What does a BCBA do?
It is important to note that a Board Certified Behavior Analyst or BCBA is fundamental for ABA therapy implementation. The BCBA is the professional in charge of designing and implementing therapy plans, ensuring that individuals with autism make progress toward achieving their goals.
ABA therapy, or applied behavior analysis, is an effective teaching method that autism experts have recognized as the gold standard for autism therapy. During the therapy sessions, highly trained professionals like the BCBA use evidence-based techniques to teach new skills, improve existing ones, and address behavioral challenges in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). By leveraging the principles of ABA, BCBAs help individuals with ASD achieve their goals, which ultimately leads to gaining independence and a better quality of life.
If you are new to the world of ABA therapy, you may often hear the term BCBA or behavior analyst and wonder: what does a BCBA do? Understanding the role of these professionals is critical to gaining clarity about ABA therapy. In this ABA Centers of Georgia blog, we will explore the definition, functions, and requirements of a BCBA to participate in ABA therapy.
Defining Board Certified Behavior Analyst
ABA therapy exists as a method or approach that leverages individuals with ASD to meet specific goals involving skills and abilities that are often difficult for individuals with autism.
ABA therapy focuses on improving their social interactions, communication, and adaptive skills, among others. The Board Certified Behavior Analyst is essential during therapy development, as they dedicate considerable time to understanding the client’s unique needs and strengths through careful observation. Based on this information, the therapist collaborates with the family to establish a customized therapy plan that targets specific goals, helping the individual move closer to their target. The BCBA’s expertise and support are essential to ensuring that the therapy plan is effective, efficient, and tailored to the individual’s needs, ensuring optimal outcomes. Likewise, the behavior analyst will include activities and teaching methods in the therapy plan that also strengthen the client’s talents and preferences.
A BCBA is a professional specialized in behavioral analysis and the application of ABA therapy principles, ensuring that each client within an ABA program meets their individual developmental and behavioral needs so that as they progress through therapy, they can see results in increased independence, well-being, and adaptation to diverse environments.
Exploring the Functions of the Behavior Analyst
The behavior analyst serves six fundamental functions within ABA therapy:
- Initial Assessment: To begin ABA therapy, the client must be under evaluation by a behavioral expert. During the initial assessment, the therapist observes and collects information about the client’s behavior, including skills and external factors that may be influencing their behavioral patterns.
- Treatment Design: After the first step, the therapist designs a plan customized to the needs and goals of the client. ABA therapy is entirely personalized, as each person on the spectrum has unique needs and strengths that therapists will approach with the program. Typically, treatment plans focus on teaching new skills that help reduce the difficulties that most people with autism face on a daily basis. In addition, the BCBA also determines which ABA techniques to implement with the plan, considering the personality and preferences of the client.
- Data Collection and Analysis: During ABA therapy, therapists collect a lot of information, which later serves as the basis for making decisions and adjustments to the plan. The BCBA must collect and analyze this data frequently. With this information, the behavior analyst analyzes the client’s progress and the effectiveness of the plan and proposes adjustments.
- Lead: During ABA therapy, the clients also get support from the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). The BCBA is in charge of supervising the RBT, which works directly with clients on a day-to-day basis. The behavior analyst provides guidance and training to the RBT to ensure that they are effectively following the treatment plan and maintaining a high-quality service.
- Cross-cutting Work: The behavior analyst works hand-in-hand with the client, their family, and other therapists involved in the client’s development. In addition, they are responsible for maintaining active communication with everyone involved in their client’s progress, opening channels of communication, sharing progress and challenges, and unifying intervention strategies.
What Does it Take to Become a BCBA?
Behavior analysts are professionals who must have a license to work granted by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), for which they must meet the following requirements:
- Academic Background: To obtain a certification as a BCBA, the professional must have a master’s degree in the areas of behavior analysis, psychology, education, or applied behavior analysis.
- Experience: Behavior analysts must have previous supervised experience with another certified BCBA. During these hours of experience, the therapist must have worked in direct client contact and behavior analysis work.
- Approved BACB Exam: After meeting the requirements above, the behavioral therapist must take a certification exam developed by the BACB. This rigorous exam lasts four hours and has 180 questions that address knowledge and analysis of behavior analysis principles and ethical practices.
- Comply with the Codes of Ethics: The codes of ethics established by the BACB are strict, and behavioral analysts must adhere to them rigorously. These standards reflect high levels of professionalism in therapies and client interactions, confidentiality of client and therapy information and data, and prioritization of client welfare.
- Continuous Upgrading: BCBAs must comply with the constant development of their profession, keep abreast of knowledge and advances in the area of behavior analysis, and improve their skills to deliver therapeutic interventions.
ABA Centers of Georgia and ABA Therapy
Neurodiverse families in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Buckhead, and Marietta have the opportunity to benefit from in-home ABA therapies offered by ABA Centers of Georgia. We carefully select all of our professional BCBAs and RBTs to ensure they are BACB-certified and can provide high-quality service.
Each of our services, whether it is diagnostic, early intervention, or in-home ABA therapy, involves professionals with integrity and commitment. In addition, our commitment is exceptional, as we provide in-house training for our professionals, facilitating their access to the latest knowledge, tools, and practices, thus improving their efficiency.
If you are a BCBA or know someone who is, we invite you to explore our available career opportunities. For more information about ABA therapy and our services, call us at (855) 929-5058 or contact us online.
