Restricted vs. Unrestricted Activities in BCBA Fieldwork: What Trainees Need to Know
- Ashleigh Evans (BCBA)
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
To earn certification as a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA), candidates must complete between 1,500 and 2,000 supervised fieldwork hours, depending on the pathway they pursue. Fieldwork experiences allow trainees to move beyond coursework and begin applying principles of behavior analysis in real-world settings.
One area that often causes confusion for trainees is understanding the difference between restricted and unrestricted activities. Knowing how these activities are categorized is essential for accurately completing and tracking fieldwork hours and ensuring trainees gain the broad range of experiences needed to become effective BCBAs.
What Are Restricted Activities in BCBA Fieldwork?
Restricted activities are the tasks that involve direct implementation of behavior-analytic services with clients. These activities encompass the hands-on work of carrying out treatment plans as designed by a BCBA.
For example, imagine a registered behavior technician (RBT) running a therapy session. The BT follows the treatment plan developed by the BCBA, implements skill-acquisition programs, and uses behavior-intervention strategies during the session. These types of activities are considered restricted.
Examples of Restricted Hours
Examples of restricted activities include:
Implementing behavior intervention plans (BIPs)
Running skill acquisition programs
Collecting data during direct services
Writing session notes related to direct service delivery
Are Restricted Hours Always Direct?
Yes, restricted hours involve direct implementation of ABA services. However, it's important to understand that "restricted" and "direct" are not interchangeable terms.
"Direct" and "indirect" describe whether the client is present, while "restricted" and "unrestricted" describe the type of work being performed. We'll dive a little deeper later on in this article.
How Many Hours Can Be Restricted?
The hours are called "restricted" because the BACB sets a restriction on the total number of hours that can be counted toward this category. Up to 40% of your total hours may be restricted. If you're on the standard pathway and accruing 2,000 hours, the maximum restricted hours you can count is 800.
Tip: Once you reach the maximum number of restricted hours allowed, stop tracking additional ones. This is important because continuing to accrue restricted hours beyond the limit means you'll need to complete additional fieldwork hours to balance out the unrestricted activity percentage requirement.
What Are Unrestricted Activities in BCBA Fieldwork?
Unrestricted activities are tasks that help trainees develop the skills needed to practice as independent BCBAs. These activities involve the responsibilities of a behavior analyst, such as assessment, data analysis, treatment planning, program development, supervision, and training.
Examples of Unrestricted Hours
A wide range of activities could fall under the category of unrestricted hours. Examples include, but aren't limited to:
Conducting skill assessments
Conducting FBAs
Analyzing data and making data-based treatment decisions
Developing behavior intervention plans
Writing treatment plans and other reports
Creating skill acquisition programs
Reviewing literature and applying it to client programming
Training caregivers, staff, or other professionals
Supervising staff
Developing data collection systems
Graphing and interpreting data
Need more ideas?
Download The Behavior Analyst Trainee Workbook!
This workbook includes well over 100 unrestricted activities!
Are Unrestricted Hours Always Indirect?
As we touched on earlier, unrestricted activities aren't automatically "indirect." While many unrestricted activities are completed without the client present, that isn't always the case.
Let's first define direct and indirect work:
Direct: Work completed directly with a client.
Examples: Implementing skill acquisition programs during a 1:1 therapy session and carrying out a behavior intervention plan as directed by a BCBA.
Indirect: Work completed without the client present that supports assessment, treatment, or service delivery.
Examples: Analyzing data, writing a behavior intervention plan, developing treatment goals, or reviewing research related to a client's programming.
The important distinction is that direct and indirect describe whether the client is present, while restricted and unrestricted describe the type of work being performed.
This distinction is important because earlier versions of the BACB's fieldwork requirements categorized activities as direct and indirect rather than restricted and unrestricted. As a result, you may hear supervisors or colleagues use the older terminology. However, using the current terms can help avoid confusion.
All this is to say that unrestricted activities can be either direct or indirect. For example, conducting an assessment with a client is a direct, unrestricted activity, while writing a treatment plan after the assessment is an indirect, unrestricted activity.
How Many Hours Can Be Unrestricted?
There is no maximum limit on the number of unrestricted hours you can accrue during your supervised fieldwork experience. In fact, some trainees complete 100% of their fieldwork hours through unrestricted activities.
Unrestricted activities must make up at least 60% of your total fieldwork hours. This requirement ensures that trainees gain experience with the broader responsibilities of a BCBA, including assessment, treatment planning, data analysis, supervision, and program development.
Remember: restricted activities are limited to 40%, while unrestricted activities require a minimum of 60%.
For example, if you complete 2,000 fieldwork hours, you need at least 1,200 unrestricted hours and can count up to 800 restricted hours.
Searching for a remote supervisor to complete your fieldwork hours with?
Find one on ABA Resource Center's BCBA Remote Supervisor Database!
How Do I Know if an Activity Counts as Unrestricted?
If you're not sure whether a particular activity qualifies as unrestricted fieldwork, ask yourself the following questions.
✅ Is this activity related to a specific client?
Note: For fieldwork purposes, a “client” may also include staff or parents/caregivers.
✅ Is this activity behavior-analytic in nature?
In other words, are you applying principles of behavior analysis rather than
completing general administrative or non-clinical tasks?
✅ Is this task one that a BCBA would typically perform?
Unrestricted activities should help you develop the competencies expected of a
BCBA.
If you answered yes to all three questions, the activity may qualify as unrestricted fieldwork. However, your supervisor can confirm, as they're ultimately responsible for determining if an activity meets the BACB's requirements.
What Activities Don't Count Toward Fieldwork?
According to the BCBA Handbook, unacceptable Activities include:
Attending professional conferences, workshops, or university courses;
Completing didactic-course assignments (e.g., homework assignments, readings) and quizzes
Attending meetings with little or no behavior-analytic content
Providing interventions that are not based in behavior analysis
Performing non-behavior-analytic administrative activities
Participating in non-behavior-analytic trainings related to service delivery (e.g., crisis management, CPR, billing systems)
Completing non-behavior-analytic assessments (e.g., diagnostic or intellectual assessments), paperwork, documentation, billing, or any other activities that are not directly related to behavior analysis
Listening to podcasts
Role-playing behavior-analytic procedures that are not client related.
Make the Most of Your BCBA Fieldwork Experiences
Many trainees run into challenges in getting enough quality unrestricted experiences. That's why it's important to work closely with your supervisor to identify opportunities. If you're looking for more ideas and practical tools to guide your supervision experience, The Behavior Analyst Trainee Workbook includes over 100 unrestricted activity ideas, reflection prompts, worksheets, and more.
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