Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Certificate Program
APPLY NOW REQUEST INFO GRADUATE COLLEGEThe Department of Psychological Science offers a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Certificate program. Students in this program will complete courses in applied behavior analysis, research design, behavioral assessment, behavioral intervention, supervision, and ethics. The program is a master’s-level program that is open to students with and without a master’s degree. Students who have already earned a master’s degree and would like to complete the BCBA course sequence can apply to the certificate program, as a standalone program. Students who do not yet have a master’s degree can apply to either the clinical psychology master’s program or the experimental psychology master’s program simultaneously with the BCBA certificate program. Students who are admitted to the clinical psychology program and the certificate program will complete the required clinical coursework and the seven BCBA courses (listed below). Students who are admitted to the experimental psychology program and the certificate program may complete the majority of the BCBA coursework as elective courses in the Experimental Psychology degree plan.
Becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
There are several pathways in which students can become eligible to take the BCBA exam through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Most students that apply to our program fall under Pathway 2: Behavior-Analytic Coursework www.bacb.com. Students in Pathway 2 must complete the three items listed below in order to be eligible for the exam.
- Complete a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral)
- Complete the BCBA courses
- Complete supervised fieldwork hours
Our BCBA program will help students work towards certification. Students who complete the coursework for the BCBA program and the clinical or experimental psychology master’s program will meet the first two requirements. Students typically complete their supervised fieldwork hours under the supervision of a BCBA in the community in conjunction with their coursework. Upon meeting the requirements listed above, students are then eligible to register for the BCBA exam.
Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination. The BACB makes final and formal determinations of eligibility.
Courses that Meet the BCBA 5th Edition Task List
- PSYC 6315: Applied Behavior Analysis
- PSYC 6325: Conditioning & Learning
- PSYC 6334: Single Subject Designs
- PSYC 6350: Behavioral Assessment
- PSYC 6351: Behavior Change
- PSYC 6355: Behavior Change & Supervision
- PSYC 6362/6376: Contemporary Professional Issues and Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis
Courses and Their Content Hours
Application Deadlines
The program only reviews and accepts applications on a yearly basis. The university applications are due in the Spring semester. Please reference the due date on the graduate college’s website. The admitted students begin the program in the subsequent Fall semester.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent in a similar or related field
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
- Completed or be enrolled in a master’s degree program
Items needed to complete the application
- Official transcripts from each institution attended submitted directly to UTRGV
- Three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources
- A personal statement that details your professional goals and reasons you are pursuing the graduate certificate
- GRE General Test. Note: A waiver will be granted to applicants who show proof of completing a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral). The GRE is waived—for different reasons—during some years, please check with the graduate college or contact person listed below.
When you are ready to apply, please be sure to apply to the appropriate program(s) of interest. If you would like to apply to the experimental psychology program, you will need to apply to the Experimental Psychology- Master of Arts. If you would like to apply to the clinical psychology program, you will need to apply to the Clinical Psychology- Master of Arts. If you would like to apply to the BCBA program in conjunction or as a standalone program, you will need to apply to the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (Certificate Only- College of Liberal Arts). There are two BCBA programs at UTRGV, so it is important to select the program to which you seek to apply.
To obtain additional information regarding the requirements, or if you would like to apply click this link.
For more information regarding the program, please contact:
Jason Popan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
(956) 665-3328
E-mail: jason.popan@utrgv.edu
Resource Links
- Behavior Analyst Certification Board
- Association for Behavior Analysis International
- Texas Association for Behavior Analysis
- B. F. Skinner Foundation