FAQ

Fieldwork / Supervision

When does someone usually start supervision hours and start prepping for the exam?

This depends on the individual situation, but many begin forming a plan to study for the exam as soon as they begin their program. You can begin your independent field experience hours as soon as you have enrolled in your first ABA concentration course.

When should you start supervision hours - last semester, before or after graduation?

You may start your supervision hours as soon as you have started your first course in the approved course sequence; this will be your first ABA concentration course.

Can we do the hours after we complete the masters?

Yes. You may begin accruing supervised fieldwork hours following the conferral of your degree, if you so choose – but you may begin as soon as you begin your ABA emphasis coursework and register for a “Gateway” account on the BACB website (BACB.com).

I've been in the field of ABA for a long time. Why do I need to wait until my first ABA course to begin accruing my hours?

This is a requirement of the BACB, not Purdue Global. The BACB requires that students begin their ABA courses in order to begin accruing their supervised fieldwork hours.

What are the requirements that I must meet to begin my supervised fieldwork hours?

1. It is important to note that students seeking certification can only begin accruing supervision hours once they have begun attending an ABA concentration course in their enrolled program's Verified Course Sequence.  Any supervision hours documented prior to attending this qualifying coursework will not be recognized by the BACB.  

2. Register an account on the BACB website: Go to the homepage (https://www.bacb.com/) and click “My Account” in the top right corner. You will be taken to a page that allows you to “Create an Account.” 

3. You must secure a BCBA supervisor who has completed the 8-hour, competency-based, supervision training and has maintained that “supervisor status” by completing 3-hours of supervision Continuing Education Units (CEUs) per renewal period. (Click the button on the BACB homepage to "Find a Certificant" for a list of approved supervisors.)

Learn more about the fieldwork experience on the Fieldwork Handbook website.

Where do I begin when looking for a supervised fieldwork position?

Great question! We have contracted with over 800 ABA companies throughout the United States – including Hawaii and Alaska! We have a partnership map on our ABA Student Resource website that is searchable according to state, city, zip code, etc. This would be an ideal place to begin your search. 

If you do not find some companies near you on our partnership map, conduct an Internet search for companies in your geographic location that advertises ABA therapy. They will almost certainly have a BCBA on staff and may be looking for students who wish to fulfill their supervision requirements.

Does Purdue Global help with practicum placement?

Purdue Global provides the PS555 course to graduate students and guides students through the process of finding a site and site supervisor. By successfully completing this course, you will earn 150 hours toward the 2000 hours required for the BCBA supervision requirement.

I can't find a supervisor! Can't I just have one of the faculty at Purdue Global do it?

Unfortunately, no. Purdue Global faculty cannot supervise current Purdue Global students due to a dual role conflict.

How many supervisory contacts am I required to have per month?

Supervisors must meet with their supervisees a minimum of 4 times per calendar month for a minimum of 15-minutes each. Five percent of supervised fieldwork hours must be spent in supervision.See the supervised fieldwork document on the BACB website for the most up to date information. 

Are there activities that will not count toward my supervised fieldwork hours?

Yes; attendance at specific professional activities and didactic coursework assignments do not qualify for experience hours. Your supervisor will decide which activities count and sign off on these activities each month. 

What types of activities should I engage in during my supervised fieldwork?

Allowable activities include evaluation of behavior interventions, various applied writing activities, communication skill development, and “other” activities that capture normally performed skills that were not otherwise included. It is ultimately up to your supervisor to determine appropriate activities. Please carefully review the following Handbooks:

• BCBA (pg 16)

• BCaBA (pg 12)

Are there additional skills that supervisees should be acquiring?

Yes; under the direction of your supervisor, in addition to task list skills, supervisees must learn to effectively interact with consumers, supervisors, families, and others.

I completed my bachelor's degree with ABA courses but have not yet started the specific ABA courses in my graduate program. Do the one's I took as an undergrad count for the requirement to be able to count supervision hours?

No. Coursework cannot be substituted for supervision experience hours.

Will the hours I collect during my undergraduate program count towards by hours of my BCBA?  

It is possible to use the hours required for the BCaBA towards the BCBA certifications, if you meet both sets of certification requirements while accruing the hours. If the qualifying coursework for the BCaBA was completed at the graduate level when your fieldwork hours were accrued, then the fieldwork hours accrued may or may not meet the BCBA fieldwork requirements. Please refer to the BCBA Handbook regarding the current fieldwork requirements.
  We encourage trainees to review the current fieldwork requirements with your qualified supervisor. The BACB relies on the qualified supervisor to assist while accumulating fieldwork hours in accordance with our requirements prior to an application being submitted. You may also wish to speak with our VCS Coordinator to see when your qualifying coursework may have started.
  You may also wish to view the Documenting Fieldwork Hours video and read the Documenting Fieldwork: Helpful Answers to Your FAQs blog for insight into the Final Verification Forms.

I work for a school district and that is where I am completing my supervision hours. During summer break I will have a 3-month gap in my hours. Is that ok?

Yes, you can work with your supervisor to check and see if you can work with your students during the summer.

If I worked and got paid, could those work hours be counted?

Yes, as long as you meet the requirements for supervision.

Can you work part time at a job and count it as hours as well? As long as it is in the field of ABA??

For further information on what may count as supervised hours, please see this webpage: https://www.bacb.com/supervision-and-training/

I can’t find a supervisor anywhere, can I skip taking the boards and apply for a limited license.

That is a personal decision for you. In order to earn your BCBA, you must take and pass the BCBA exam. There are various methods for obtaining supervision, including remote options.

Is the practicum available for bachelors degree students?

Not at this time, though there is an internship course available as an open elective.

I think the module said that the experience hours have to be accrued with in a 5-year time span.

This is correct.

If I have worked under a BCBA previously can I count those hours towards preparation?

Unless you worked under a BCBA while you were a student taking BACB-Approved ABA coursework, you completed the supervision module, and your supervisor completed the supervision module and required additional training, you may not count these hours.

Can I complete all of my supervision hours in the same location?

While the BACB encourages different experiences, this is not required. Review the Experience Standards for all information required to meet supervision requirements: https://www.bacb.com/supervision-and-training/

How long does it take to finish your hours once you graduate?

This is a difficult question to answer because there is a great amount of variability in how students structure their supervision opportunities. The variables include: students’ work schedules, students’ and supervisors’ opportunities to meet with one another to hold supervision, and the point at which students begin supervision (while they’re taking coursework or waiting until they graduate). Additionally, the duration of earning hours will depend upon whether the student elects to do supervised independent fieldwork, practicum, or an intensive practicum experience. Supervisees can accrue between 10-30 hours of supervision per week.

If I completed other related hours, for example for certified alcohol and drug counselor which requires 3000 hours of supervision, then can I use those hours toward the BCBA supervised hours also?

No. The BACB is very clear and has stringent guidelines regarding supervised experience hours. For further information on what may count as supervised hours, please see this webpage: https://www.bacb.com/supervision-and-training/

When going through supervision and completing the bi-weekly supervision forms, is the supervisee required to participate in various tasks from the task list? My supervisor who is a recent BCBA does provide me with various indirect activities to do that involve some of the tasks form the task list, but obviously not all of them.

All of these are great questions. You can obtain a wealth of information on supervision, as well as excellent checklists, at the following link: https://www.bacb.com/supervision-and-training/

I have severed my relationship with my BCBA, and he/she did not sign off on my Verification Form. I asked why not. He/she said that he/she is required to do it once I am ready to sit for the BCBA exam and/or I will not likely need the hours that he/she provided for supervision and fieldwork hours. I also said that from my understanding from the BACB website once we severe our relationship you are to sign off on the Verification form. In addition, he/she was satisfied with my work during supervision and the fieldwork hours.

This is a highly specific question, but brings up several important issues. First, it is important that at the outset of your supervision relationship, you develop and sign a contract with your supervisor making the responsibilities for all parties clear and explicit, for a variety of contingencies (including a conflict which terminates the supervisory relationship). Secondly, it is important that you reach out to the BACB directly to ensure you have the required documentation of your supervision hours prior to applying for the BACB exam.

I've contacted a few BCBAs for supervision and they want money. Isn't this unethical?

No. It's not uncommon for BCBA supervisors to charge for their time.

Who tracks our independent supervision fieldwork hours?

You and your supervisor will track those hours and ensure you're meeting the BACB requirements. At the end of supervision, your supervisor will sign a form indicating you've completed your hours. The BACB reserves the right to audit your supervision forms to ensure the requirements have actually been met. There is a new, required online reporting system that you and your supervisor will use to track your supervision hours. Please see: https://www.bacb.com/supervision-and-training/

We have to take a supervision training module before beginning supervision hours; how do you show a supervisor that you have completed the supervision training module?

The supervision training module is no longer required to begin your supervised fieldwork. The BACB has provided many materials and checklists to guide you through the process of supervision at the following link: https://www.bacb.com/supervision-and-training/

I work for a BCBA with children with autism and have done so for over a year. I began my classes 6 months ago. Does this mean that my hours from 6 months ago count?

You may not count the hours you worked under the supervision of a BCBA until you begin your first ABA course in the verified course sequence. The BACB requires that you begin your first ABA course, register for a "Gateway" account, and have a contract in place with your designated BCBA supervisor(s). Additionally, you and your supervisor are required to meet and document your supervision times over the course of your supervision experience.

I am taking the ABA certification with another school does this count for practicum hours?

You must check with the school where you’re receiving certification to determine whether they provide approved practicum supervision hours.