Maintaining Effective Supervision Systems for Trainees Pursuing a Behavior Analyst Certification Board Certification During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Use Ninci’s free supervision templates and back them with remote BST packages that later studies prove work.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Ninci et al. (2021) wrote a how-to guide for BCBA supervisors.
They list ready-made forms for fieldwork tracking and needs checks.
The goal was to keep trainee supervision strong when COVID-19 closed clinics.
What they found
The paper gives plug-and-play templates, not new data.
You can download a fieldwork log and a trainee-needs survey.
Both are set up for Zoom or masked in-person days.
How this fits with other research
Lloveras et al. (2022) go further. They ran a remote group BST and every BCBA hit mastery on functional analysis.
Piazza et al. (2025) also show remote BST works. All nine trainees learned to teach ethics to others.
Together these studies turn Ninci’s templates into an evidence-based path: use the forms, then deliver skills training online.
Why it matters
You can open the paper, copy the forms, and email them to your trainee today.
Pair the logs with remote BST sessions shown in later studies.
You keep hours on track and quality high without extra prep time.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Behavior analysts acting as supervisors of individuals pursuing Behavior Analyst Certification Board certification are tasked with designing effective and ethical supervision and training systems. Behavior analyst supervisors and their trainees may face challenges fulfilling their responsibilities in the midst of barriers that include competing contingencies, transitions, and interruptions. In this article, we review potential obstacles faced by supervisors in designing effective supervision through site closures and transitions to telepractice as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We explore related potential barriers faced by trainees serving clients through public school settings, as well as through insurance-funded agencies in the United States. We review some practical solutions and offer tools for supervisors and trainees to consider at this time. We present a template for trainees to help them develop a personalized applied behavior analysis fieldwork plan for their supervision, a client/family needs assessment, and a corresponding trainee needs assessment to assist with adaptations to supervision and service delivery in an individualized manner.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2021 · doi:10.1007/s40617-021-00565-9