What Does a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) Do?
BCaBAs study the principles of learning and behavior. A few of their areas of study include Autism, Special Education, and more. To become a BCaBA, you must have an undergraduate-level certification in behavior analysis from an accredited program.
Once certified, you become eligible to work under the supervision of a certified professional at the BCBA/BCBA-D level. During this time, you can expect to:
• Analyze data.
• Develop school programming.
• Write and revise behavior-treatment plans.
• Supervise other staff members in certain cases.
At PTS, we take a collaborative and Whole-Child Approach to therapeutic services. This means that our therapists work together as a team to integrate supportive services and interventions to address the root cause of each child’s multi-faceted concerns.
Steps to Becoming a BCaBA
After you take and pass the BCaBA certification exam and/or receive an accredited degree and complete the accompanying coursework, you’ll be expected to maintain competencies in the field. This can include activities like reading literature, attending conferences, and completing relevant coursework.
To keep your BCaBA certification, you must also get recertified every two years. PTS can provide you with access to support throughout this process, including ongoing supervision and guidance.
Finally, to become registered, you must pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam and apply for a license. By engaging with PTS, you can jumpstart, shift, or advance your career as an OT in a school setting. If you are still completing your education, contact your university to learn more about fieldwork placement opportunities with PTS.
BCaBA Career Advancement
As a BCaBA, you will also have plenty of opportunities to advance your career by gaining additional experience, certifications, and/or with an accompanying master’s degree in sociology, social work, psychology, or another relevant field. A few of the many certifications you can explore include:
What You Can Expect While Working Alongside PTS as a BCaBA
PTS differs from typical pediatric staffing agencies. When you engage with us, we begin by getting to know you to ensure we place you in a school that suits your skills, interests, and background.
Once there, you will continue to have access to support when you need it from one of our Clinical Directors. They provide day-to-day program support and act as a bridge of communication between administrators and service providers.
Access to Resources, Support, & Our Optional School-Based Academy
As a BCaBA with PTS, you will also have access to therapist-developed resources through our free virtual library. In it you will find activities, interventions, assessments, evaluations, and more that you can use in your school-based practice.
If you’re new to working in a school setting or have just completed your BCaBA education, you have the option to attend our annual School-Based Academy orientation. It begins every August and gives new therapists and service providers the opportunity to get up to speed with the following and more:
- Developing IEPs
- Tracking and billing for productive hours
- Managing a BCaBA caseload
- Leading one-on-one, small-group, and classroom-wide interventions
- Collaborating with fellow providers, administrators, teachers, and staff
While you move through the orientation program, you will be able to connect with like-minded professionals and other BCaBAs. Along with that, we have a community Facebook group you can join to share information and stay plugged into PTS’s network.
Jump-Start Your Career as a BCaBA: Apply Today
If you feel ready to take the next step in your BCaBA career, explore current openings in our partnering school districts. To learn more about working alongside PTS, check out our blog, subscribe to our newsletters, and follow us on YouTube. We look forward to hearing from you soon!