r/bcba

I’m curious how other BCBAs manage communication outside of sessions/supervision.

Between parents checking in, RBTs asking questions, schedule changes, updates about behaviors, and things that genuinely do need a quick response, I feel like messages can easily turn into another hour or two of work every day.

I don’t want to be the BCBA who is impossible to reach, especially when an RBT or parent actually needs support, but I also don’t think being available through messages all day and into the evening is sustainable.

For those of you with larger caseloads, what boundaries or systems have actually worked?

Do you have specific hours when you respond, separate urgent vs non-urgent messages somehow, move anything complicated to supervision/parent training, or just accept that constant messaging is part of the job?

So I just started at a small company and today during onboarding they let us know this time is not paid non-billable. Right now I’m hourly. Any meetings with BTs or leadership is unpaid. They are recommending we meet with staff before starting cases and it’s unpaid for both the BCBA and BT. I can’t believe these ABA companies think this is ok. If I wanted to volunteer I’d rather go to a homeless shelter than do this.

Do you share an office space, or do you have your own dedicated space?

If you share, what other provider do you share with? How much conflict has come from sharing the space?

If you don't share, have you ever been told you may in the future be consolidated into someone else's space

I'm being consolidated and my two options were an open section of the main office, or within a sub separate classroom.

I’m starting an ABA master’s program and accepted this clinic position because they originally told me I could earn both restricted and unrestricted fieldwork hours there. Now they’re saying my current role only provides restricted hours and that I might eventually be promoted to a student analyst position to earn unrestricted hours, with no timeline or guarantee.

I’m also concerned because the clinic emphasizes compliance, broadly labels stimming as maladaptive, and teaches physical prompting as a last resort when clients refuse tasks such as writing. They said tasks can be modified and staff can decline to target stimming, but I haven’t heard much about assent or what happens if a client continues to refuse or pulls away.

We are expected to attempt each goal a set number of times, even when a client becomes upset. If we cannot complete all the required attempts, we must provide a thorough explanation. Everything, including staff conversations, is recorded except inside the bathroom.

Are these red flags? Should I give the clinic more time or start contacting clinics with formal student analyst positions?

Hi everyone! I'm currently an RBT and student analyst working toward becoming a BCBA. Lately, I've been having a hard time picturing what my career will actually look like once I become a BCBA.

I've gotten a lot of experience and training from the RBT perspective, but I feel like I understand the RBT role much better than I understand the actual day-to-day life of a BCBA. From where I stand now, I see BCBAs doing supervision, making program changes, attending meetings, analyzing data, and spending quite a bit of time on their laptops, but I know there is probably a lot I'm not seeing.

I'm close enough to finishing my education that I've started seriously asking myself, "Is becoming a BCBA actually what I want long-term?" I genuinely enjoy many aspects of ABA and think I could be a good BCBA, but I don't want to continue simply because I've already invested time into the field. I want to better understand the career I'm actually working toward.

I'd especially love to hear from current BCBAs:

• What does your actual day/week look like?
• How much time do you spend directly interacting with clients versus supervising, programming, analyzing data, documenting, caregiver training, meetings, etc.?
• How much of your job is actually spent behind a computer?
• How flexible is your schedule? Do you have control over your hours?
• Does work follow you home?
• How would you describe your work-life balance and the mental/emotional demands of the job?
• What's your favorite part of being a BCBA? What's the part you could do without?
• Have you ever seriously questioned staying in the field? What made you stay or what did you change?
• If you could go back to when you were an RBT/student analyst, would you still become a BCBA?
• What do you wish you had understood about being a BCBA when you were still an RBT?

I'd also really like to hear from student analysts and RBTs who are questioning whether they want to become BCBAs. What's making you hesitate?

I'm not necessarily looking to be talked into or out of becoming a BCBA. I think I'm mostly trying to see beyond my current RBT experience and understand what the other side actually looks like.

Thank you to anyone willing to share their experience!

I had a friend work there and say there is frequent turn over? They say that there is no clients but they are always hiring.

I’m in a position where I just got news of something awful happening to a new client.

It’s very upsetting and jarring news, but due to the nature of what has happened, I feel like I can’t safely express to anyone that something has happened. To be clear, this is not a case where emergency services or child protection agencies need to be contacted.

Due to the nature of what’s happened, and the likelihood that it will be in the news, I can’t even say to my family, “hey I need some time because I’m update due to a client (very general statement expressing the severity of the situation).”

I feel trapped and sad. Does anyone have tips on how to handle such a situation?

Hi,

One of my supervisors got certified after my start date for fieldwork and I am unable to add this supervisor with the other supervisors in my organization due to my fieldwork start date being before their certification date.

What do I do? I contacted the board over a week ago and have not gotten a reply back yet. Does anyone know what to do? I have everything else signed and ready to go. How do I add this supervisor?

Hi!
I’m a longtime assistant special education teacher, and I’m looking to pursue my master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with the goal of becoming a BCBA. I’ll be pursuing certification through Pathway 2.

One of my biggest concerns is how much the institution I choose for my master’s will impact me after graduation. If I attend an accredited program that meets the requirements for BCBA certification, does the university’s reputation or name significantly affect job opportunities and entering the field?

I’m currently considering national university and the university of southern Maine. However, I’m definitely open to other universities if there are programs that would be a better fit.

I’d really appreciate any advice or recommendations from others who have gone through the Pathway 2 route!

I am interested in transitioning to the career, but as a former teacher in sped , I am a little burnt out with all the paperwork.

Hey, I don't know how many black remote BCBAs come to reddit, but I was wondering if it is easier with the whole being black thing if you are virtual. As far as parent meetings and interacting with the clients go.

Hey guys, I’m currently applying to different ABA clinics and I’m so conflicted because the reviews are either AMAZING or TERRIBLE 😭

I’ve been looking at ABC, PBS, ACES, Behavioral Innovations, and Centria Autism, and as someone new to ABA, I honestly don’t know what to base my decision on.

I know every company will have some bad reviews, but I’m mainly looking for good training, supportive supervisors, and a healthy work environment. For anyone who has worked at these companies, especially in Houston area, what would you recommend looking for or asking during the interview?
Any advice would be appreciated!

i honestly love being a bcba. i’m new to the job but the actual work feels good. it’s the cancellations every single day, no hours, not being able to pay for my life, rbt fraud, everything that is frustrating me. i can’t get anything stable. i just want a normal salary job

Has any RBTs been hired as a Behaviorist & Counselor?

Hey all! I’ve been on the hunt for an ABA position. I’ve got two interviews with both of these clinics coming up.

Does anyone have any experience with them? Anything good/bad/neutral? I just thought it would be helpful to walk in with some prior knowledge on the clinics.

I appreciate your feedback! And if you have recommendations or owns to stay away from (I know gateway and Centria are a no-go) that would be super helpful!

Thank you & much appreciated:)

EDIT: for the people asking, I’m in Michigan and I commute far and wide :)

Are there any BCBAs here that work with animals? If so, could you give insight into what your day looks like?

Edit: I didn’t mean to post this twice. Original post was on this sub, then I got a notification from r/bcba that a better sub to post this on would be the r/aba subreddit and then I got another notification from r/aba to post on r/bcba 😂