How to become a BCBA      

A step-by-step guide by Circle Care’s Clinical Director   

A BCBA (board certified behavior analyst) is an ABA specialist who helps people achieve behavior goals so they can lead richer lives. It’s a great career option for anyone who loves people and wants a meaningful career where they can make a difference.  

As a BCBA, you’d create a unique therapy plan for each client you work with. BCBAs usually work in schools, clinics, hospitals, or clients’ homes where they provide individualized care and behavior plans. You might also meet with parents to collaborate on the best way to support their child. You’ll help them help their children learn new skills like speaking, walking, eating, dressing, etc., so they can live their lives to the fullest.  

The path to achieving your BCBA can seem long, but you are not alone on this journey. If and when you do decide to go for your BCBA, Circle Care can help you through it and provide guidance. Today, I’m going to go over what that process looks like so you can make an informed choice if this is right for you. Let's dive in. 

Why become a BCBA

Becoming a behavior analyst is a great career choice, especially if you already have experience as a registered behavior technician or another educational position. Sarah Pearson, Director of Special Development at Circle Care and BCBA for 4+ years, started out in Special Ed before transitioning to ABA. She shares, “Becoming a BCBA has been really, really great. I still wake up thankful for this career.”  

BCBAs get a lot of perks on the job. There are quite a few BCBAs who entered this field because of the perks it has compared to other “helping” careers. Here are the benefits that I find most rewarding:  

Great pay 

The starting salary is very high, and it’s a field with a lot of room for growth. Sarah Pearson says becoming a BCBA “not only boosted my income, but it also accelerated my abilities to pay off — not just my student loans — my husband's student loans as well!” For BCBAs who transition out of a similar field (like teaching, Special Education, or RBT), it’s a way to continue doing the kind of work they love but in a way that is more practical and doable for them.  

Flexible scheduling   

A BCBA’s schedule is very adaptable. You can configure your workday to whatever times you are able and willing to work, and you can set times of day or days of the week as working or non-working hours. It’s a schedule that lets you plan a gym session into your workday or be home for your kids — you decide how to structure your day.  

Work-life balance     

Since the schedule and workload are flexible, you can make your job work around you and your lifestyle. As a BCBA, you can set up your work hours and responsibilities so you can do whatever else you need and want to do, and it’s a great choice for people who need to juggle their career and home priorities every day. It’s also very forgiving, since you can often shift around tasks like paperwork to be completed at whatever time works for you at any given point.  

Meaningful work  

As a BCBA, you’ll make a difference every day. You’ll help clients master life skills, and the best part is that you only work with your clients on practical, meaningful goals. Every success in ABA therapy is a shared victory, and it’s rewarding in a way that can be hard to find in a career path.  

“The most rewarding part of my job is being able to witness the incredible growth of our clients — seeing them gain new skills, build confidence, and reach milestones that once seemed out of reach,” says Lizette Posada, BCBA and Clinical Director at Circle Care. “Hearing from families about the positive changes at home and knowing that our work is making a real difference in their lives is what inspires me every day.”  

How to become a BCBA  

The path from RBT to BCBA is relatively straightforward (and it’s very doable for total newbies, paraprofessionals, or teachers, too).  

To become a BCBA, you’ll need:  

A high school diploma  or equivalent (like a GED)  

A Bachelor’s degree (BA)  

A Master’s degree (MA)  

A BACB (Behavior Analyst Certification Board) certification  

Getting your degree  

When you’re getting your Master’s degree, there are 2 routes you can take: a Master’s with ABA focus or a Master’s without an ABA focus. I recommend choosing a Master’s that centers on ABA, since that route will give you more background, and you won’t need to take additional courses. Circle Care has partnerships with 8 colleges that can help you get your degree (more on that soon).  

Getting your BACB certification  

The BACB is a national board that certifies BCBAs, and to receive the title of BCBA, you need to meet the BACB’s standards and receive a certification through them. To get certified, you’ll need to complete coursework, do fieldwork, and pass the BCBA exam.  

Coursework  

AKA get your Master’s. The BACB has requirements for what courses you need to take — that’s why you should ideally go for an ABA-focused program. If you choose to go for a degree that isn’t ABA-centric (or you already have a relevant MA), you may need to take some additional courses to meet the BACB requirements.  

Fieldwork  

You can do this as you go for your Master’s, so it doesn’t add more time to your schooling. The fieldwork you do has to qualify according to the BACB standards and needs to be supervised and signed off by a qualified BCBA.  

There are some case-by-case specifics — like who you may or may not work with and which activities qualify. Go through the BACB handbook before starting for more information on what you can or can’t do.  

There are also general hard requirements for your fieldwork. You’ll need to…   

Have at least 2,000 hours of fieldwork  

Do a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 130 hours per month  

Complete it within 5 years (it doesn’t usually take that long!)  

Contact your supervisor at least 4 times each month of fieldwork  

You’ll need 2 kinds of fieldwork to get certified: direct (also called restricted) and indirect (also called unrestricted).  

Your fieldwork can be done with actual clients at a job, so you can work as part of your training. It’s okay if at the beginning you have more direct hours than indirect hours, as long as at the end your indirect hours will make up at least 60% of your hours.  

Pass the BCBA exam  

If you’re going for your BCBA, you’ll need to pass the BCBA exam. It’s hard, but it’s worth it.  It’s intentionally tough because it’s designed to prepare you for diverse real-life scenarios. Prep for it well, and don’t get stressed out if you don’t pass on the 1st try. Study from different sources, use comprehensive study guides, take mock exams, watch exam preps and crash courses, and you will be ready to meet the challenge. 

College partnerships  

We partner with 8 different colleges to provide special benefits. As a Circle Care employee, you can get tuition discounts, scholarships, and/or free access to courses and resources.  

Colleges we partner with:  

• Berkeley College  
• Capella University  
• Endicott College  
• Felician University  
• Florida Tech (FIT)   
• Kean University  
• Rider University
• Regis University

Reach out or visit our college partnerships page to learn more.   chance to reach their full potential. At our new children's autism center locations, we're creating spaces where that potential can flourish. We can't wait to welcome your family and begin this journey together.