The official website of the American Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB) released a piece of information without warning.

Teacher Wawa asked me to write an interpretation.

The full text translation is at the end of the article.

According to the official statement of BACB on December 30, 2019 local time, BACB will make major adjustments to BCBA’s global qualification certification as follows:

1. Qualification certification.

Effective January 1, 2023, the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB) will no longer accept certification applications from individuals residing outside the United States and Canada.

For individuals who have obtained qualification certification before January 1, 2023, the certification qualification will be permanently valid.

2. ?Test language.

From January 1, 2022, all BACB exams will only be available in English.

BACB may analyze and investigate the feasibility, demand and rationality of language tests other than English in the United States and Canada as soon as the second half of 2020.

3. ?International support.

BACB has developed a new international support system to support behavior analysis certification organizations in other countries in building their own national qualification certification programs.

The cotton swab has something to say

The following is my personal interpretation:

1. Will Chinese applicants miss BCBA/BCaBA certification?

At first glance, BACB will no longer accept applications from China after 2023, but in fact it is only for individual applicants, indicating that it is still possible to register through a certification agency.

Moreover, after December 31, 2022, a new local certification system in China may be launched.

2. Can Chinese applicants catch the last train before the certification reform?

Taking BCaBA as an example, the fastest theoretical course in China is about 8 months. The required practical time for applying before January 1, 2022 is 1,000 hours. The maximum practical time per month can be counted as 130 hours, and the fastest time to complete the practical is about 8 months.

If applicants receive theoretical training and practical training at the same time, they can apply for the exam in about 8 months at the fastest.

Assume that you have signed up for a theoretical course in 2020 and the class will start in May. You can apply for the exam as soon as January 2021.

Therefore, comrades who do not understand English still have hope, that is, they must find a supervisor as soon as possible!

3. What is the situation of Chinese applicants in non-related majors?

Before January 1, 2022, BCBA applications require a degree in education, psychology, behavior and other related majors. At the same time, after January 1, 2022, only English exams can be taken.

In other words, BCBA applicants in non-related majors can only apply for the English version after January 1, 2022. Those in related majors can still give it a try and complete the exam before 2022.

Teacher Wow wow has something to say

1. I don’t know how this decision came about, and it was proposed very hastily (the vote was held in August this year, and news suddenly broke out today. Many people in the United States People in the industry have just gotten wind of it).

Some other BACB decisions are made many years in advance. For example, it usually takes two years to revise an entry threshold, and there is a five-year notice period after it is promulgated.

2. The starting point of BACB is excellent. After reading the full text below, everyone should have the same feeling. That is how we standardize the ABA field. Like accounting certificates, each country has its own standards. and training system.

At present, the translation of terminology in the Chinese version is not unified. BCBA is scattered in different places to promote ABA independently, and the efficiency is very low. If China can establish its own system and mobilize universities and governments to cooperate more closely, it will be conducive to improving the ABA talent system.

3. What I am more concerned about is that BACB said it will help each country build its own qualification certificate acquisition and authorization project. So does BACB have enough manpower to do this?

If not, you must cooperate with local organizations. Are there any conflicts of interest?

Also, how to balance localization and standardization?

How to integrate local cultural and ethical factors?

There must be many problems in implementation.

The process of reform is always painful, but it is a good thing in the long run.

4. Some students who have already registered for the course may be affected. The cancellation of the Chinese exam suddenly disrupts the review plan. In order to help everyone get through this difficult time, I have decided to recruit some external supervision. Details will be announced after the year.

The full text is translated as follows:

Global Qualification Certification Statement on December 30, 2019: Regarding changes to the BACB international program?

After years of evaluation, consultation, Training experience in the certification industry and the broad resolution of the BACB Leadership Group, the BCAB Board of Directors voted in August 2019 to adopt the following changes to BACB International Programs:

1. Qualification Certification – Effective January 1, 2023 , BACB will no longer accept certification applications from individuals residing outside the United States and Canada. Personal qualification certifications obtained before January 1, 2023 will be permanently valid.

Note: BCBA qualification certification will continue to be implemented in Canada because Canada’s education, regulatory system and economic environment are very similar to those in the United States.

2. Examination language - Starting from January 1, 2022, BACB will only provide English test papers. Note: BACB may analyze and investigate the feasibility, demand and rationality of language tests other than English in the United States and Canada as soon as the second half of 2020.

3. International support - Effective immediately, BACB will reallocate resources to support behavior analysis certification organizations in other countries in building their own national qualification certification programs.

Reason for the change:

BACB made this change for many reasons. It has conducted extensive research on this before and has relevant experience in the certification industry. Consultations were held with experts. In formulating this change, BACB considered the following aspects:

1. Are global requirements for the profession feasible?

The first element BACB considers is the feasibility of developing global requirements for an important profession.

No other important profession (e.g. medicine, psychology, accounting) has a global set of requirements. The industry requirements specified by the state are the standards in practice.

Over the past few decades, BACB has encountered many problems in practice in many countries. Chief among them is the language barrier.

Although BACB provides exams in multiple languages, the areas covered by the qualification certification project far exceed the original scope of application of the exam.

In order to make relevant certification a truly global project and enable each international/region involved in certification to have a unified certification scale, BACB may require all applicants and certifiers to provide the following information : The entire website, newsletters, documents, extensive email correspondence, certifier online accounts and user service information by phone and email.

But unfortunately, this doesn't seem to work.

In addition, a global certification project also requires:

(1) Ensure the eligibility of qualification certification, qualification maintenance requirements, and the intellectual property rights and trademarks involved in the qualification in each country /region is protected by law and its charges should comply with the tax laws of each country/region. At the same time, the ethical and moral requirements involved in qualifications should have legally mandatory effects in various countries/regions.

(2) Each country/region should have safety testing facilities. Some countries do not have safety testing facilities that meet BACB requirements.

(3) Comply with privacy laws of various countries/regions. Such laws have been changing rapidly in recent years.

(4) Comply with laws related to examination facilities in each country/region. BACB facilities are designed to comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other state laws to the extent possible.

However, relevant laws and regulations are numerous and changing rapidly, posing considerable challenges to ensuring compliance.

(5) There is enough time to establish the standards for qualification certification and obtain recognition in each country/region.

(6) The feasibility of qualification supervision in each country/region. Regulators may be reluctant to endorse standards that are not specific to their country and its practices. This is perhaps the biggest obstacle to the globalization of a profession.

In addition, international trade restrictions involving multiple countries may require ongoing surveillance, which may subject certified qualifications to unfair treatment within those countries.

2. Can global certification programs meet certification standards?

The second factor BACB considered involved the degree to which the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) recognized the BCBA, BCaBA and RBT qualifications.

BACB certification means that BACB will conduct qualification certification according to established testing, certification methods and legal standards (mainly in the United States and Canada).

NCCA certification and the information it conveys to policymakers is an important reason why the BACB certification program can be written into hundreds of laws and other basic policies.

A unified certification standard means that the certification standards are consistent wherever they are. This means that BACB cannot simply address the issues raised above by making country-by-country changes to its certification programs or standards.

3. Do the requirements required for BACB certification only apply to some countries/regions and not others?

BACB recognizes that BACB's certification standards are applicable in some countries/regions and that the existing regulatory systems in these countries/regions also match BACB's requirements. However, in other countries/regions, BACB's certification system is not applicable.

Although BACB has historically been accustomed to including experts from countries other than the United States in the entire project, the evaluations over the past two decades have been mainly based on the United States and Canadian background.

BACB hopes to give other countries/regions more time to develop and improve their industry standards for behavioral analysis.

In 1998, when the BCBA certification standards were first introduced, its certification requirements were proposed because US facilities 21 years ago could support such requirements: 180 hours of graduate teaching in behavior analysis (i.e. 4 (a semester course worth 3 credits) and 18 months of professional practice.

Some countries will require their own course schedules to establish entry-level standards that may differ from BACB's current certification requirements.

BACB has also received feedback that the ethical standards set by BACB do not fully meet the moral requirements of other cultures. Developing ethical requirements that are consistent with the culture of the respective country can remedy the above shortcomings.

New international support system

Beyond the United States and Canada, there are many BACB certificate holders, VCS program and professional association members who contribute to BACB standards and certification programs A lot of effort went into it.

It would be remiss of BACB if it did not recognize their contribution and express gratitude. I want to say something here: Thank you! Many of you provide BACB with valuable professional advice and excellent volunteer help.

BACB hopes to start the next era of behavior analyst certification outside the United States and Canada. In the new era, each country can establish standards that are conducive to the development of the industry and are based on its own national conditions. .

BACB will still live up to the expectations of its international colleagues and fulfill its mission to "protect global consumers of behavioral analysis services by systematically establishing, promoting and disseminating professional standards."

BACB certification is not the only way to accomplish this mission, so BACB has developed a new system to provide assistance to colleagues around the world.

National behavior analysis organizations outside the United States and Canada can now formally apply to offer new BACB certification in their country after December 31, 2022.

Applications need to include an assessment of the professional development profile of the target country (conducted by the applicant), a comprehensive analysis of exam capacity, and an analysis of trademark, tax and trade law (conducted by the applicant). BACB conduct).

After reviewing the application documents and completing ancillary studies, the BACB Board of Directors will make a final decision on the matter.

In addition, BACB will reallocate staff and financial resources to assist national behavior analysis organizations outside the United States and Canada in developing independent behavior analyst standards that not only best meet their needs, but also Feasible within its current industry framework.

BACB support may include grants to consult with certification experts, meetings with stakeholders, assistance with exam development and free consultation on how to develop and maintain a certification program.

Official Q&A

Q: I hold a BACB-accredited certificate and live outside the United States and Canada. Will this change affect me?

Answer: Your certification status will not change. No matter where you live, you will be able to continue using your BACB certificate as long as you continue to maintain your certification.

Q: I hold a BACB-accredited certificate and live in the United States or Canada. If I intern or work outside the United States or Canada, can I still use my certificate after 2022?

Answer: No. You can still hold the certificate as long as you maintain certification. However, after December 31, 2022, you cannot use the certificate in the Applied Behavior Analysis practice when you are outside the United States and Canada. This is analogous to professionals who are licensed to practice behavior analysis in one state but not in another state. The original license can be retained but cannot be used in the new state.

Q: If I live outside the United States or Canada and am authorized to take a public exam on December 31, 2022, will I be able to take the exam in 2023 before my authorization expires?< /p>

Answer: No. Test authorization for all candidates residing outside the United States and Canada will end on December 31, 2022. Additionally, after this date, BACB exams will no longer be offered at testing centers outside the United States and Canada.

Q: If I live outside the United States or Canada, am authorized to take a public exam on December 31, 2021, and have taken a non-English speaking Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or Associate Certified Behavior Analysis (BCaBA) exam, can I continue to take the exam in the language I was using in 2022?

Answer: No. All non-English BCBA and BCaBA exams will cease from January 1, 2022. However, if you are authorized to take public exams at that time, you can take the exam in English.

Q: I am currently training to be a behavior analyst but cannot graduate before 2022. If I am willing to fly to the United States or Canada to take the exam, can I still apply for the BACB certificate at that time?

Answer: No. Beginning in 2023, BACB certification applications will only be accepted from individuals residing in the United States or Canada at the time of application and may then only be used in those countries. Announcing these changes three years in advance is intended to give individuals pursuing behavior analysis as a career goal sufficient time to complete their training and obtain BACB certification.

Q: I live and train outside of the United States or Canada. If I move to the United States or Canada in the future, can I apply for certification?

Answer: Yes. After 2022, BACB certification applications will only be accepted from individuals residing in the United States or Canada at the time of application and may then only be used in those countries. Any training obtained outside the United States or Canada must meet then-current qualification requirements.

Q: Will the Validation Course Sequence still be used outside the United States?

Answer: Because the International Association for Behavior Analysis is now using a certification course sequence system, we are unable to answer this question. However, the significant value of VCS is independent of BACB certification in that it covers a concentrated course of behavior analysis and allows those training programs to be included in VCS's training catalog.

Q: If I took a Certified Course Sequence System (VCS) outside the United States and Canada and then I move to the United States or Canada, after December 31, 2022, I will Can this course be considered part of the application I initiate?

Answer: Yes.

Applications initiated after December 31, 2022 can include courses, degrees, and practical experience completed outside the United States.