Frequently Asked Questions About BCBA
Becoming certified as a BCBA can take six years or more. It takes approximately four years to earn a bachelor’s degree and two more years for a master’s that meets specific verified course sequence requirements. You also have to fulfill between 1,500-2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork.
