Skip to main content
The Behavior Analyst logoLink to The Behavior Analyst
. 2001 Spring;24(1):45–55. doi: 10.1007/BF03392018

Certification, accreditation, and quality control in behavior analysis

J Moore, G L Shook
PMCID: PMC2731362  PMID: 22478354

Abstract

Implementing quality control measures in the discipline and professional practice of behavior analysis is a challenging, but nevertheless important, step in the evolution of our field. The Association for Behavior Analysis currently seeks to ensure quality in behavior analysis by sponsoring an accreditation program for graduate academic programs and by promoting certification of individual practitioners. The accreditation reviews are conducted by ABA, whereas certification status is awarded by an independent, nonprofit credentialing entity: the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc. Among the challenges that ABA faces as it pursues various quality control measures, particularly in its educational programs, are (a) how extensively should academic programs specify the verbal and nonverbal terminal repertoires in all three branches of behavior analysis (applied, experimental, and conceptual); (b) how extensively should programs that emphasize applied behavior analysis integrate science-based criteria for the evaluation of interventions; and (c) how extensively should programs that emphasize service delivery include training in formal research methodology.

Keywords: accreditation, credentialing, certification, licensing, quality control, applied analysis of behavior, experimental analysis of behavior, conceptual analysis of behavior

Full text

PDF
46

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baer D. M. A flight of behavior analysis. Behav Anal. 1981 Fall;4(2):85–91. doi: 10.1007/BF03391857. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Baer D. M., Wolf M. M., Risley T. R. Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. J Appl Behav Anal. 1968 Spring;1(1):91–97. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1968.1-91. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Hopkins B. L., Moore J. ABA accreditation of graduate programs of study. Behav Anal. 1993 Spring;16(1):117–121. doi: 10.1007/BF03392616. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Johnston J. M. Distinguishing between applied research and practice. Behav Anal. 1996 Spring;19(1):35–47. doi: 10.1007/BF03392737. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Michael J. Flight from behavior analysis. Behav Anal. 1980 Fall;3(2):1–21. doi: 10.1007/BF03391838. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Shook G. L., Hartsfield F., Hemingway M. Essential content for training behavior analysis practitioners. Behav Anal. 1995 Spring;18(1):83–91. doi: 10.1007/BF03392694. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Shook G. L. The professional credential in behavior analysis. Behav Anal. 1993 Spring;16(1):87–101. doi: 10.1007/BF03392614. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Starin S., Hemingway M., Hartsfield F. Credentialing behavior analysts and the Florida behavior analysis certification program. Behav Anal. 1993 Fall;16(2):153–166. doi: 10.1007/BF03392620. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Behavior Analyst are provided here courtesy of Association for Behavior Analysis International

RESOURCES