What does a BCBA do?

If your child is in ABA therapy or about to start, you are going to hear the letters BCBA a lot.

BCBA stands for Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

A BCBA is the person who designs your child’s therapy program. They look at the big picture. What your child can do, what they need help with, and how to get there.

What does a BCBA actually do day to day?

They observe your child and figure out what skills to work on first. They write your child’s treatment plan, called an ITP. They train the therapists who work directly with your child. They watch sessions, check the data, and adjust the plan when something is not working. They meet with you to talk about progress, answer questions, and teach you strategies to use at home.

A good BCBA does not hand you a plan and disappear. They are involved. They check in. They change things when they need to.

How is a BCBA different from the therapist in the room?

The person with your child during most sessions is usually a behavior technician. They are trained and supervised by the BCBA.

The BCBA is the supervisor. They make sure the therapy is being done correctly and that your child is making progress. They observe sessions, review data, and meet with the direct care team regularly.

What training does a BCBA have?

A master’s degree, specialized coursework in behavior analysis, 1,500+ hours of supervised experience, and a national certification exam. It is not easy to become one. That is the point.

At ExcelPath, every child’s program is written and supervised by a BCBA, and the BCBA who writes your child’s plan is the one who sees them every week. If you ever want to talk to them, ask. That is what they are there for.