About This Certification

The Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®) credential is the internationally recognized standard for applied behavior analysis practitioners. BCBAs design, supervise, and implement behavior analytic programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, and other populations requiring behavior support across educational, clinical, and community settings.

Exam Overview

The BCBA exam consists of 185 multiple-choice questions (160 scored) with a 4-hour time limit. It is administered at Pearson VUE centers and is aligned to the BACB Task List (6th edition), covering foundational knowledge and applied behavior analysis practice domains.

Exam Domains & Weighting

Domain	Description	Weight
Foundational Knowledge	Philosophical underpinnings of ABA, concepts of behavior, environment, and learning principles	12.0%
Applications to Behavior Change	Reinforcement, punishment, stimulus control, extinction, shaping, chaining, and behavior reduction	28.0%
Behavior Assessment	Indirect and direct assessment, functional behavior assessment, preference assessment, and data measurement	20.0%
Behavior Change Procedures	Designing and implementing evidence-based intervention programs and monitoring effectiveness	22.0%
Personnel Supervision & Management	Supervising RBTs and other staff, training, performance monitoring, and professional development	10.0%
Ethics & Professional Practice	BACB Ethics Code application, confidentiality, scope of competence, and ethical decision-making	8.0%