Some actions for behavior analyst licensing bodies to consider in response to the <scp>COVID</scp>‐19 pandemic

Fronapfel et al. (2020) wrote a position paper for state licensing boards. They listed emergency actions needed to keep ABA services running during COVID-19.

The authors asked boards to allow telehealth supervision and to let BCBAs practice across state lines without new licenses.

The paper does not report new data. It gives regulatory recommendations to protect clients and trainees when in-person contact is unsafe.

Rispoli et al. (2020) extends these ideas by giving ready-made telehealth templates. Boards can hand these forms to supervisors the same day they approve remote work.

Simmons et al. (2021) adds a caution. Their survey shows trainees like virtual supervision but still want some in-person meetings. This supports the paper’s call for temporary, not permanent, loosening of rules.

Awasthi et al. (2021) supplies outcome proof. After one clinic moved 92 kids to telehealth, language goals kept growing. The results give boards real-world evidence that emergency telehealth rules can work.

You can cite this paper when you ask your state board for emergency telehealth approval. Keep the Fronapfel list and the Rispoli templates in the same email. Show Simmons data to calm fears about trainee quality, and add Awasthi outcomes to prove kids still learn. One short policy packet can open doors for safe, remote ABA during any future crisis.