BCBA CEUs Online Courses & Information Available

As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®) with over 12 years of experience, I have had the privilege of creating over 200 hours of online video content with some of the best behavior analysts in the world, including Patrick C. Friman, Susan M. Schnieder, Steven C. Hayes, Susan G. Friedman, Gregory P. Hanley, and many more. This article aims to provide comprehensive information about BCBA® CEUs (Continuing Education Units), including how to earn them, the topics covered, and the renewal process.

BCBA CEUs Online Courses

The Behavior Academy was founded in 2019 by Ryan O’Donnell, MS, BCBA® a behavior analyst and videographer who goes on-location to bring high-quality continuing education and entertainment to human service professionals. The Behavior Academy has over 100 hours of BCBA® online CUEs that often are referred to as “refreshing” and “enlightening” given the care for quality of content. Just see the inaugural film, This Way of Thinking starring Patrick C. Friman of Boys Town, Nebraska.

The History of Applied Behavior Analysis: Part 1 (2024)

You've heard of Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968), but do you know the true story behind the origins of Applied Behavior Analysis? This fascinating documentary takes you to Lawrence, Kansas, and explores the nuanced history through the lens of 30+ individuals—some who carved the initial path and others who navigate in their wake, continuing the legacy. Delve into the profound influences of the experimental analysis of behavior, community-based and community-engaged research, the evolution of precision teaching, and more. Journey through time with exclusive tours of historic locations, uncovering the ongoing challenges, triumphs, and enduring impact that transformed a small academic pursuit into a global scientific movement.

• Director, writer, executive producer, editor & cinematographer: Ryan O'Donnell, MS, BCBA

• Run Time: 3 hours 35 minutes

• Featuring: Deborah Altus, PhD, LCAC, Carl Binder, PhD, Abigail Calkin, PhD, Judith J. Carta, PhD, Stephen B. Fawcett, PhD, Patrick C. Friman, PhD, ABPP, Vincent T. Francisco, PhD, Charles R. Greenwood, PhD, R. Vance Hall, EdD, Nancy Hughes Lindsley, PhD, Robert Lecomte, PhD, Ogden R. Lindsley, PhD, Edward K. Morris, PhD, Pamela L. Neidert, PhD, BCBA, LBA-KS, Johnathan Pinkston, PhD, Derek D. Reed, PhD, BCBA-D, Todd R. Risley, PhD, Sandra Ruby, PhD, Richard L. Schiefelbusch, PhD, B. F. Skinner, PhD, Trina D. Spencer, PhD, BCBA-D, Barbara Terry-Campbell, PhD,  Thomas Zane, Ph.D., BCBA-D

• Learn More & Watch Now!

This Way of Thinking (2020)

Dr. Patrick C. Friman, Director, Boys Town Center for Behavioral Health travels the world tirelessly sharing a new way of approaching behavioral and mental health that could revolutionize every aspect of the human experience. The struggle is this way of thinking requires clearly communicating a key message and shifting focus on the work of countless human service professionals. Join Sarah Trautman and Dr. Patrick C. Friman as the two explore the history of Father Flanagan, the campus of Boys Town Village, and how to reframe how we think about mental and behavioral health.

• See Dr. Friman work with a client
• Learn about the history of Boys Town, Nebraska
• Learn what “This Way of Thinking” does for the helping professions
• Learn More or Watch Now! 

On Location: Boys Town, Nebraska, USA

Immerse yourself in approximately 7 hours of video content with Dr. Patrick C. Friman in a cinema-quality learning experience of how a different way of thinking helps thousands of people every year at Boys Town, Nebraska. 7 BACB® Learning CEUs Available.

• Experience stories and perspectives of what it is like receiving both inpatient and outpatient services at Boys Town. 
• Dr. Patrick C. Friman travels worldwide to spread a new way of thinking about psychology. For the first time you can now experience his front of the room training and see how he provides feedback to his interns.
• With unprecedented growth the past two decades, the field of Applied Behavior Analysis has experienced growing pains. In this course learn how Dr. Patrick C. Friman approaches these issues.
• 7 BACB® Learning CEUs Available and you can learn more or watch a sample now! 

The Essential for Living Curriculum and Teaching Procedures: An Introductory Course

Essential for Living (EFL) provides children and adults with moderate-to-severe disabilities, including but not limited to autism, a comprehensive curriculum referenced to ‘quality of life’, rather than typical development or academic standards, along with evidence-based teaching ‘and measurement‘ strategies and procedures, that result in the dignity and quality of life these children and adults deserve.

• An overview of the Essential For Living (EFL) curriculum and the essential teaching procedures (5+ hours)
• How to identify if a learner needs an Alternative Method of Speaking (~2 Hours)
• How to focus, program for, and measure the quality of life of the learner as opposed to standardized gains or norm-referencing (~2 Hours)
• Follow-along on-site consultation at Upstate Caring Partners in Utica, NY, USA (~1.5 Hours)
• Parent stories about their experience with the EFL (~20 minutes)
• 12.5 BACB® Learning CEUs Available and you can learn more or watch a sample now!

Assessing & Planning for Quality of Life

From the creators of Essential for Living (EFL), this short course provides an overview of how to conceptualize and plan for Quality of Life in their case conceptualization process.

• An overview of how both Patrick and Troy conceptualize and plan for Quality of Life in their case conceptualization process.
• How the Essential For Living (EFL) curriculum targets quality of life rather than typical development or academic standards & their justification.
• Brief perspectives and questions from the live audience of practitioners
• A total of two and a half (2.5) BACB® Learning CEUs Available

Alternative Methods of Speaking

From the creators of Essential for Living (EFL), this short course provides an overview of the six vocal profiles and when a practitioner needs to consider an alternative method of speaking for people with moderate-to-severe disabilities. Additionally, 

• An overview of methods of speaking and a decision-making framework for when and how to determine the method of speaking best suited for the learners you serve.
  Brief perspectives and questions from the live audience of practitioners.
• A brief overview of the free Alternative Methods of Speaking (AMS) tool by Data Makes The Difference and how to access it.
• A total of two (2) BACB® Learning CEUs Available 

This Way of Doing

How does publishing REALLY work in Behavior Analysis? Is it possible for practitioners to conduct applied research on a regular basis? What are the current areas of innovation within academia? In This Way of Doing we tackle all of these questions. 

• Jonathan Tarbox, editor-in-chief of Behavior Analysis in Practice, explain how publishing really works
• Dr. Tara Fahmie, Dr. Caio Miguel, Dr. Marlesha Bell & Dr. Meg Heinicke explain why they have focused on their specific areas of research and future directions for Behavior Analysis.
• Learn from Dr. Amber Valentino and Courtney Tarbox about how to embed research into your practice (spoiler alert: it's not impossible and it's not that hard) and why applied research is critical to our field.
• 4.5 BACB® Learning CEUs Available and you can learn more or watch a sample now!

This Way of Practicing

This Way of Practicing is focused on providing practitioners with insights, tools, and ideas that will help support practitioners in expanding their clinical and professional repertoires. In this course, we discuss the importance of ABA state associations, national associations, accrediting bodies, and behavior analyst licensure. Here are a few notable examples: 

• “How Laws Inform Licensure: We need a deeper bench because our peeps are BURNED OUT” by Kerri Milyko, BCBA-D, LBA (21.5 min)
• “Future Directions for Practitioners and Organizations: The BHCOE, ABA Organizations in post-COVID environment and the need for more Infrastructure in Behavior Analysis” by Sara Gershfeld Litvak, MA, BCBA (48 min)
• “Shaping the future of our field through tech innovation” by Annie Escalante, MS, BCBA & Andy Chavez, MS (29.25 min) 
• 4 BACB® Learning CEUs Available and you can learn more or watch a sample now! 

This Way of Being

This Way of Being was created to provide Behavior Analysts with thought-provoking ideas, perspectives and actions focused on valuing diversity, equity & inclusion. This course offers the opportunity to learn from Behavior Analysts in both academia and practice. You'll also learn from students, RBTs and even from a teenager who was a recipient of ABA services! Here are a few notable examples: 

• “Just make them fall in-love with you”  by Ellie Kazemi, Ph.D., BCBA-D (38 min)
• “Unapologetically Me” by Antonio Harrison, PhD, BCBA-D (53 min)
• “I love Behavior Analysis..does it love me back?” - an honest conversation about being an “other” in academia by Marlesha C. Bell, PhD, BCBA, Caio F. Miguel, Ph.D., BCBA-D, and Megan R. Heinicke, Ph.D., BCBA-D (16 min)
• "Was I part of some elaborate experiment?" - Reflections about receiving ABA services and the impact of having 2 BCBAs as parents by Johnny Tarbox (22 min)
• 7 Ethics BACB® Learning CEUs Available and you can learn more or watch a sample now! 

Convergence of Human, Animal Training and Technology (CHATTcon)

CHATTcon is a place for anyone who develops training methodologies and learning outcomes to share how they are uniquely impacting their clients. There are no boundaries at CHATTcon so speakers have very diverse backgrounds working with humans, computer programs, exotic animals, and more! It seems weird at first, but you will walk away like countless others having learned something from every speaker to better your practice of behavior analysis. Here are a few samples: 

• "Safer and More Humane Applications of Behavior Analysis" by Greg Hanley, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA
• "Neuroscience meets Behavior Science, Animal Care and Training at Neuralink" by Autumn Sorrells, MS
• "Expertise: How to Design It, Train It & Measure It" by Kimberley Nix Berens, PhD
• "What's Emotion Got to Do With It" by Susan Friedman, PhD
• 42 BACB® Learning CEUs Available and you can learn more or watch a sample now! 

Beyond the Task List! 

So you’ve recently obtained your BCBA® certification OR you’re in a spot where you’re like: WHAT ELSE CAN I DO WITH ABA? Maybe you’re even BURNT OUT in your current role?! Well, did you know that our field has produced over ~350 different domains of research on human behavior? In "Beyond the Task List!" I will guide you through four distinct things. 

• Explore how behavior analysis nicely fits into other fields (the Bx+ model) and where to start brainstorming to find how you want to use ABA in other ways. 
• Develop an understanding for and discover methods to create behavioral technologies* including 18 historical and active technologies leveraging behavior analysis that you likely haven't heard of with a link to ~350 different domains to explore. 
• Quick theoretical and philosophical breakdown of various models beyond the 3-term and 4-term contingencies taught in BCBA® course sequences that some of the brightest in Behavior Analysis use. 
• Explore an overview of ABA's infrastructure and supporting organizations so you can connect and further refine your scope of practice and scope of competency in the areas that line up with your passion most.  
• 3 BACB® Learning CEUs Available and you can learn more or watch a sample now! 

Storytelling and Behavior Analysis: Using Narrative in Science

You stumbled into a field you absolutely LOVE and you want to shout from the rooftops! But the jargon you learned in graduate school just doesn't quite sink in... In fact, there’s even evidence now* that it turns people AWAY from the science we have all come to love. When you figure out how to solve this problem and you develop the skills to effectively share our field there’s a new world of opportunities that arise - kind of like a behavioral cusp. 

• Explore the story about how Applied Behavior Analysis became a known field. The reason most of us ever had a job in this field is because of one powerful story written by a mother who we are indebted to as a field. 
• Learn how our field’s experts are speaking on the role of narrative, how we understand it, and what we need to do to fully investigate the effect. 
• Learn two distinct models that are used by science communicators and professional storytellers that know how to influence the behavior of billions of people simultaneously. 
• 1.5 BACB® Learning CEUs Available and you can learn more or watch a sample now! 

Hacking Your Life with Behavior Analysis: Strategies for Making & Sustaining Decisions

Imagine a life where you can understand the seemingly weird things you do or those pesky habits that you can't quite control. For decades, the science of behavior has produced basic and applied research to shed light on how we make and sustain decisions. Translating this behavior analytic research into everyday modifications to your life can help you hack your behavior to be more healthy, responsible, and committed to long-term goals. We include things like how to shape your behavior in the contexts of: 

• Self-control
• health goals
• drug use and overeating
• gambling & risk-seeking
• responsible financial decisions.
• Learn More or Watch Now! 

The American education system is BROKEN: How we can fix it using Behavior Science

"Educational traditions arise from blind spots regarding how learning actually occurs…They exist because people believe in them and, more important, because it’s just how we’ve always done things…I ask you to consider the possibility that sometimes our beliefs get in the way. Sometimes our beliefs prevent us from making progress, from being effective, from solving problems that really need to be solved. Is it possible to hold on to your beliefs but be willing to let go when doing so might make a difference? I think it is possible and I think pragmatism is what makes it possible." - Dr. Kimberly Nix Berens 

• Learn to identify and counteract blind spots in the American education system
• Learn about the role of immediate data and response to intervention models 
• Learn about the role of precision teaching in education and its success
• 3 BACB® Learning CEUs Available and you can learn more or watch a sample now! 

A Behavior Analytic Approach to Mental Health: Strategies to Help Alleviate Your Own Suffering

Patrick C. Friman was in our inaugural course and popular film, “This Way of Thinking.” He is in a very unique position where he has mastered applying behavior analytic thinking to some of the most difficult mental health problems that are a part of the human condition. Explore how to apply this thinking to mental health topics as a behavior analyst would, including: 

• What exactly is a functional perspective on fear/anxiety and why is it so effective and powerful?
• What does a functional assessment of fear/anxiety look like and how can you analyze your own fear/anxiety?"
• Identify effective strategies to help alleviate your own engagement in fear/anxiety behaviors and other tips to live a happier life.
• 3 BACB® Learning CEUs Available and you can learn more or watch a sample now! 

What is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®) and How Do BCBA®s Earn CEUs?

A BCBA® is a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis. Professionals certified at the BCBA® level are independent practitioners who provide behavior-analytic services. They may supervise the work of Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts® (BCaBA®s), Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT®s), and other professionals who implement behavior-analytic services1.

Earning BCBA® CEUs is an integral part of maintaining this certification. CEUs are units of credit that BCBA®s earn by participating in approved continuing education activities. These activities are designed to ensure that BCBA®s stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field of behavior analysis. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB®) has set specific guidelines for earning CEU®s, which include attending workshops, seminars, conferences, or online courses that are relevant to behavior analysis1.

What’s Different Between a BCBA® and BCBA® CEUs?

The difference between a BCBA® and BCBA® CEUs lies in their nature and purpose. A BCBA® is a professional certification that validates an individual's competence in behavior analysis. On the other hand, BCBA® CEUs are a measure of ongoing professional development. Earning CEUs is a requirement for maintaining BCBA® certification, ensuring that BCBA®s continue to expand their knowledge and skills in the field.

What Kind of Topics Are Covered In CEUs?

The topics covered in BCBA® CEUs are broad and varied, reflecting the diverse applications of behavior analysis. They can range from autism and developmental disabilities to organizational behavior management, clinical psychology, and more. The goal is to provide BCBA®s with a comprehensive understanding of the latest research, methodologies, and ethical considerations in behavior analysis.

For instance, a BCBA® CEU course might cover advanced concepts in the assessment and treatment of challenging behavior, or it could focus on the application of behavior analysis in educational settings. Other courses might delve into the ethical considerations in behavior analysis or explore the use of technology in delivering behavior-analytic services.

How Many CEUs Does A BCBA® Need?

The BACB® requires BCBA®s to obtain a certain number of CEUs during each certification cycle to maintain their certification. As per the BACB®'s guidelines, BCBA®s must earn a total of 32 CEUs every two years. Of these, at least four CEUs must be in ethics, and three CEUs in supervision if the BCBA® is providing supervision1.

When Should I Do My BCBA® Renewal?

BCBA® renewal should be done every two years, and it's crucial to plan ahead. The BACB® recommends submitting your renewal application at least 45 days before your certification expiration date to allow for processing time. Remember, you must have completed all CEU requirements before you can renew your certification.

In conclusion, BCBA® CEUs are a vital part of maintaining your certification and staying current in the field of behavior analysis. Whether you choose to earn your BCBA® CEUs online or through in-person events, make sure the content aligns with the BACB®'s guidelines and contributes to your professional growth.

References:

• Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2022). BCBA® and BCaBA® Role Delineation. Retrieved from BCBA Handbook and BCaBA Handbook

About the Author: 

Ryan O’Donnell, MS, BCBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) with over 12 years of experience in the field. He has dedicated his career to helping individuals improve their lives through behavior analysis and are passionate about sharing their knowledge and expertise with others. He oversees The Behavior Academy and helps top ABA professionals create video-based content in the form of films, online courses, and in-person training events. He is committed to providing accurate, up-to-date information about the field of behavior analysis and the various career paths within it. Learn more about behavior analysis at The Behavior Academy.