What Makes a Great BCBA Supervisor?
- Ashleigh Evans (BCBA)
- Sep 7, 2025
- 3 min read
BCBA supervision is critical to the success of ABA therapy. Behavior analysts have an incredible responsibility to provide quality supervision and support. But quality supervision goes beyond meeting the minimum requirements set by the BACB or payors. The best supervisors can build confident, ethical clinicians and ensure their clients reach the best possible outcomes.
So, what makes a great supervisor? In this blog, we’ll explore some of the key qualities that exceptional supervisors embody.
Clinician Competence
It may sound obvious, but great supervisors have a strong foundation in ABA principles and know how to apply them effectively with the populations they serve. Their clinical expertise allows them to guide decision-making, troubleshoot challenges, and model effective strategies in practice.
Equally important, they demonstrate skill in supervision itself. They understand that ABA goes beyond “autism therapy” and can apply behavior-analytic strategies within their supervision practices to support both RBTs and fieldwork trainees.
Humility & Honesty
Great BCBAs recognize their own limitations and don’t pretend to have all the answers. They’re able to admit when they don’t know something or need time to reflect on a question. Instead of simply saying, “I don’t know,” they say, “I don’t know the answer to that, but I’ll find out for you.” In doing so, they model integrity, problem-solving, and a commitment to learning for their RBTs and trainees.
Committed to Lifelong Learning
A master’s degree and 2,000 hours of fieldwork experience are not the end of a BCBA’s learning journey. In fact, they’re simply the beginning. BCBAs should actively expand their knowledge and expertise through continuing education, mentorship, and staying up to date with the latest research. The ABA field is still in its infancy. We have so much learning and growing to do.
Open to Feedback
BCBAs have to master the art of delivering feedback effectively, but just as importantly, they should be open to receiving feedback. Good supervisors create a culture where staff feel comfortable offering input and providing feedback.
Working on getting better at accepting feedback? I recommend the book, Thanks for the Feedback.
Supportive & Approachable
Supervision should feel like mentorship, not just oversight. A great supervisor balances accountability with encouragement, helping staff and trainees grow in both confidence and competence. This field can be emotionally and physically draining. Having an empathetic, supportive supervisor can truly make all the difference for a behavior technician or fieldwork trainee. Building rapport with staff, just as clinicians do with their clients, is the foundation of effective supervision.
Along the same lines, effective supervisors model kindness in every interaction. Demonstrating kindness within both supervision and clinical practice has far-reaching benefits for staff, trainees, and clients alike. Consider exploring the Kindness Method, a component of the Meaningful Outcomes Treatment and Assessment Scale (MOTAS). Using the Kindness Method, you can self-assess your own views and behaviors related to kindness and set goals to strengthen kindness as a core professional practice.
Ethical & Professional Leadership
A supervisor’s behavior sets the tone for the entire team. Good supervisors model professionalism and uphold ethical standards. They reinforce integrity, responsibility, and high-quality care.
Focus on Growth & Development
The ultimate goal of supervision is growth. For RBTs, that means increasing knowledge and enhancing fidelity in the delivery of therapy. For fieldwork trainees, it means shaping their behavior-analytic competencies to allow them to become independent, successful behavior analysts. Great supervisors take pride in helping others grow.
Raising the Bar: Qualities of a Great BCBA Supervisor
Top-notch ABA supervision is about much more than simply checking boxes. While soft skills aren’t always prioritized in fieldwork supervision, they’re just as critical as clinical expertise. Supervisors who model empathy, openness, and a willingness to learn foster a culture where both staff and clients can thrive.
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