Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

About

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an approach to behavioral psychology that seeks to increase, decrease, modify, or maintain socially significant behaviors through the assessment of behavior function and the alteration of environmental factors. Therapeutic approaches based on ABA are widely endorsed as the most evidenced-based best practice for addressing the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Use of ABA is also common in promoting adaptive skills and reduction of severe behaviors in individuals with developmental disabilities, behavior disorders, acquired brain injuries, age-related behavioral disorders, and other similar populations.

Credentials

The professional credentials most associated with ABA are provided by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB), namely the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), and the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). The state of Michigan, as of 2019, requires the BCBA and BCaBA credentials.

As of April 13, 2019, 22 BCBA and BCaBAs were registered within the UP region. Of these 22 individuals, 63% were located in Marquette County, 45% were only serving the Medicaid population, and 32% were faculty of students of the Behavior Education Assessment and Research (BEAR) Center at Northern Michigan University.

Professional credentialing agencies in the ABA field require professionals to attend up to 32 hours of continuing education per 2-year certification cycles. Additionally, 6 of these CEUs must be gained in the areas of ethics and supervision. Currently the BEAR Center at NMU is the only BACB Approved Type-2 CEU provider in the UP.