So you’ve made it through the coursework (OR you’ve just started!) and now you’re starting your fieldwork hours toward getting your BCBA certification? Congratulations! You’ve taken the first steps toward the exciting journey of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. And while you may not have expected it, there are two types of fieldwork hours: restricted and unrestricted. Let’s explore the differences between these two types of hours and how you can maximize them as part of your journey to becoming a BCBA.

WHAT ARE UNRESTRICTED HOURS?

Unrestricted fieldwork hours are completed in accordance with an approved supervision plan and are intended to be completed under direct supervision by a BCBA. These hours must meet all of the BACB experience standards with regard to behavior-analytic services. This means that they must adhere to ethical guidelines, be within the scope of practice for behavior analysis, and use effective clinical practices for assessing, designing, implementing, managing, and evaluating behavior-analytic interventions. Think of these hours as those that a BCBA would do on a typical day- training, parent training, and assessment (VB-MAPP, ABLLS, ESDM, FBA,P-FA, FA, etc.) Additionally, unrestricted hours require that each individual hour is supervised by a qualified professional who can provide feedback on how to improve skills related to behavior analysis. These should be 60% of your overall TOTAL HOURS during supervision, this does not mean each supervisory period (e.g. monthly) just over the overall hours accrued.

WHAT ARE RESTRICTED HOURS?

Restricted fieldwork hours are those that can be completed independently without direct supervision from a BCBA. Restricted experience is typically more focused on gaining experience in working with clients rather than on building specific skill sets related to behavior analysis. However, both types of experiences should be utilized during your fieldwork period for best results.  Keep in mind that all restricted experience must still adhere to ethical guidelines, be within scope of practice for behavior analysis, and use effective clinical practices. Think of these hours as being directly with a client providing daily behavior analytic skills. No more than 40% of total hours accrued can be restricted.

Becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst takes time and dedication — but it doesn't have to take forever! You will need both restricted and unrestricted fieldwork hours to achieve certification - each type provides different benefits towards helping you reach your goal as quickly as possible! With proper planning and knowledge about what counts towards these two types of experiences you will soon find yourself on the road to becoming a fully certified behavior analyst! Good luck on your journey!