When I began my BCBA certification journey at the Florida Institute of Technology, I was not yet prepared to transition from my role as an SLP assistant to an entry-level RBT position. As a result, I decided to pursue distance supervision to accumulate my independent hours. While this offered the flexibility I needed, my experience was mixed. Although my first supervisor was knowledgeable, the lack of personalized guidance and a structured approach, especially in a non-ABA work environment, left me feeling unprepared. After a few months, I sought out in-person supervision, where I found an incredible mentor who shaped me to be the BCBA I am today. This experience made me realize that with the right organization, resources, and structure, distance supervision can be just as effective as in-person supervision. Successful remote supervision requires more than just expertise, it depends on clear structure, consistent communication, and strict adherence to the evolving standards set by the BACB.
For aspiring BCBAs, navigating the world of distance supervision can seem overwhelming. But with a plan, an understanding of the BACB guidelines, and the right supervisor, it can be a highly rewarding experience. Here’s what I’ve learned through my own journey and how I now approach supervision for others.
Step 1: Establish a Clear Supervision Plan
The 5th Edition Task List (and soon to be BCBA Test Content Outline 6th ed.) emphasizes the need for a strong foundation in behavior analytic concepts, practical application, and adherence to ethical standards. It’s essential for supervisors to have a well-organized plan to guide supervisees through these competencies in a structured manner.
In my supervision sessions, we start with the basics: making sure the supervisee understands foundational concepts like reinforcement, punishment, and measurement. We then build on these, progressing to more complex topics like functional behavior assessments, intervention strategies, and ethical decision-making. The BACB lays out competencies that must be addressed, and it’s important that your supervisor tailors supervision to cover these areas comprehensively, especially in the context of your current work environment. Over time, I turned these resources and organization into a full supervision curriculum with conceptual assignments, applied assignments, and mini mock exams to make the supervision process more effective and consistent for everyone.
However, a good supervision plan shouldn’t be rigid, but serve as a roadmap. Each supervisee’s situation is unique—whether they are working as an RBT, in a school setting, or another environment—so supervision should be individualized to reflect those circumstances. Supervisees should also engage in fieldwork tasks outside of direct client hours, such as reading articles, completing assignments related to the BACB task list, and engaging in discussion that connects theory with their caseload. When looking for a supervisory relationship, supervisees should ask how their supervisor structures supervision and if they use a curriculum to guide their development.
Step 2: Communication is Key
One of the most critical aspects of effective supervision is communication. Unfortunately, communication is often where distance supervision falls short. Supervisors should provide real-time, actionable feedback and ensure that supervisees meet the BACB competencies. This can be a struggle in remote supervision when you are not watching the supervisees with their clients in real-time, but by watching the client recordings with the supervisee, pausing to provide feedback and guidance, we can still get the benefits of in-person supervision. Remember, that all supervision hours need to be acquired with both the supervisee and supervisor present, indirect supervision without the supervisee present is no longer accepted by the BACB.
From my experience, some supervisors rely too heavily on email communication or sign off on supervision hours without providing sufficient observation and feedback, which not only compromises the supervisee’s learning but also violates BACB standards. According to the BACB's Ethics Code, supervision must be interactive, involving direct observation, feedback, and collaborative problem-solving. This means supervision sessions should include a combination of in-person meetings, video conferencing, and live or recorded client observations.
BCBAs also must ensure that they supervise a minimum of 5% of their supervisee’s hours (or 10% for concentrated supervision) and provide at least 1 client observation per month with at least 4 supervision contacts per month (6 contacts for concentrated supervision). This requirement can be met through telehealth services, pre-recorded sessions, or live observations. Clear communication and consistent feedback are essential in developing independent and competent BCBAs.
Step 3: Understanding the BACB Experience Standards
To make the most out of distance supervision, both supervisees and supervisors need to thoroughly understand the BACB Experience Standards. Here are the key points to consider under the current supervision guidelines:
Hours: A supervisee must complete between 20 and 130 hours per month of fieldwork. Anything more or less will not count towards the required 2000 hours for independent fieldwork (or 1500 for concentrated fieldwork).
Supervision: A supervisor must oversee 5% of the supervisee’s total fieldwork hours per month. If a supervisee accumulates 50 hours in a given month, they must receive at least 2.5 hours of supervision. If a supervisee is following the path for concentrated supervised fieldwork then that requirement bumps up to 10% supervision per month. Note that this is a monthly requirement, you can not make up missed supervision in a following month.
Client Observations: Supervisees are required to have at least one client observations per month, which can be conducted live or via pre-recorded sessions, though it only counts as supervision hours if the supervisor reviews the recording with the supervisee. The supervisor must provide specific feedback on these sessions to grow the supervisees skills as a future BCBA.
Documentation: The BACB requires meticulous documentation using the official Experience Supervision Form, which must be completed and signed within one month after the supervision period ends. Make sure you are always using the most up-to-date version by pulling it from the BACB website each month instead of saving a template on your computer. Also make sure you have a detailed documentation system to track each and every hour of fieldwork hours and supervision that will stand up to any scrutiny in case of an audit.
One commonly misunderstood requirement by those receiving distance supervision to supplement their in-person supervision is what to do when you have multiple supervisors. In the BCBA Handbook (version 04/2024) on page 20 under “Combination of Fieldwork Settings” it states that “if a trainee is accruing some hours with an individual supervisor in one setting and some hours with multiple supervisors in another setting, the trainee must independently meet the requirements at both sites.”. If you have multiple supervisors at one organization, then the requirements can be combined within those supervisors. However, if you get supervision through your company and also seek out private supervision elsewhere, each site needs to have 5% supervision, 1 client observation, 4 contacts, and no more then 50% group supervision. I often have people reach out to me to only provide them with supervision of their restricted hours with no client observations, or they only want to attend group supervision with no individual supervision, but with this requirement, it is not allowed by the BACB.
Step 4: Selecting the Right Supervisor
Choosing the right supervisor is crucial for a successful distance supervision experience. With the flexibility that distance supervision offers, it’s easy to think that any experienced BCBA will do, but finding someone who aligns with your professional goals and needs is essential. Here's how to ensure you pick the right fit:
1. Timely and Effective Communication One of the first signs of a good supervisor is how promptly and clearly they respond to your initial inquiry. If a potential supervisor takes more than two business days to respond to a basic inquiry, it could indicate future issues in maintaining the lines of communication, which are vital for remote supervision. Supervisors should be responsive, accessible, and provide detailed information about how they will structure your supervision. A supervisor who is consistently available for your questions and feedback is essential to your development as a BCBA.
2. Transparency About Services and Expectations Supervisors should be upfront and transparent about the services they offer, including how they structure supervision, fees, and what they expect from you as a supervisee. Before signing any contracts, ensure that you have a clear understanding of how they will track your progress, the types of feedback they provide, and how often you’ll have contact. Ask specific questions about the types of supervision activities they engage in, such as live observations, case discussions, or review of assessments and interventions. A supervisor should be willing to discuss their process openly.
3. Review Their Qualifications Ensure that your supervisor is qualified according to the BACB Certificant Registry and that they are listed as eligible to supervise. Every BCBA offering supervision must complete an initial in-depth training, be certified for at least 1 year or be working with a mentor, and complete specific continuing education requirements related to supervision every two years. If your supervisor fails to meet these requirements, your supervision hours may not count. Check the registry regularly to ensure that your supervisor remains in good standing and continues to meet BACB standards for providing supervision. Additionally, reviewing their professional background, such as areas of specialization and clinical experience, can help ensure that they align with your goals.
4. Watch for Red Flags There are certain red flags to be aware of when searching for a supervisor. These include delays in communication, vague responses to your supervision-related questions, or any reluctance to provide transparency about their process. If a supervisor appears unwilling to discuss their approach or seems too busy to engage with you fully, consider finding another option. The quality of your supervision directly impacts your development as a BCBA, so take the time to vet potential supervisors carefully.
5. Ensure Alignment with Your Learning Style Your supervisor should be able to adapt their approach to meet your individual learning needs. If you prefer a more hands-on or interactive style of learning, ensure your supervisor offers live video sessions, real-time feedback, and interactive case discussions. Similarly, if you thrive with more structured guidance, ensure that your supervisor can provide detailed assignments and regular check-ins. The relationship between you and your supervisor should be dynamic, allowing for flexibility as you grow in your knowledge and experience. Aligning with a supervisor who matches your learning style can enhance the value of your supervision.
Step 5: Holding Everyone Accountable
One of the most critical aspects of BCBA supervision, especially in a distance format, is accountability—both on the part of the supervisor and the supervisee. The BACB emphasizes shared responsibility in the supervision process, and failure to meet these expectations can have serious consequences for both parties.
1. Understanding Joint Responsibility According to the BACB, both the supervisor and supervisee are equally responsible for ensuring that the supervision process meets all ethical and practical guidelines. This means that as a supervisee, you must actively participate in your supervision, ensure that all forms are completed on time, and that the required hours are logged accurately. You must also track your progress and verify that your supervisor is fulfilling their responsibilities, such as providing timely feedback, conducting required observations, and signing off on your fieldwork hours. If your supervisor fails to follow through on these tasks, your supervision hours may be deemed invalid, which could mean starting the process all over again.
2. Monitoring Your Supervision Hours Supervisees must meticulously track their supervision hours each month, ensuring that their supervision percentage aligns with BACB requirements. If you accrue 100 hours in a month, for example, you must receive at least 5 hours of supervision for that period (5%). Additionally, it is your responsibility to confirm that you are meeting the BACB's other criteria, such as completing at least one client observation per month and maintaining documentation through the BACB Experience Supervision Form.
Supervisors should be actively involved in this process, reviewing your hours, signing off on your progress, and helping you stay compliant with BACB regulations. If a supervisor does not provide adequate supervision or fails to maintain accurate records, your certification could be at risk.
3. Ensuring Ethical Supervision Ethical supervision goes beyond simply meeting the numerical requirements for hours—it’s about ensuring that the relationship fosters professional growth, independence, and competence. Both the supervisor and the supervisee must adhere to the BACB Ethics Code, which requires that supervisors provide meaningful, educational supervision and that supervisees take ownership of their learning process. If you feel that your supervisor is not upholding their ethical obligations, it is important to address those concerns promptly. You can consult the BACB for guidance if you believe your supervision is not meeting standards.
4. Addressing Issues as They Arise If any concerns arise during your supervision, whether related to communication, the quality of feedback, or compliance with BACB guidelines, it’s essential to address them immediately. Document your concerns, have a candid conversation with your supervisor, and if necessary, seek advice from another BCBA or the BACB itself. The last thing you want is to reach the end of your fieldwork hours only to find that some of your hours don’t count due to noncompliance.
Conclusion: The Path to Competent Supervision
Choosing the right BCBA supervisor and ensuring mutual accountability are key to achieving meaningful, effective supervision. By ensuring that your supervisor is responsive, transparent, and aligned with your goals, and by taking responsibility for tracking your progress and compliance with BACB standards, you can create a productive and rewarding supervision experience. The ultimate goal of supervision is to develop the skills necessary to become a competent, independent BCBA, and with careful planning and commitment, distance supervision can offer a flexible and impactful path to that goal.
Upcoming Changes
I wanted to provide a quick note about some upcoming changes to the BCBA Supervision Requirements. While the new tasklist, the BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.), comes out January 1st, 2025, the updated supervision requirements do not go into effect until January 1st, 2027. These updated requirements include an increase to the max number of fieldwork hours per month from 130 hours to 160 hours. The number of client observations and supervision contacts will be removed and instead, we will have to track the minutes of client observation with a cumulative monthly total of 60 minutes for supervised fieldwork and 90 minutes fir concentrated supervised fieldwork. And finally, the supervision percentage will remain 5% for those on the supervised fieldwork path, but decrease from 10% to 7.5% for the concentrated supervised fieldwork. But remember, these changes do not go into effect until 2027 so do not start following them yet.
If you are looking for high-quality remote supervision, a comprehensive supervision curriculum, or education and resources for BCBA supervision, check out ABC Behavior Training!
References
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2020). Ethics code for behavior analysts. https://bacb.com/wp-content/ethics-code-for-behavior-analysts/
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2022). Board Certified Behavior Analyst Handbook ver. 04/2024. https://bacb.com/wp-content/ethics-code-for-behavior-analysts/
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2022). BACB Newsletter: March 2022. https://bacb.com/wp-content/ethics-code-for-behavior-analysts/
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