Hey there, ABA professionals! Are you ready to level up your skills and knowledge in the field?
We all know that ensuring competence is crucial in our line of work, and one way to do that is by pursuing continuing education units (CEUs) and professional development activities as outlined by the BACB. It can feel overwhelming at times to keep up with the ever-evolving world of ABA, but trust us, it’s worth it. Staying current on best practices and new research not only enhances your expertise but also allows you to deliver the best services to your clients.
To help you navigate the vast landscape of learning opportunities effectively, we’ve got a game plan for you! In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps to create a personalized CE game plan that suits your professional aspirations and meets the requirements to maintain your certification. In addition to reviewing those steps, we also have a downloadable template to help you craft your individualized plan! Let’s dive in!
BACB Requirements for CEUs
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) requires continuing education units (CEUs) for both Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) and Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA). These requirements are designed to ensure that certified professionals (like you!) are continuously expanding their skills and staying up to date with the latest developments in the field.
BCBAs are required by the BACB to complete 32 CEUs and BCaBAs are required to obtain 20 CEUs within each 2-year recertification cycle to maintain certification. This includes 4 CEUs focused on ethics and 3 CEUs in supervision for supervisors for both certification levels. In some states with licensure, additional CE requirements may exist; always consult your state license requirements.
Creating Your CEU Strategy
Assess Your Current Skills and Knowledge
First things first, assess your current skills and knowledge. Take a moment to reflect on what you excel at and identify areas where you’d like to improve. This self-assessment will guide you towards choosing CE opportunities that provide the most value.
Define Your Goals
Next, define your goals for your continuing education. Are you looking to increase your expertise in a specific area, extend your skill set, or explore emerging research? Having clear objectives will help you choose the most relevant courses and resources that align with your career path.
Consider Your Learning Preferences
Do you enjoy attending conferences, listening to podcasts, or attending online webinars? Explore a variety of learning formats and consider including some from each type. This diversity will keep your learning experience engaging and well-rounded.
Get Recommendations
Don’t forget to reach out to your community of practice. Connect with peers, colleagues, and mentors to get recommendations on valuable CE opportunities. They might have insights and experiences that can help you make informed decisions.
Budget Wisely
Many CE opportunities come with costs, especially conferences, so it’s essential to allocate a budget for your learning journey. Factor in registration fees, materials, travel expenses, and membership costs. Also consider whether your company has a reimbursement benefit for CEUs, or offers access to free CE opportunities. Once you have your budget, consider rounding out your plan with some free or low-cost CEUs like these offered by BlueSprig.
Create a Calendar
Exercise your self-management skills here and organize your CE activities using a calendar, factoring upcoming CEU opportunities. (This may even be a good time to check out some continuing education in self-management!)
Plan dedicated time for learning throughout the month or year to avoid cramming before recertification. If you plan on attending a conference, add it to your calendar and note how many CEUs you’ll learn. For example, if you plan to attend one conference each spring and earn 10 CEUs each, you will need to earn 12 additional CEUs during your two-year cycle. You could make a goal to earn a CEU every other month across the cycle to reach the BACB goal of 32 CEUs.
Reflect and Apply
After completing each CE activity, take time to reflect on what you’ve learned and how you can apply it to your work. Implementing new knowledge and skills enhances their practical value and contributes to your professional growth.
Track & Reinforce Your Progress
Maintain a record of your CE activities, including copies of certificates- this documentation will be required when it’s time to renew your certification. Regularly track your progress to see how well you’re adhering to your plan and reinforce progress towards your goals along the way.
Remember, crafting a continuing education game plan is an investment in yourself and your professional journey. The field of ABA is evolving, and so should your skills and knowledge. With a well-structured CE game plan, you’ll be better equipped to thrive in your career, contribute meaningfully to the field, and maximize your clients’ success!
Download your free BACB CEUs Gameplan Template Here.
Did you know that BlueSprig is an Authorized Continuing Education (ACE) provider for CEUs for BCBAs, BCBA-Ds, and BCaBAs? We are committed to ensuring that the ABA community of clinicians have access to excellent continuing education resources to achieve optimal outcomes for their clients.
Our Learning and Performance Development team, along with internal and external subject matter experts produce content that is available on-demand through our Continuing Education Portal that is open to the public. Browse the catalog to see all our course offerings open to the public by clicking here.