By Matt Harrington, BCBA · Behaviorist Book Club · Research-backed answers for behavior analysts
COABA (Colorado Association for Behavior Analysis) is a state-level professional association for behavior analysts in Colorado. It is affiliated with the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and serves multiple functions for its members: legislative advocacy on issues affecting ABA practice in Colorado, professional development through conferences and trainings, ethical guidance and resources, community building among practitioners, and engagement with consumer advocacy groups and policymakers. COABA has been involved in advocacy efforts related to legislation like HB22-1260, making it a significant player in shaping the regulatory environment for ABA practice in the state.
Organizational business meetings are where the governance of professional associations happens: committees report on their work, members vote on organizational policies and leadership, and the strategic direction of the association is set. BCBAs who attend these meetings gain direct insight into the current state of professional advocacy, the challenges the field is navigating, and the decisions being made on behalf of all members. Participation is a form of professional civic engagement — the policies COABA advocates for affect every BCBA practicing in Colorado, and those policies are shaped by the members who show up and engage.
State behavior analysis associations typically have committees covering legislative and regulatory affairs (monitoring and advocating on state laws affecting ABA), professional development (organizing CE events and trainings), ethics (providing guidance and resources on ethics questions), membership (recruitment and retention of members), diversity and inclusion (ensuring the association is welcoming and relevant to all practitioners), and awards and recognition (honoring contributions to the field). Each committee provides a different avenue for member participation, and BCBAs can find meaningful ways to contribute that align with their interests and expertise.
Several provisions of the BACB Ethics Code have professional community dimensions. Code 6.0 (Responsibility to the Field) broadly supports practitioners' engagement in the governance and advocacy activities that sustain the profession. Code 2.05 (Consultation and Referral) is facilitated by the professional networks that association participation builds. Code 1.06 (Maintaining Competence) is supported by the continuing education opportunities that associations provide. And the voting and governance participation that business meetings enable is consistent with the professional responsibility obligations that the Code articulates more broadly.
ABAI (Association for Behavior Analysis International) is a global scientific and professional organization focused on the advancement of behavior analysis as a scientific discipline; it organizes major international and national conferences and publishes key behavior analysis journals. The BACB (Behavior Analyst Certification Board) is the credentialing organization that develops and administers BCBA, BCaBA, and RBT certification. State associations like COABA operate at the state level, focusing on the specific legislative, regulatory, and professional development needs of practitioners in their state. They are the most directly relevant to day-to-day practice conditions for BCBAs.
COABA, like most state behavior analysis associations, is typically an approved provider of BACB continuing education. This means that trainings, workshops, and other professional development events organized by COABA can count toward the 32 CEU requirement for BCBA certification renewal, subject to the BACB's requirements regarding content areas (including Ethics, Supervision, and unrestricted CEUs). BCBAs should verify that specific events carry BACB CEU approval and document their attendance for certification records. Business meetings may or may not carry CE credit depending on how the organization has structured the event.
Social and community-building events at professional conferences serve functions that are distinct from but complementary to formal CE content. Building collegial relationships with other practitioners creates consultation networks that BCBAs draw on throughout their careers, provides peer support that reduces professional isolation, and strengthens the informal knowledge-sharing that keeps practitioners current on practical clinical issues. Raffles and social gatherings also serve recruitment and retention functions for the professional association — positive conference experiences motivate members to return and to recruit colleagues. The community-building dimension of conferences is a genuine professional investment, not merely entertainment.
Early-career BCBAs can build association engagement progressively. Starting with conference attendance allows new practitioners to become familiar with the association's structure, meet members across the state, and identify areas of interest. From there, volunteering for conference committees or work groups is a manageable next step that provides concrete contribution without long-term commitment. Joining a standing committee aligned with one's interests — ethics, legislative affairs, or diversity — provides a more sustained form of engagement. Most associations actively welcome early-career members in committees and leadership pipelines, recognizing that the profession's future depends on engaging the next generation of practitioners early.
Voting in professional association elections and on organizational business matters is one of the most direct forms of influence available to individual practitioners. Before voting, BCBAs should review available information about candidates for leadership positions — their professional backgrounds, stated priorities, and relevant experience with the issues the organization is currently facing. On policy or position matters, BCBAs should consider how the proposed position or change aligns with their professional values, clinical experience, and understanding of the field's current needs. Abstaining from voting by default is a missed opportunity to exercise professional voice in the governance of the field.
State behavior analysis associations engage with the autism and broader disability community in several important ways. They collaborate with consumer advocacy organizations — like Autism Colorado — on legislative advocacy that affects access to services. They develop public-facing educational resources about ABA services and how to find qualified providers. They engage with state agencies responsible for Medicaid, education, and adult services to advocate for policies that support effective service delivery. And they promote ethical practice standards that protect clients and families from substandard or harmful services. BCBAs who are engaged in these associations amplify their advocacy reach well beyond what any individual practitioner can achieve independently.
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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.