By Matt Harrington, BCBA · Behaviorist Book Club · Research-backed answers for behavior analysts
Supervisors are responsible for providing qualified, ongoing oversight: directly observing supervisee performance, delivering behavior-specific feedback, documenting supervision activities, and ensuring the supervisee has access to the full range of required activities. Supervisees are responsible for completing the required hours and activities, engaging honestly in feedback processes, maintaining accurate records, and taking initiative in identifying their own learning needs. Both parties are bound by professional and ethical obligations to represent the supervisory relationship accurately to the BACB.
A supervision contract should specify: the supervisor's credentials and supervisory competency areas; the services to be provided, including session format, frequency, and duration; performance expectations for the supervisee; documentation responsibilities for both parties; evaluation and feedback procedures; procedures for addressing performance concerns; contact information and communication expectations; cancellation and rescheduling policies; and the process for ending the supervisory relationship. Having these elements in writing before the first session protects both parties and ensures informed consent consistent with BACB Ethics Code Section 4.02.
The BACB's supervised fieldwork standards specify that a minimum percentage of supervision hours must occur individually and include direct observation of the supervisee working with clients. The specific percentages are outlined in the current supervised fieldwork standards, which are updated periodically. Supervisors must be familiar with the current requirements and ensure their observation practices meet those standards. Direct observation via video is permissible for remote supervision, but supervisors should confirm the current standards for what constitutes acceptable remote observation.
Inaccurate documentation can result in disqualification of affected supervision hours, which may render a supervisee ineligible for examination or require them to complete additional hours. In cases of intentional falsification, the BACB may pursue ethical violation proceedings against the supervisor, the supervisee, or both. Consequences can include formal reprimands, required remedial training, suspension, or decertification. Both parties are incentivized to maintain accurate records — inaccuracy that benefits the supervisee in the short term creates significant long-term risk for both individuals.
Supervisors providing experience hours for BCBA certification candidates must meet BACB requirements for supervisor status, which currently include holding active BCBA certification and completing an 8-hour supervisor training requirement before beginning supervision. BCBAs must renew their supervisor training through ongoing CEU requirements to maintain eligibility. Supervisors who have had their BACB certification suspended or revoked, or who have had a formal sanction related to supervision, may be ineligible to provide supervision. Supervisees should confirm their supervisor's current eligibility before beginning a supervisory relationship.
The BACB's supervised fieldwork standards specify that supervision must include experience across a defined set of task list content areas, including unrestricted activities such as skills acquisition and behavior reduction programming, and restricted activities such as behavior intervention plan development and conducting assessments. The specific distribution requirements are detailed in the current supervised fieldwork standards and may be updated as the BACB revises its certification requirements. Supervisors and supervisees should review the current standards document to ensure their supervision plans address all required categories.
The first step is to raise the concern directly with the supervisor in a professional and specific manner — describing the specific gap (insufficient observation frequency, limited activity category coverage, inadequate feedback) rather than making general complaints. If the concern is not adequately addressed, supervisees can seek consultation with a peer or mentor, contact the organization's supervision coordinator if one exists, or in cases of serious ethical violations, file a complaint with the BACB. Supervisees should document their concerns and any conversations about them in writing.
The BACB allows a portion of supervision hours to be completed via teleconference or video, subject to specific requirements that have evolved over time. Supervisors and supervisees should review the current BACB policy on remote supervision to understand what percentage of hours may be remote, what documentation is required for remote sessions, and whether remote direct observation of client sessions is permitted. Remote supervision introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic led to policy changes that may continue to evolve as the field settles on standards for hybrid supervision practice.
Supervisees should prepare by: reviewing data from recent client sessions and identifying any trends or concerns to bring to the supervisor's attention; identifying specific questions about client programming, assessment, or professional practice to discuss; reviewing any feedback received in previous sessions and considering how it has been applied; and tracking their current hour and activity category totals to ensure accurate records. Prepared supervisees make more efficient use of supervision time and demonstrate the professional engagement that supervisors are looking for.
Supervision for BCBA certification purposes involves a formal supervisory relationship where a qualified supervisor oversees the supervisee's direct client work, provides feedback on performance, and is responsible for the quality of that work. Consultation is a professional exchange between peers or between a practitioner and a specialist to address a specific clinical question — it does not carry the same level of ongoing oversight or responsibility. Consultation hours do not count toward BACB supervised fieldwork requirements unless they also meet the criteria for a supervised fieldwork activity as defined in the current standards.
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.