Ontario BACB Certification FAQ
Questions about the BACB Alternative Pathways Certification Process? Please read out Certification presentation from our 2009 conference. Click here
General
Q: What is the difference between Ontario certification and BACB certification?
Ontario Certification is currently being developed by the Transitional Certification Committee (TCC), with input and governance from the ONTABA board of directors and the membership. When developed, Ontario certification will differ from BACB certification by including jurisprudence requirements for Ontario (being aware of laws regarding delivery of services in Ontario), and potentially including a third level of certification for front line workers implementing applied behaviour analysis.
The BACB Alternative Qualification was developed to address educational differences in Ontario while recognizing the distinctiveness of Ontario based practice. Therefore, the educational and supervision standards differ from the current BACB standards. Please see the BACB Alternative Qualification application for detailed information regarding the differences in supervision and educational requirements.
Please note that the BACB Alternative Qualification is a limited time window. The time window closes July 1, 2010 or July 1, 2011 depending on which application option you chose. After this time period, all applicants must go through the regular BACB application process as outlined on www.bacb.com
Q: What is the difference between BCBA and BCABA certification?
Please visit www.bacb.com for more information regarding this distinction.
Education
Q: I have a graduate certificate in Autism and Behaviour Science,
does this qualify for the BCABA?
As
outlined on the Ontario BACB Alternative Qualification application
for BCABA, the degrees accepted are a 3 or 4 year Bachelor’s
degree or college diploma in behaviour analysis or a related
field. Acceptable college diplomas include Behavioural Science
Technology (3 years or advanced), Early Childhood Education,
Child & Youth Worker, and Developmental Service Worker (formerly
MR Counselor diploma).
While Autism and Behaviour Science (ABS) graduate certificate
includes some behaviour analytic content, it does not provide
the breadth of behaviour analytic theory and practice that other
programs possess, therefore it does not qualify for the BCABA
certification. However, the Transitional Certification Committee
(TCC) is exploring the possibility of a level of certification
in Ontario that would include graduates of the ABS program.
Q:
What are the ONTABA standards for an acceptable degree or diploma?
ONTABA does not set the educational standards; the BACB sets the standards and ONTABA determines which educational programs in Ontario are equivalent to those standards.
BACB has already outlined several acceptable Bachelor’s degrees and college diplomas for the BCABA level (BACB Alternative Qualification application for BCABA). Please note that courses in the Humber College's "Behaviour Science: An Application of Technology (BST) Program" qualifies towards the classroom hours for the Portfolio, Courses, and Experience Option (which expires July 1, 2011).
ONTABA’s recommendation regarding programs that are equivalent to BACB standards include the following: the program must include foundational coursework in the theory and practice of behaviour analysis, in addition to providing a supervised placement in an environment implementing applied behaviour analysis.
Q: I have a degree in a field
unrelated to behaviour analysis, but have several years of supervised
work experience, can I still qualify to apply?
The degree/diploma for both levels of certification must meet the standards of BACB and recommendations from ONTABA, as listed above.
Case Studies
Q: I want to submit a case study from a client I worked with at another agency, but I do not have access to any of the data. What would be sufficient documentation for the case study?
BACB
outlines the necessary documentation for case studies in the
BACB Alternative Qualification application for both levels of
certification. Please note there is no set format for preparation
of the document.
Q: I have a case study to submit, but it is from several years ago. Would it still be accepted?
As long as the criteria outlined in BACB Alternative Qualification application is met, it is acceptable.
Supervision
Q:
What are the ONTABA requirements for a registered psychologist
to have demonstrated training, supervision, and experience in
the application of applied behaviour analysis?
ONTABA’s requirements for a registered psychologist are
the following: coursework in behaviour analysis, minimum 5 years
experience in a clinical setting utilizing the principles of
behaviour analysis, declared competency with the College of
Psychologists of Ontario in the following areas: clinical, rehabilitation,
or education.
ONTABA
may review CV’s of an applicant’s supervisor/mentor
to determine whether they meet criteria. Please contact us at
contact@ontaba.org for
more information.
Q:
Does ONTABA offer a listing of approved supervisors/mentors
or education programs?
ONTABA does not offer a listing of acceptable educational programs or supervisors/ mentors. However the BACB website (www.bacb.com) provides a listing of BACB pre-approved educational programs, in addition to a registry of professionals who are BCBA certified.
Q: I'm in a BACB pre-approved course sequence program, but do not have a supervisor that meets the BACB standards for supervision. Should I apply under the Alternate Pathways? For individuals who are in a BACB pre-approved course sequence, it is recommended that you apply using the BACB certification option outlined on their webpage (www.bacb.com). However, due to the limited number of BCBA's in Ontario, ONTABA has negotiated with BACB to temporarily accept alternate supervisor qualifications for individuals BACB pre-approved programs in Ontario. BACB® will accept the same qualifications for supervisors of Ontario applicants who are applying through the regular BACB® process (i.e., those with BACB®-approved course sequences) as is used in the BACB®-approved ONTABA Alternate Pathway. This policy will extend for the same duration as the ONTABA Alternate Pathway and will expire when the Alternate Pathway expires, which will be July 1, 2011. The supervisor requirements for the Ontario Alternate Pathways are listed below (from page 7 of BCBA Ontario Alternate Pathways application):
Experience may be mentored or supervised by one of the following:
A. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst
B. A behaviour analyst who meets the US requirements to take the BCBA examination.
The mentor or supervisor must conduct a self assessment to determine that they meet the following requirements:
DEGREE REQUIREMENT: POSSESSION of a minimum of a master's degree from any of the following:
1. United States institution of higher education fully accredited by a regional or national accrediting body;
2. An institution that is accredited as a member in good standing of the Association of Universities and Colleges of
Canada; or
3. An institution of higher education located outside the United States or Canada which, at the time the
mentor/supervisor was enrolled and at the time the applicant graduated, maintained a standard of training
equivalent to the standards of training of those institutions accredited in the United States.
AND
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS (SELF ASSESSMENT – ONE OF THE FOLLOWING 2 OPTIONS)
1. COURSEWORK & EXPERIENCE OPTION
A. Coursework: The mentor/supervisor must have completed at least 225 classroom hours of graduate level instruction in the following behaviour analytic content areas (as defined in the BACB’s Third Edition Exam Content Task List) and for the number of hours specified:
a. Ethical considerations in behaviour analysis – 15 hours.
b. Definitions and characteristics & principles, processes and concepts – 45 hours.
c. Behavioral assessment & selecting intervention outcomes strategies – 35 hours.
d. Experimental evaluation of interventions – 20 hours.
e. Measurement of behavior & displaying and interpreting data – 20 hours.
f. Behavior change procedures and systems support – 45 hours.
g. Discretionary – 45 hours.
B. Experience: The mentor/supervisor must have completed the equivalent of 18 months of Mentored Experience.
2. COLLEGE TEACHING & EXPERIENCE OPTION
A. College Teaching: The mentor/supervisor must have completed a oneyear, fulltime faculty appointment at a college or university (as described in Part B of this application) during which the mentor/supervisor:
1) taught classes on basic principles of behaviour, singlesubject research methods, applications of basic principles of behaviour in applied settings, and ethical issues;
and 2) conducted and published research in behaviour analysis.
B. Experience: The mentor/supervisor must have completed the equivalent of 18 months of Mentored Experience.
C. A registered psychologist with demonstrated training, supervision, and experience in theapplication of applied behaviour analysis as recommended by the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis.
D. An individual who has applied for and been approved by the BACB to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination under the ONTABA standards.
Please contact us at contact@ontaba.org if you have any further questions.