Applied Behavioral Analysis Certificate
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The Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) certification is a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis. BCBA®s are independent practitioners who can provide behavior-analytic services and supervise the work of RBT®s, BCaBA®s, and other professionals who implement behavior-analytic interventions.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®)
The Department of Psychological Science offers an Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) certificate program. Students in this program will complete courses in applied behavior analysis, conditioning and learning, research methods, behavioral assessment, behavioral intervention, OBM and supervision, and ethics.
The Certificate 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 in a related field and would like to complete the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) certificate 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 Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) certificate program.
Clinical Psychology Master’s Program - Students who are admitted to the clinical psychology program and the certificate program will complete the required clinical coursework and the seven Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) certificate courses (listed below).
Experimental Psychology Program - Students who are admitted to the experimental psychology program and the certificate program may complete the majority of the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) certificate coursework as elective courses in the Experimental Psychology degree plan.
There are several pathways in which students can become eligible to take the BCBA® exam through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Most students fall under Pathway 2: Behavior-Analytic Coursework. 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 Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) certificate will help students work towards BCBA® certification. Students who complete the coursework for the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) certificate 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 BACB® 6th 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: 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 application 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 psychology, education, or related 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
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 Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) certificate in conjunction or as a standalone program, you will need to apply to the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) (Certificate Only- College of Liberal Arts).
If you have additional questions after reading the information please contact us.
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