Evaluating Sources of Continuing Education and Professional Development Used by Behavior Analysts
BCBAs want CEUs from peer-reviewed outlets and live experts, so give them that, not social-media posts.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Kranak et al. (2023) sent a survey to working BCBAs. They asked where people go for CEUs and why.
The team listed journals, conferences, podcasts, Facebook groups, and famous speakers. Participants picked the ones they trust most.
What they found
Peer-reviewed articles won. In-person conferences came next. Big-name speakers also scored high.
Social-media groups and random blog posts sat at the bottom of the list. BCBAs want sources they can cite in a report.
How this fits with other research
Critchfield et al. (2023) show the same journal, Behavior Analysis in Practice, already reaches lots of clinicians. The new survey explains why: readers trust it.
Dixon (2014) predicted this. That editorial said video abstracts and podcasts would help. Kranak’s data prove BCBAs still skip Facebook and pick those polished formats.
Lerman (2024) takes the idea further. After you see that BCBAs like peer review, you can package the same quality controls for teachers and nurses who are not BCBAs.
Why it matters
Stop posting CEU quizzes on Instagram. Put your training in a journal, a conference workshop, or invite a known speaker. Your audience already said yes to those channels.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Submit your next staff training outline to a small state conference or local ABA chapter newsletter—both count as trusted outlets.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
Board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) are required to accrue continuing education units (CEUs) every 2 years, and to regularly engage in professional development. Identifying sources of CEUs and professional development activities, what factors BCBAs consider when choosing them, and their preferences and opinions could help inform the provision of CEU and professional development activities. However, little is known about those collective sources nor the preferences of behavior analysts in obtaining them. We surveyed individuals certified as BCBAs or board certified assistant behavior analysts through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board mass e-mail service to identify trends in CEU accruement and professional development and factors driving individuals to certain sources over others. Respondents indicated they value and believe peer-reviewed articles, in-person conferences, and well-known speakers over less verifiable sources such as social media platforms (e.g., Facebook groups or podcasts). Implications for improving the accessibility of high-quality sources of CEUs and professional development are discussed.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2023 · doi:10.1007/s40617-022-00769-7