Programs in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

In 2014, New York State created a new professional credential, Licensed Behavior Analyst, in response to the Autism Insurance Reform Law enacted in 2011. The reform removed a regulatory requirement that had prevented families of individuals with autism being able to access Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) through their medical insurance.  With this change, ABA is now accessible to thousands of New Yorkers.

The NYS law has confined this new license to those who treat persons with autism and related disorders, and not any other form of behavior disorder (with the exception of a few exempt settings). The identification and treatment of other behavior disorders and conditions must be done by individuals licensed in the professions of psychology, medicine, social work, and other mental health professions. It could be considered a matter of illegal practice if LBAs were to do so.

In addition to coursework in a state registered ABA program, students seeking to become a LBA must complete 1,500 hours of supervised practicum experience utilizing applied behavior analysis with individuals with autism. Of these 1,500 hours, a minimum of 150 hours must be completed through a university-based, credit-bearing practicum that meets all state requirements.

Students are also required to take an online Child Abuse Prevention Workshop offered through the Genesee Valley BOCES or an equivalent program (meeting the requirement put forth in Chapter 544 of the Law of 1988).

Once students complete the coursework in an approved ABA program, the Child Abuse Prevention Workshop, and the 1,500 hours of supervised practicum experience, they will need to petition the state to sit for the licensing exam and another exam evaluating their knowledge and understanding of autism.  Once they pass these exams, students will be able to obtain their license.

The Warner programs described in this section were approved in 2017 by New York State to meet the coursework requirements and the minimum of 150 university-supervised practicum hours.  Additional practicum hours can be accrued by students in a number of different ways, including taking the credit-bearing practicum experience offered multiple times by Warner.

As indicated on their webpage, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1998 to meet professional credentialing needs identified by behavior analysts, governments, and consumers of behavior analysis services. The BACB’s certification requirements, exam content, and procedures undergo regular review according to international standards for organizations that grant professional credentials. All BACB requirements and exam content are established by content experts in the discipline. Across the United States and internationally, the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credential is often the required and accepted standard of training to provide ABA services.

While the BACB offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level certifications, the Warner School has been approved to offer a course sequence for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) credential at the master’s level only.

Obtaining BCBA credentials requires individuals to: (a) have completed a master’s degree in an area approved by the BACB (i.e., behavior analysis, education, or psychology); (b) have completed a BACB-verified course sequence in ABA (as part of the master’s degree or in addition); (c) have completed a supervised ABA practicum meeting the board’s requirements (1,500 hours, or 750 if using the BACB Intensive Practicum model); and  (d) have passed the BCBA exam.   In order to sit for the BCBA exam, completion of the BACB-verified course sequence and supervised practicum hours is required.

Warner offers a verified course sequence, approved to meet the coursework requirements for the BCBA credential. The six ABA courses comprising this verified sequence are part of our newly approved master’s and advanced certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis preparing for licensure in New York State (LBA), so students enrolled in those license eligible programs will also be eligible to sit for the BCBA exam once they have acquired the required number of practicum hours.  Students who are not interested in the LBA credential can take the ABA course sequence as a "stand-alone," as part of another Warner degree program or as a non-matriculated student.

The supervised practicum requirement can be met most efficiently through the BACB Intensive Practicum model implemented for the practicum experience at the Warner School.  Based on a percentage system of practicum hours (10-30 hours per week) to supervision provided (10% equivalent of hours per week), a student can attain the required 1,500 units through the completion of 750 hours of practicum inclusive of supervision (that can be accomplished over multiple semesters).

Completing the verified ABA course sequence and required supervised practicum hours, when combined with a master’s degree in an approved area, qualifies the successful students to apply to sit for the BCBA.

Practice as a behavior analyst in New York State is possible only with the LBA credential, and is restricted to working with individuals diagnosed with autism or a related disorder.  However, if you are planning to practice in a different state and/or are only interested in the BCBA credential, you can choose to just take the six ABA courses approved by the BACB to sit for the BCBA exam, engage in an approved practicum experience, and take an optional one-credit course preparing for the exam (for a total of 18-28 credits).

The verified ABA course sequence comprises of:

• ED453: Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
• ED458: Methods and Applications in Applied Behavior Analysis
• EDE454: Assessment and Treatment of Challenging Behaviors
• EDE455: Research Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis
• EDE457: Staff Training and Performance Management
• EDE456: Ethical and Professional Conduct for Behavior Analysis

In order to sit for the BCBA exam, all applicants must have an approved master's degree and have completed the required number of experience units. (Visit www.bacb.com) for details on approved degrees, as well as categories of experience.)

Individuals who are planning on taking the BCBA exam are strongly advised to take EDE458, a 1 credit preparation course, prior to taking the exam.