These answers draw in part from “Supervision Practises” by Carobeth Zorzos (BehaviorLive), and extend it with peer-reviewed research from our library of 27,900+ ABA research articles. Clinical framing, BACB ethics code references, and cross-links below are synthesized by Behaviorist Book Club.
View the original presentation →The College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO) is a provincial regulatory body that governs the practice of behaviour analysis in Ontario under provincial health profession legislation. Unlike BACB certification, which is a voluntary credential, CPBAO registration is required for the regulated practice of behaviour analysis in Ontario. This means that practicing behaviour analysis without appropriate registration is not merely unprofessional but illegal. The regulatory framework establishes Standards of Practice, a complaints and discipline process, and supervision requirements that carry legal weight, adding an accountability layer beyond what BACB Ethics Code compliance alone provides.
Supervised Practice in the CPBAO context is a formal supervised experience arrangement required for individuals working toward initial registration as an RBA. It specifies a structured period during which the candidate practices under the oversight of a Supervising RBA who is responsible for attesting to the candidate's competence and professional conduct. Supervised Practice is distinct from ongoing supervision of registered practitioners — it is specifically the formal supervisory arrangement that enables candidates to accumulate the supervised experience required for registration. The CPBAO's Standards of Practice specify the requirements for Supervised Practice arrangements, including supervisor qualifications, documentation, and competency assessment.
Supervised Practice documentation requirements under CPBAO standards include a written supervision agreement at the outset of the arrangement, records of supervision activities that verify hours accrued in required formats, competency assessments against the CPBAO competency framework, and documentation of any concerns identified and the supervisory responses taken. The specific documentation formats may be specified by the CPBAO or may be left to supervisor discretion within specified parameters — supervisors should consult current CPBAO guidance for the most current requirements. All documentation should be maintained for the period required by the CPBAO and be available if the candidate's registration application is reviewed.
When an RBA supervises non-regulated professionals whose work involves behaviour analytic services, the supervisory responsibility includes ensuring that those services are delivered safely and effectively within the non-regulated professional's actual competence. The supervisor is responsible for establishing clear scope of practice boundaries, providing training to the level required for safe implementation of the services being delivered, maintaining ongoing oversight appropriate to the risk level of the client population and the complexity of the services, and taking action to restrict or terminate services when a non-regulated professional is operating outside their competence or creating client risk. The CPBAO's guidance on this point establishes the floor for these responsibilities.
When a Supervised Practice candidate is not meeting competency milestones, the supervisor must address this directly, document the concern formally, and establish a remediation plan with specific behavioral targets, a timeline, and clear criteria for what constitutes adequate progress. If the candidate does not meet those criteria despite the remediation plan, the supervisor has an obligation to recommend against progression — including, ultimately, against registration if the candidate does not reach the required competency level. This is a difficult supervisory situation, but the regulatory framework makes clear that the supervisor's attestation to competence is a professional and legal responsibility, not a formality.
Yes. RBAs who also hold BACB credentials are bound by both the CPBAO Standards of Practice and the BACB Ethics Code. Where the two frameworks overlap, compliance with both is required. Where they differ, practitioners should generally apply the more protective standard and seek guidance from the relevant regulatory body when genuine conflicts arise. Holding both credentials does not reduce obligations — it extends them. Practitioners in this situation should familiarize themselves with both sets of requirements and should not assume that compliance with one framework is sufficient for compliance with the other.
Practitioners with BACB backgrounds who seek to practice in Ontario must obtain CPBAO registration in addition to or as a replacement for their BACB credential, depending on the specific practice context. They must familiarize themselves with CPBAO Standards of Practice, which may differ from BACB standards in scope, terminology, and specific requirements. Supervision requirements, documentation standards, and competency frameworks may not be identical to what BACB-trained practitioners know. The registration process itself provides guidance on what is required; practitioners planning to work in Ontario should contact the CPBAO directly for current registration requirements before assuming that BACB credentials are sufficient for Ontario practice.
In a regulated context, the supervisor's authority and obligation to restrict a supervisee's practice scope is more explicitly defined than in purely voluntary credentialing contexts. The CPBAO framework establishes the Supervising RBA as responsible for the quality of practice during Supervised Practice — which means the supervisor has both the authority and the obligation to restrict practice when a supervisee is operating at a scope that exceeds their demonstrated competency or creates client risk. This responsibility should be understood as a professional protection mechanism, not a punitive tool. Documenting the restriction, its basis, and the plan for competency development provides a record of appropriate supervisory action.
If a formal complaint is filed with the CPBAO regarding a supervisee's practice or a supervisor's supervisory conduct, the CPBAO's investigative process will examine whether the relevant Standards of Practice were followed. Supervisors who have maintained comprehensive documentation of their supervisory activities, who addressed identified concerns promptly and formally, and who made decisions consistent with the Standards of Practice are in a much stronger position in this process than those who relied on informal supervision without documentation. The Standards of Practice serve both as a guide for professional conduct and as a benchmark against which professional conduct is evaluated in complaints processes.
CPBAO requirements can change as the regulatory body develops its standards over time. Supervisors should review current CPBAO publications, attend CPBAO-sponsored professional development events, and consult the CPBAO's member resources regularly to ensure their supervisory practices remain compliant with current standards. Participation in professional community discussions about regulatory developments — through professional associations and peer networks — also helps supervisors stay current. When uncertain about whether a specific supervisory situation is addressed by current standards, direct consultation with the CPBAO is appropriate and demonstrates the professional diligence that the regulatory framework expects.
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ on-demand CEUs including ethics, supervision, and clinical topics like this one. Plus a new live CEU every Wednesday.
Ready to go deeper? This course covers this topic with structured learning objectives and CEU credit.
Supervision Practises — Carobeth Zorzos · 1 BACB Supervision CEUs · $15
Take This Course →We extended these answers with research from our library — dig into the peer-reviewed studies behind the topic, in plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
195 research articles with practitioner takeaways
194 research articles with practitioner takeaways
105 research articles with practitioner takeaways
1 BACB Supervision CEUs · $15 · BehaviorLive
Research-backed educational guide with practice recommendations
Side-by-side comparison with clinical decision framework
You earn CEUs from a dozen different places. Upload any certificate — from here, your employer, conferences, wherever — and always know exactly where you stand. Learning, Ethics, Supervision, all handled.
No credit card required. Cancel anytime.
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.