BCBA vs. BCaBA Exam: What’s the Difference?
- Ashleigh Evans (BCBA)
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
If you're pursuing a career in applied behavior analysis (ABA), you may be wondering what the difference is between the BCBA and BCaBA exams. Both certifications are issued by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), and while the exams cover much of the same content, they're not identical.
The differences go beyond just exam length. They reflect distinct levels of education, scope of practice, and professional responsibility. Here’s what you should know before choosing your path.
BCBA Versus BCaBA
Before comparing the exams, it’s important to understand the difference between the credentials themselves.
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is a graduate-level behavior analyst. BCBAs are qualified to practice independently. They conduct assessments, design and evaluate intervention plans, supervise staff, and make clinical decisions.
A Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA®) is an undergraduate-level certification. BCaBAs provide behavior-analytic services under the supervision of a BCBA. While they can assist with assessments, implement intervention plans, collect and analyze data, and supervise RBTs, they can't practice independently and must maintain ongoing supervision from a BCBA.
BCBA Qualifications:
Master's degree
1,500-2,000 fieldwork hours
BCBA exam
BCaBA Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree
1,000-1,300 fieldwork hours
BCaBA exam
How do the Exams Compare?
It’s commonly said that the BCaBA exam is just a shorter version of the BCBA exam. But that’s not entirely accurate.
While both exams are based on similar content areas, they're built from separate Test Content Outlines (TCOs) and reflect different levels of professional responsibility. The differences are subtle in many areas.
Let’s take a closer look.
BCBA and BCaBA Test Content Outlines (TCOs)
Each certification has its own 6th Edition Test Content Outline, which defines the content that appears on the exam.
The domains are largely the same, with two slight naming differences:
Domain H
BCBA: Selecting and Implementing Interventions
BCaBA: Intervention Development and Monitoring
Domain I
BCBA: Personnel Supervision and Management
BCaBA: Supervisory Relationships
The BCBA TCO also has more total tasks, 104, compared to the BCaBA's 90.
When you look closely at the tasks inside each domain, you'll see many of the same exact tasks. You'll also notice several differences. Here are a few examples:
Under Behavior Assessment, the BCBA TCO includes the task: Interpret assessment data to identify and prioritize socially significant, client-informed, and culturally responsive behavior-change procedures and goals. This task doesn't appear on the BCaBA TCO.
Under Concepts and Principles, the BCBA TCO includes the task: Identify and distinguish among concurrent, multiple, mixed, and chained schedules of reinforcement. This level of schedule analysis doesn't appear on the BCaBA TCO.
You’ll also notice differences in the wording of tasks across the two outlines. For example, the BCaBA TCO often uses terms like “implement,” whereas the BCBA TCO more frequently uses phrases like “design and evaluate.”
Exam Breakdowns
The BCBA exam has more total questions and fewer unscored questions. With both exams, candidates are given four hours.
BCBA Exam
175 scored questions
10 unscored pilot questions
185 total
BCaBA Exam
150 scored questions
25 unscored pilot questions
175 total
The exam percentages are relatively similar. Domains A (Behaviorism and Philosophical Foundations) and D (Experimental Design) make up smaller portions of both exams.
Important: Pilot questions do not count toward your final score, but you won’t know which questions are scored and which are unscored while taking the exam.
Level of Difficulty
While there are many similarities between the BCBA and BCaBA Test Content Outlines, the BACB states that SMEs who develop exam questions are trained to account for the different levels of performance required at each certification level. In other words, although the exams cover similar content areas, they are written to reflect different scopes of practice. The exams share similar content, but they don't share questions.
Which Path Should You Take?
Choosing between the BCBA and BCaBA path depends on your education level, career goals, and desired level of responsibility. It also depends on available job opportunities in your area. BCBA demand continues to soar, making career opportunities vast. The opportunities aren't quite as vast for BCaBAs, depending on the area.
If you're pursuing a bachelor's degree but don't want to continue your education for a master's degree, BCaBA is a great option.
The BCBA and BCaBA exams share the same scientific foundation, but they reflect different levels of professional practice. Before choosing your path, consider not just the exam, but the type of professional you want to become.
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