Reflections on Ethics and Licensure in OBM

McSween (2022) wrote a position paper about ethics in OBM. The author argues against pushing for state licensure. Instead, he says we should grow market demand for OBM services.

The paper claims a strong market will reward certified, ethical practitioners without extra laws.

The paper does not report new data. It makes a case that market forces can keep OBM ethical. More client demand means bad actors get weeded out naturally.

Certified BCBAs who deliver results will win contracts. Poor performers will lose work.

Luke et al. (2018) directly contradicts McSween. That paper says BACB certification rules already fit OBM and should stay unchanged. McSween wants the market, not the board, to drive ethics.

Braksick et al. (2023) extends McSween’s idea. It shows consultants how to sell OBM to big companies, creating the exact market pull McSween calls for.

Britton et al. (2021) shares the goal of ethical practice but uses supervision tools instead of market forces. Both papers aim to stop violations without new licensure.

If you consult in OBM, pause before joining licensure campaigns. Try McSween’s route first. Build a track record that clients can see. Market your BACB credential and outcome data. Let happy customers become your ethics watchdog. When demand grows, unethical players lose work and leave the field. You shape the market instead of waiting for lawmakers.