Go back

ANNOUNCEMENT: The ABA certificate program is not accepting students for the 2024-2025 year and is currently slated to be discontinued

Certificate in Applied Behavioral Analysis (Undergraduate)

Undergraduate students who meet requirements while completing the 4160 course will receive a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) 40-Hour Training Certificate. This certificate is a prerequisite, and provides the foundation, to applying to become an RBT. This program is independent of the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and students pursuing certification as an RBT will need to either complete a field experience or practicum under the supervision of a certified BCBA or be employed with an organization providing supervision that meets BCBA requirements. For all other RBT certification requirements, please read the RBT Handbook: https://www.bacb.com/rbt/. This certificate is open to all majors.

What is a Registered Behavior Technician?

A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) is a paraprofessional who is responsible for implementing behavior analysis services under the close supervision of a BCaBA, BCBA or BCBA-D.

Why Become a Registered Behavior Technician?

  • Find meaningful work, improving the lives of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism.
  • It is a nationally recognized credential that shows you have met specific requirements for delivering behavior analysis services.
  • Explore the possibility of a future career as a professional in behavior analysis by gaining direct experience.

PSYC 1030 Introduction to Psychology

PSYC 4150 Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (4 credit hours)

PSYC 4160 Methods of Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credit hours)

PSYC 4850 Honors: Field Experience (3 credit hours; ABA-specific experience as specified by faculty)

 

More information about course requirements and descriptions can be found here

PSYC 3100 Developmental Psychology

OR

PSYC 3110 Child Development

 

AND

 

PSYC 4140 Learning and Behavioral Disorders

OR

PSYC 4360 Introduction to Psychopathology

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How do I “declare” that I am pursuing the ABA certificate?

Answer: If students want to add the ABA certification, please ask them to email graduation@apsu.edu with their name, A number, and request the certificate be added.

Question: Will this certificate allow me to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)?

Answer: It does not. The BCBA certification requires master's level coursework. They lay out the requirements on the BACB website: https://www.bacb.com/bcba/. So, no bachelor's level courses you have taken or are considering would transfer for their accreditation.

Material covered in PSYC 4150 would be helpful for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the concepts of behavior analysis and would be an advantage in preparing for graduate school. PSYC 4160 connects the dots to understand how those concepts are applied in ABA methods.

Question: Must PSYC 4160 be completed before taking the required field experience?

Answer: One will need the certificate of training from 4160 (or the route mentioned below that is not through APSU) in order to do the field experience, so it must be sequential.

There are ways to satisfy the certificate of training online but it would not be via APSU or the PSYC 4160 course. See RBT Handbook: https://www.bacb.com/rbt/ for information on that option.

For more information about this certificate, please contact Dr. Kevin Harris