Breakdown of ABAI Accreditation Standards

The 2-100 Series: Curriculum & Experience

These standards focus on how your classroom learning connects to your hands-on work.

• Standard 2-106 (Supervised Experiential Learning): This is the "umbrella" standard. It mandates that programs provide a structured experience that integrates your academic knowledge with clinical practice. It requires the program to have the five components (Opportunities, Objectives, Evaluation, Sites, and Supervision) detailed in this handbook.

• Standard 2-107 (Direct Measurement): This requires the program to use objective data to track your progress. Instead of just "checking a box" that you were there, your supervisors must record data on how well you perform specific skills (e.g., how accurately you implement a reinforcement schedule).

• Standard 2-108 (Competency & Mastery): This standard ensures that the program has clear "finish lines." You cannot simply complete the hours; you must demonstrate that you have mastered the specific behavioral technologies required for your degree level.

• Standard 2-109 (Volume of Experience): This addresses the "dosage" of your training. It ensures you have enough contact hours with faculty and enough diverse experiences at your site to be considered a competent practitioner upon graduation.

The 6-000 Series: Faculty Oversight

• Standard 6-101 (Faculty Qualifications): This ensures that the people supervising your fieldwork and teaching your practicum courses are actually experts. It requires that faculty have the appropriate credentials (like a BCBA® or a PhD in Behavior Analysis) and are actively engaged in the field.

The 7-000 Series: Resources & Facilities

• Standard 7-103 (Adequacy of Fieldwork Sites): This standard protects you from "bad placements." It requires the university to prove that your fieldwork sites have enough space, enough clients, and enough qualified supervisors to actually support your learning goals without overcrowding.

Why These Matter to You

When a program aligns with these standards, it guarantees three things for your career:

1. Portability: Your credits and hours are more likely to be accepted if you move to a different state or apply for higher certification.

2. Safety: You are protected by formal legal agreements (the Tripartite Agreement)

3. Readiness: You won't just have a degree on paper; you will have documented proof (via Standard 2-107) that you can perform aspects of the role of a behavior technician or analyst.

Note: If you are ever asked by a site manager why you need to collect data on your own performance (and not just the client's), you can point to Standard 2-107 as the official requirement for your ABAI-approved program.