16 - Licensure and Certification

Abstract

The practice of behavior analysis has been rapidly growing for about two decades. Recognition of applied behavior analysis (ABA) as an effective treatment strategy has spurred this growth and demand for ABA services has led to insurance reform in the United States. With insurance reform the need for identifying competent providers of ABA services has become a pressing issue. This chapter summarizes the effort to certify behavior analysts and the subsequent movement in individual states to license practicing behavior analysts. Certification of behavior analysts has been spearheaded by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), and the BACB has developed coursework, experience, and examination criteria in accordance with standards established by The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. The NCCA is an agency that provides accreditation standards for establishing credentialing programs that offer professional credentials. The 26 US states with licensing or a similar mechanism have all adopted the BACB-criteria for identifying competent providers as the foundation for qualifying for licensure. This chapter describes both certification and licensure in a manner intended to guide prospective clinicians to the criteria necessary to practice as a behavior analyst.