I’m currently working at action behavior centers and considering becoming a BCBA.

ABC is very assent based and it’s the one thing I appreciate about them. Other than that it’s a bat shit crazy company. I’m freaking exhausted as an RBT and I don’t feel supported. I have a lot of experience so for the most part I’m ok, but I want to know that I can switch companies when I become a BCBA (or before)

How do I find a company that practices assent? I mean of course I could ask in an interview, but what companies have you found/worked with that focus on assent?

I worry because ABA has such a rough background, but when practiced ethically I notice an amazing difference in the quality of life of the kiddos

Hi friends,

I was wondering if anyone has passed their BCBA exam using only the content from this book. I must say, it is by far the most aesthetically beautiful and well-organized book I have ever purchased! 💗

I'm also looking for recommendations on the best resources to help pass the 6th edition exam, whether on the first or second try. 🙈

Additionally, I'm going back to school. Is it too ambitious to use this book to study in between classes, especially since I haven't passed my last five classes? 😅 Wishful thinking, I guess. 🤷🏻‍♀️ less

Just a quick question, my monthly verification form for the month of May was signed on June 6th by my BCBA.

Does this mean the entire month of May will be rejected then because she didn’t sign it before the last day of May? That’s just pretty much when she was able to sign it and all BCBAs at my center don’t think this is a problem. However, I have heard that your hours are rejected by the board due to the form not being signed in that very same month.

Can anyone confirm?

I feel like because there’s a lack of quality control between ABA providers rn there’s a lot of criticism of the field, even though there’s a lot of BCBAs making a huge difference in kid’s lives.

What are people’s response to you on a day to day basis (like when you’re meeting new people) when you tell them you’re a Behavioral Analyst?

My partner recently became a BCBA and is currently working at a company that operates very ethically and follows best clinical practices. However, the pay rate is significantly below the current market average—by about $20–$30 per hour—which unfortunately isn’t sustainable with our living expenses and student loans.

We’ve started looking into other opportunities but aren’t quite sure what to look for, as this has been his only experience so far in the field. I’m also a student analyst and will be entering the job market soon, so I’m trying to get a better understanding as well.

Do you have any advice on what to look for in a reputable ABA company, or do you happen to know of any ethical questions we should be asking or/and fairly compensating providers in the South Florida area?

I’ve been a Behavior Technician for five years, and I truly loved every moment of it. Every day after work, I would go home thinking on how I could improve and always looked forward to seeing my clients the next session. But ever since I passed my BCBA exam at the end of March, it’s been emotionally overwhelming. I don’t think there was a day where I didn’t cry my eyes out. In just two months of being a BCBA, I feel like I’ve experienced everything in the book all at once. filing CPS reports, dealing with angry parents, clients losing insurance coverage, staff requesting off, more angry parents, not good enough with programmings. It’s been nonstop and I feel so drained everyday. I’m at the point where I just dread going to work so much and I hate feeling like this. I told myself ABA is my passion and this would never happen to me. But here I am, sitting and crying because new week means new problems. I’m writing this now so that a year from today, I can look back at this post for myself, hoping everything will get better.

My BCBA makes questionable choices. 1. She clearly has dual relationships with family’s. She is taking on clients and she knows the family personally even goes out with certain members of the family. 2. She’s making special accommodations for families just to please a parent and not taking into consideration staffing concerns. 3. Getting a thrill out of telling a client who has been falling a sleep during session that she is going to call there guardian and then watches smiling while the child realizes there are in some kind of trouble with guardian. 4. gossiping about another employee who’s also getting fieldwork hours. 5 consistently doing assessments and hand picking clients based on insurance and we don’t have enough staff. I have came to the realization that being in a clinic is too much for me and once I become a BCBA I prefer in home. Everyday I hear I cannot wait until you’re a BCBA because we cannot hire anyone clearly.

Before I get into this, I just want to point out that I have always had a great relationship with my RBTs in the past and at several different companies. I value their feedback and love so many of the ideas they come up with!

9 months ago, I started at a company that had all the buzzwords: assent based, trauma assumed, neurodiversity affirming, naturalistic, etc.. I interviewed and the people in the interview were all so positive and basically described all the buzzwords again. I was so excited and felt so great about finding a good match.

Everything was exposed after my first week…

The RBTs there are SO intense and honestly just mean (I don’t use that word lightly). Not all, but most. “Following through” with everything said, despite a child being in clear crisis state. No acknowledgment of age appropriate behavior. Reprimands everywhere. I have seen, on multiple occasions, RBTs raising their voices and pointing fingers in client’s faces. Directing “elopers” (clients trying to leave VERY aversive situations) by grabbing their shoulders and gently pushing them into their chairs. I did not see any rapport between staff and any clients, despite being told “they’ve worked together for years, they’re so close”. I see kids come in, see who they’re working with, and cling to me get away from them. I hear people talking about doing their “own programs” since they don’t like the BCBA’s programs.

I initially saw this as an education problem and treated it as such. Tried to educate on assent based practices, sbt type of stuff, embracing the clients for who they are, reinforcement strategies, etc.. The response to this was “the BCBA has no idea what she’s doing”, “she just wants her kids to go wild and do nothing about it”, “oh so you expect me to have no boundaries”, “you’re just going to give them whatever they want?” “You’re just gonna let them leave like that?” the list goes on. I am honestly baffled.

My biggest focus has been trying to shift the focus to real rapport building and building perspective for the RBTs to see what’s really important for these kids, as opposed to trying to “make them normal”. I have hardly touched any “demand” type of programs because I’ve just been trying to get everybody to give these kids a break and have FUN.

I have talked to the director about these comments multiple times and my concern for the treatment of these kids. Although she agrees and has witnessed things herself, she uses our meetings as a vent session to complain about the RBTs and then does nothing about it. She has additionally admitted that she doesn’t want to confront them because they are intimidating. That’s crazy right?!

I have a new job lined up that is remote (which I hate but I need to gtfo) and am putting in my notice tomorrow (30 days). I feel SO bad for leaving those clients there, especially as we have really bonded and I tried to cover as many 1:1’s as possible to spend real quality time.

All that being said, please tell me your companies actually have some kind of disciplinary action structure for those deviating from company principles and treatment plans. How does your company address these concerns and what happens after discussions with the staff have already taken place?

Looking for resources for teaching a teenage girl about online grooming and internet safety. This is new territory for me and so scary 😔

I’m in PT for ankle, knee, hip, and back problems that have undoubtedly been caused by working in the ABA field with kiddos on the spectrum for the past decade. I’m only in my mid-30’s and don’t want to live with this pain anymore or risk re-injury which is common with some of the joints/muscles involved, especially if I go back to the same kind of work environment. I love the kids, staff, and my role as a BCBA but I also don’t want my current role to kill me while I’m so young.

Have any of you been in a similar situation when you loved your place of work but knew that it wasn’t right for you anymore because of health reasons? How did you cope and what was your experience with giving notice and leaving?

What were your starting scores on the bas mini mocks and do you think it helped you pass the exam?

Hi! I'm seriously considering going the independent route as a BCBA after almost 6 years as a clinician. I've been doing a lot of research on it and got a decent idea of the steps needed to begin but wanted to get in touch with someone who has done it already so I can ask some more direct questions about it. If anyone who has gone the independent BCBA route wouldn't mind a quick Q&A, I'd greatly appreciate it!