Essential Reading
In this 2008 article, Gerry Shook and Judith Favell describe some of the factors that led to the creation of the BACB. While many statistics in the article are now outdated — for example, the BACB certified about 6,000 individuals in 2008 compared to over 118,000 RBTs and 61,000 BCBAs and BCaBAs today — the concerns that prompted the BACB’s creation remain important to understand the need for certification in ABA.
Essential Viewing
In this BACB-produced video, you’ll get an overview of the BACB’s role, certification requirements, and the services it provides:
Conversation Exercise
Complete the Conversation Exercise with FRED, our AI-powered chatbot. This helps reinforce your understanding through guided questions.
Click for instructions on accessing and using FRED
Click the conversation icon in the bottom right corner of your screen, or open FRED directly here.
For guidance on using FRED effectively, read our instructions here.
Reflection Exercise
After completing the reading and viewing tasks, reflect on your learning using the prompts below. Your reflection should be:
- Between 100 and 500 words (about 5-7 sentences minimum)
- Written in your preferred language
- Expressed in your own words — do not copy text from chatbots, websites, or this course
You’ll receive an email copy of your reflection to aid your RBT exam preparation.
Click to view Reflection Prompts & Example
Reflection Prompts (use one or more):
- Summarize Key Concepts: What are the main ideas you learned from the reading and video?
- Define in Your Own Words: How would you explain these concepts simply?
- Importance and Connections: Why is understanding the origins and role of the BACB important for RBTs?
- Practical Applications: Where could this knowledge be useful in your professional practice?
- Insights: What aspects of the reading or video did you find surprising or particularly important?
Example Reflection:
Before this lesson, I didn’t really understand why certification in ABA was necessary. The reading made me realize that before the BACB existed, there was a lot of confusion about what counted as ABA and who was qualified to deliver it. That’s surprising because I assumed ABA was always clearly defined. The video was also helpful in showing how structured the certification process is now, and how the BACB protects consumers from unqualified practitioners. This lesson made me more confident in pursuing my RBT credential because I can see how it fits into a bigger system of professional standards. I also think this understanding will help me explain the value of certification to families I might work with in the future.
When you’re ready, submit your reflection below:
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