How to Become a Certified Behavior Analyst

How to Become a Certified Behavior Analyst

Are you looking to become a behavior analyst? If you do, this post presents the information you need, including relevant training and certification programs, to get into the career.

Please, continue reading ….

Who is a Behavior Analyst?

A behavior analyst is a mental health professional who studies principles of learning and behavior.

He/she needs at least a master’s degree or a doctorate in behavior analysis.

A behavior analyst must apply behaviorism to different individuals through applied behavior analysis. The two main parts of behavior analysis are experimental and applied behavior analysis.

To become a certified behavior analyst, you need to follow the right procedure. This includes seeking a popular training and certification program, and passing the final test.

The process will consume time and money, but it is worth the effort. What to learn includes the practice of behavior analysis, education, counseling, psychology, and more.

Educational Requirements and Career Pathway to Become a Behavior Analyst

Educational requirements for behavior analysts may include undergraduate program in related fields such as education, medicine, or psychology, prior to a master’s degree in behavior analysis.

The coursework for this career include behavior analysis, behavioral assessment, behavioral consultations, psychology, research methods, interventions, computer science, neuroscience, math, and statistics.

Graduates of these courses will be eligible to enroll in a certification program through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).

Training and Certification for Behavior Analyst

Getting certified as a behavior analyst opens the door for better opportunities in the career as well as provides greater salary.

Here are some training programs you may check out if you are looking to become a certified behavior analyst:

BCBA Certification

The Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification program was organized by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) to train and certify students who successfully complete their certification program.

Enrollment in the program can be done through three optional requirements. You must meet the necessary requirements before you can attend the program.

Some of the requirements are stated according to their options.

Option One Requirements are as follows:

• Acceptable graduate degree from an accredited university
• Completion of coursework in behavior analysis
• Practical experience
• Take and pass the BCBA exam

Option Two Requirements include:

• Acceptable graduate degree
• A full time faculty position in behavior analysis
• Inclusion of research, teaching and supervised practical experience
• Take and pass the BCBA exam

Option Three Requirements are:

• Acceptable doctoral degree
• At least 10 years’ post-doctoral practical experience
• Take and pass the BCBA exam

Licensing Requirements for Behavior Analysts

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) has a model act for licensing/regulating behavior analysts, which is considered by many states. Each state has its own legislative procedure and current standards of regulatory system.

This Model Act covers all primary sectors and approaches according to the professional regulatory system.

BACB provides assistance to states on certain regulatory requirements, including testing students on local laws, rules, and regulations, and conducting mandatory criminal background checks.

Behavior Analyst Duties and Responsibilities

Behavior analysts perform various tasks to help achieve the aim of the company or individuals they work for.

Some of the duties and responsibilities of behavior analysts include:

• Use research, surveys, and focus groups to determine customer needs
• Extract data through developed program models
• Discover market trends
• Promote consumer interests
• Perform complicated analysis
• Model for multiple products with the aim of increasing profits and reducing risks
• Discuss business trends with senior officials
• Propose procedure changes and policy for best results
• Increase monthly product performances
• Maintain close relationships with vendors and other external parties
• Provide analytical and technical support during projects
• Conduct studies for measuring specific influences
• Solve behavioral problems among school children and adults
• Assist to identify individual needs
• Formulate treatment plans on abnormal behaviors
• Monitor the progress of individuals under their care
• Collaborate with healthcare providers, family and members to determine long-term individual goals.

Employment for Behavior Analyst

According to a survey conducted by the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, job trends indicate that the demand for behavior analysts is very high.

According to 2008 report, 97 percent of behavioral analysts found enough demand for their services, with 97.5 percent responded being professionally employed.

Behavior analysts have the option of choosing career specialization, type of work, and work environment.

While some analysts would prefer working in the educational sector, others rather prefer working with autism patients, disability centers, and private practice or consulting.

Behavior Analyst Salary

According to Payscale.com, the median annual income of behavior analysts in January 2016 amounted to $53,845.

The previous salary survey conducted by the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts in 2009 suggests behavior analysts made from $20,000 to $100,000. Almost 10 percent of behavior analysts made more than $100,000 annually.

For self-employed behavior analysts, they earned between $45 and $105 per hour, or by charging daily fees of between $600 and $800.

Conclusion

Becoming a certified behavior analyst can open greater opportunity for career advancement. Using the information in this post will help you achieve the goal in the earliest possible time.