BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst)

The Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is a board certified individual who is trained to provide and supervise behavior analysis. Often it is a BCBA who supervises individuals providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). By engaging in activities such as consultation with teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, and others working in the schools, BCBAs can provide significant contributions toward effective school practices by completing behavioral observations of both instructional and student variables, development of procedural descriptions; assisting in the specification of behavior change monitoring systems (data collection), guiding the development of Functional Behavior Assessments and Positive Behavior Support Plans, and participation in team planning for school-wide systems of positive behavior support. BCBAs are able to collaborate in the development of educational programs related to the treatment of autism and other developmental disorders, including programs for teaching verbal behavior, imitation skills, social skills, and instructional control for individual students, as well as classroom management procedures.