Certification Requirement Changes Preparation

ABAI and BACB have jointly announced the BACB VCS system will end on January 1, 2026. We have initiated a new, BACB-required system of providing attestations to support each application for exam eligibility.  This change DOES NOT affect course content or your eligibility to sit for the exam. You will continue to apply to BACB on Pathway 2 as qualified alumni did in the past. There is simply an additional step in the application process.  

ATTESTATION PROCESS

• Apply and pay for your application on the BACB.com portal

• Send your BACB ID, along with your name, program, and graduation date to aba@purdueglobal.edu 

• Purdue Global will review your records, prepare the attestation, and submit it to the BACB

• You will also receive a copy of the attestation

Note that these changes affect both the Undergraduate (BCaBA) and Graduate (BCBA) programs. We continue to emphasize the importance of following changes as they are announced and implemented at bacb.com.  The links to ‘News and More’ and the Quarterly newsletters provide good information and should be visited at least quarterly.  You will also find continuous updates and a wealth of BACB/ABAI/ABA resources on this PG Student ABA Resources Website. 

After reviewing these materials, please feel free to contact aba@purdueglobal.edu if you have other questions.

How will the ‘Sunset of the VCS’ on January 1, 2026 affect my course content and eligibility to apply to sit for the exam?

ABAI and BACB have jointly decided to revise their program recognition process and will no longer use the ABAI-based program grids to review program content hours and exam eligibility.  Instead, when you apply to take the exam after 1/1/2026, the ABA Program Coordinator will submit a BACB-required Attestation to support your application. 

Are there additional changes coming from BACB in 2027?

Yes, effective 1/1/2027, the BACB adds additional coursework content that may affect your program, depending on when you apply to test. The primary change will be an addition of required hours of ‘Organizational Behavior Management,’ the area now covered under the title of ‘Supervision and Personnel Management’.  In addition, the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB) has revised the education requirements for the BCBA exam. Effective January 1, 2027 anyone applying to sit for the BCBA exam will only be eligible if the approved ABA coursework was completed over at least 1 year, defined as 4 terms/quarters for our academic model (see BACB February newsletter).

Will these changes affect content hours or my degree plan?

Yes, these changes will affect BACB's required content hours.  We are revising our courses to meet that requirement; however, depending on the timing of your degree plan and graduation, and if you apply to sit after 1/1/27, you may be required to return for additional coursework. In addition, students who plan to complete the postgraduate certificate coursework in fewer than 4 terms with Purdue Global have the following options:

• Work with advising to extend the coursework across a minimum of 4 terms.

• Switch to the Master’s in ABA program. This will add 2 additional courses to the program: BA525 Experimental Analysis of Behavior and BA580 Graduate Research Project in ABA.

 Please be aware of the possible impact of this change as you get closer to applying to sit for the exam.

Is it true that there will also be changes to supervised experience requirements in 2027? 

Yes, this is true.  Your supervised fieldwork is independent of your educational program, and outside of your educational program requirements, but BACB has announced changes to supervised fieldwork and continuing education requirements, also effective 1/1/2027.  Please be sure to discuss these upcoming changes with your BCBA Supervisor and visit bacb.com regularly to stay current on these and other upcoming changes. The specific upcoming changes can be viewed here: https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BACB_March2022_Newsletter-230224-a.pdf

What if I have other questions?

If you have questions about your educational requirements, your advisor is your first best point of contact.  If they can’t answer your questions, they will refer you to the ABA Program Coordinator for further support.

If you have questions about supervision, your BCBA supervisor is your best point of contact.  We continue to emphasize the importance of following changes as they are announced and implemented at bacb.com.  The links to ‘News and More’ and the Quarterly newsletters provide good information and should be visited at least quarterly.  After reviewing these materials, please feel free to contact aba@purdueglobal.edu if you have additional questions.