Frequently Asked Questions about the Profession
1. Is ABA a treatment used only with children on the autism spectrum?
No. ABA has been shown to be effective across the lifespan with those on the autism spectrum. In fact, ABA has been shown to be effective in promoting behaviour change across most populations and age ranges.
2. Is ABA a recognized or regulated profession in the Atlantic Provinces?
Currently, ABA is not a recognized or regulated profession in any of the Atlantic Provinces. We recommend reviewing our “Statement on the Professional Practice of Behaviour Analysis in the Atlantic Provinces” for further information about this issue.
3. What is a BCBA or BCaBA?
A BCBA is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, they are certified, by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), at a graduate-level in behaviour analysis. A BCBA is an independent practitioner who provides behaviour analytic services. A BCBA identifies functional relations between behaviour and environmental factors which supports them in designing, implementing, and evaluating intervention plans. A BCaBA is a person who is certified, by the BACB, at an undergraduate-level in behaviour analysis. They practice behaviour analytic services under supervision of a BCBA.
No. ABA has been shown to be effective across the lifespan with those on the autism spectrum. In fact, ABA has been shown to be effective in promoting behaviour change across most populations and age ranges.
2. Is ABA a recognized or regulated profession in the Atlantic Provinces?
Currently, ABA is not a recognized or regulated profession in any of the Atlantic Provinces. We recommend reviewing our “Statement on the Professional Practice of Behaviour Analysis in the Atlantic Provinces” for further information about this issue.
3. What is a BCBA or BCaBA?
A BCBA is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, they are certified, by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), at a graduate-level in behaviour analysis. A BCBA is an independent practitioner who provides behaviour analytic services. A BCBA identifies functional relations between behaviour and environmental factors which supports them in designing, implementing, and evaluating intervention plans. A BCaBA is a person who is certified, by the BACB, at an undergraduate-level in behaviour analysis. They practice behaviour analytic services under supervision of a BCBA.
4. What can I do if I feel like someone providing ABA services to me or my child has treated me poorly or in ways that I don't think are ethical?
If the service provider is a certified professional with the BACB with either one of the credentials of: RBT, BCaBA, BCBA or BCBA-D and you feel that they have acted unethically you can visit the BACB website to report an alleged violation: https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/reporting-to-ethics-department/.
If the service provider is not certified with the BACB, they may hold licensure or certification from another professional body, such as the Speech-Language Pathologist Association in your province. If this is the case, we recommend visiting the professional body’s website for information about how to report an alleged ethical violation. If the individual is not certified or licensed with any professional body and working at the direction of someone else, we recommend making contact with that supervisor to report your concern. If the individual is not certified with any professional body, you may want to consider switching providers if discussing the matter with them does not solve your concern.
Regardless of whether the individual is certified through the BACB, through another professional body, or not at all, if you believe that your child has been abused in any way, contact Child Protective Services in your province as soon as possible.
5. Can I find out if the person providing ABA services to me or my child is certified? How can I find certified individuals in the Atlantic Provinces?
Any professional that is a certified RBT, BCaBA, BCBA or BCBA-D that resides and practices within the Atlantic Provinces can be found on the registry through the BACB website:https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=101135.
If the service provider is a certified professional with the BACB with either one of the credentials of: RBT, BCaBA, BCBA or BCBA-D and you feel that they have acted unethically you can visit the BACB website to report an alleged violation: https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/reporting-to-ethics-department/.
If the service provider is not certified with the BACB, they may hold licensure or certification from another professional body, such as the Speech-Language Pathologist Association in your province. If this is the case, we recommend visiting the professional body’s website for information about how to report an alleged ethical violation. If the individual is not certified or licensed with any professional body and working at the direction of someone else, we recommend making contact with that supervisor to report your concern. If the individual is not certified with any professional body, you may want to consider switching providers if discussing the matter with them does not solve your concern.
Regardless of whether the individual is certified through the BACB, through another professional body, or not at all, if you believe that your child has been abused in any way, contact Child Protective Services in your province as soon as possible.
5. Can I find out if the person providing ABA services to me or my child is certified? How can I find certified individuals in the Atlantic Provinces?
Any professional that is a certified RBT, BCaBA, BCBA or BCBA-D that resides and practices within the Atlantic Provinces can be found on the registry through the BACB website:https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=101135.
6. How can I become certified or get into this field?
To find out more information about how to become certified and work in the field of ABA please visit the BACB’s website. Here you can find out more information about what level of education or course sequences are needed for each credential along with any supervision hours and exams that need to be written before becoming a certified ABA professional.
You can also visit ABAI’s Course Sequence Directory to find a program near you or one that is online.
7. What are ABA services like?
ABA services will look different for each individual. This is because ABA services are individualized to each person depending on the behaviours that are being targeted, the procedures that may be used given contextual factors, the motivation of the individual, and the training of the provider. However, there are some phases to ABA services that will be found in most cases: Initial intake, follow-up assessments, service planning, and service delivery. You can also expect that the service provider will be collecting data on a daily basis, if not more often, during service delivery. This is done to make sure the services being provided are making a difference. We recommend reviewing the Council of Autism Service Providers document on practice guidelines for a more in-depth review of components of ABA services.
8. Will being a member of APABA allow me to provide ABA services?
No. The Atlantic Provinces Association for Behaviour Analysis (APABA) is a professional organization representing behaviour analysis in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island and does not license or certify anyone to be able to provide ABA services. Anyone can become a member of APABA and being a member will connect you to professional development, networking, and advocacy opportunities within the behaviour analytic community
9. How can I obtain ABA services?
If you are wanting ABA services for an individual on the autism spectrum, the available services will differ based on the province in which you reside. Please visit the appropriate website below for your more information about the services provided in your province:
If the individual does not qualify for these services, they may be able to find services from certified individuals on a private basis. To find certified professionals, please see the link in question 5.
If you are not looking for services for someone on the autism spectrum, or that individual has aged out of services in your province, you may be able to find an individual who provides private ABA services.
10. How do I know whether something being provided to my child is considered ABA?
We recommend reviewing APBA’s document on Identifying ABA Interventions. The same document is available in French.
11. Why may it be beneficial to become a Certified?
Becoming a BCBA, BCaBA, or RBT provides a minimum level of verification of knowledge, skills and abilities in behaviour analysis. We recommend reviewing the BCBA Handbook, BCaBA Handbook, or RBT Handbook for detailed information.
To find out more information about how to become certified and work in the field of ABA please visit the BACB’s website. Here you can find out more information about what level of education or course sequences are needed for each credential along with any supervision hours and exams that need to be written before becoming a certified ABA professional.
You can also visit ABAI’s Course Sequence Directory to find a program near you or one that is online.
7. What are ABA services like?
ABA services will look different for each individual. This is because ABA services are individualized to each person depending on the behaviours that are being targeted, the procedures that may be used given contextual factors, the motivation of the individual, and the training of the provider. However, there are some phases to ABA services that will be found in most cases: Initial intake, follow-up assessments, service planning, and service delivery. You can also expect that the service provider will be collecting data on a daily basis, if not more often, during service delivery. This is done to make sure the services being provided are making a difference. We recommend reviewing the Council of Autism Service Providers document on practice guidelines for a more in-depth review of components of ABA services.
8. Will being a member of APABA allow me to provide ABA services?
No. The Atlantic Provinces Association for Behaviour Analysis (APABA) is a professional organization representing behaviour analysis in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island and does not license or certify anyone to be able to provide ABA services. Anyone can become a member of APABA and being a member will connect you to professional development, networking, and advocacy opportunities within the behaviour analytic community
9. How can I obtain ABA services?
If you are wanting ABA services for an individual on the autism spectrum, the available services will differ based on the province in which you reside. Please visit the appropriate website below for your more information about the services provided in your province:
- Newfoundland and Labrador: https://www.autism.nf.net/person-with-autism/government-supports/
- Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/autism/
- Prince Edward Island: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/education-and-lifelong-learning/autism-services-children-and-youth
- New Brunswick: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.13836.Services_for_Preschool_Children_with_Autism_Spectrum_Disorders.html
If the individual does not qualify for these services, they may be able to find services from certified individuals on a private basis. To find certified professionals, please see the link in question 5.
If you are not looking for services for someone on the autism spectrum, or that individual has aged out of services in your province, you may be able to find an individual who provides private ABA services.
10. How do I know whether something being provided to my child is considered ABA?
We recommend reviewing APBA’s document on Identifying ABA Interventions. The same document is available in French.
11. Why may it be beneficial to become a Certified?
Becoming a BCBA, BCaBA, or RBT provides a minimum level of verification of knowledge, skills and abilities in behaviour analysis. We recommend reviewing the BCBA Handbook, BCaBA Handbook, or RBT Handbook for detailed information.