The BCBA® is a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis. This certification is received through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Professionals with BCBA certification provide behavior-analytic services and may supervise the work of Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs), Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), and other professionals who implement behavior-analytic services.
Complete a graduate degree in a relevant field. MSU’s ABA program is a Verified Course Sequence. It is fully online and designed to be completed in less than two years.
Complete supervised fieldwork. While our program does not provide supervised fieldwork, the online format allows students to obtain their required hours while they complete their degree. Our faculty and academic advisor can help answer any questions you have about the process.
Pass the BCBA Exam. Once you meet the requirements listed above, you will be eligible to apply to take the BCBA certification exam. MSU’s hybrid ABA master’s program had a first-time exam pass rate of 87% in 2021, and the first cohort of online ABA master’s students is in the midst of taking their exams.
There are two ways for students to satisfy their fieldwork requirements:
While our program does not provide supervised fieldwork, you are able (and encouraged) to complete your hours while you work on your degree. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board has some great online resources for planning your fieldwork experience. This checklist and tip sheet is a good place to start and you’ll find detailed requirements in the BCBA Handbook. Have questions? Email us at sped@msu.edu.
The deadline to apply is Jan. 15.
Typically, you will hear from us 4-6 weeks after the application deadline.
No, the GRE is not required for admission into the Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Spectrum Disorders program.
The Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Spectrum Disorders is designed to be completed within two years of matriculation.
Typically students take two courses (six credits). A helpful rule of thumb is to devote at least two hours per credit outside of class, in addition to the online contact hours for the course. This means a minimum of nine hours per week per three-credit course.