An Investigation of BCBA Exam Pass Rates as a Quality Indicator of Applied Behavior Analysis Training Programs
Most future BCBAs come from a handful of training programs, and pass rates climb when programs are ABAI-accredited and include face-to-face instruction.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Dubuque et al. (2022) looked at first-time BCBA exam pass rates for every verified course sequence (VCS) in the United States. They used public BACB data from 2013 through 2020 to see which programs produce the most test-takers and how format and accreditation relate to pass rates.
The team did not run an experiment. They simply counted and compared pass rates across instructional modes like online, hybrid, and face-to-face classes.
What they found
A small slice of VCSs train most of the people who sit for the BCBA exam. Pass rates differ by how the program is delivered and whether it holds ABAI accreditation.
Programs with ABAI approval and those using in-person or hybrid formats tended to post higher pass rates than fully online, non-accredited options.
How this fits with other research
Deochand et al. (2016) first mapped the boom in BACB certificants from 1999-2014. Dubuque picks up that story and zooms in on the training programs that feed the pipeline.
Deochand et al. (2024) extend the headcount to 2019 and show where supervisor shortages cluster. Together the three papers trace growth from national trend → program quality → regional workforce gaps.
Liddon et al. (2024) surveyed how clinics provide unrestricted hours. Their finding that daily clinic pressures block trainee activities pairs with Dubuque’s data: even high-pass programs may falter if trainees can’t practice real-world skills.
Why it matters
If you hire or supervise new BCBAs, check the pass-rate history of the programs you recruit from. Favor candidates whose VCSs match the formats and accreditation linked to higher success. When you advise would-be certificants, steer them toward programs with proven pass rates and solid in-person or hybrid components. The data also nudge university partners to seek ABAI accreditation and to build schedules that let trainees finish unrestricted hours—boosting both exam success and workforce readiness.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The number of colleges and universities offering behavior analytic training has grown rapidly over the last decade and it is time for our profession to evaluate the rigor of such trainings and to gain quality control. In this study we set out to investigate first-time pass rates on the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examinations across Verified Course Sequences (VCSs) using publicly available data between 2013 to 2020. We evaluated outcomes related to overall first-time pass rates; the small number of programs contributing the greatest number of BCBA exam candidates; and the difference in first-time pass rates by mode of instruction and ABAI accreditation. We discuss the use of first-time pass rate data as a quality indicator and provide some recommendations based on the outcomes evaluated.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2022 · doi:10.1007/s40617-021-00660-x