Behavior Analysis Center for Autism - BACA

BACA provides ABA therapy to help children with autism.

career and special needs

BCaBA vs BCBA: What’s the Difference Between a BCaBA and a BCBA? 

by

When pursuing a career in autism therapy, it’s essential to understand the qualifications and roles of professionals in the field. 

Two key titles you will encounter are known as board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) and board certified assistant behavior analysts (BCaBAs). Though they sound similar, they have distinct differences.

The main difference between the BCaBA vs BCBA titles is the level of education and supervision required for each. Let’s explore more about each role.

BCaBA vs BCBA Requirements: What Level of Education Do I Need?

The titles “BCaBA” and “BCBA” are the two main certifications in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. That may sound like a lot of alphabet soup, but let’s break it down:

  • A BCaBA requires a bachelor’s degree, while a BCBA requires both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. 

The roles also require a different level of supervision.

  • A BCaBA can’t practice without supervision from a BCBA or BCBA-D (doctoral-level BCBA). A BCBA can practice independently and supervise others.

What Does the Coursework Include?

There is a difference between BCBA and BCaBA coursework required. To become a BCBA, coursework covers ABA therapy for autism, ethics, measurement, experimental design, and behavior assessment. Additionally, candidates must complete supervised fieldwork and pass the BCBA exam.

For BCaBA certification, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in behavior analysis, education, or a related field is required. Like the BCBA, candidates need coursework in ABA, ethics, measurement, experimental design, and behavior assessment. They also need to complete supervised fieldwork and pass the BCaBA exam.

Both certifications require continuing education to stay up to date with the latest advancements in the field. 

BCBA vs BCaBA: What Do They Do?

BCaBAs and BCBAs both work with people who have developmental disabilities, such as autism, to help them change their behavior and lead more fulfilling lives. 

These professionals use scientific approaches such as ABA therapy. They work in a variety of settings, including schools, homes, learning centers, and the community.

BCaBAs and BCBAs conduct assessments, develop individualized treatment plans, and work with families who have kids on the autism spectrum.

How Much Autonomy Does a BCBA vs BCaBA Have?

Supervision requirements and levels of autonomy differ between BCaBAs and BCBAs. BCBA candidates need a minimum of 1,500 hours of supervised experience, including at least 75 hours of face-to-face supervision from a qualified BCBA. BCaBA candidates require 1,000 hours of supervised experience, with at least 50 hours of face-to-face supervision.

One difference between a BCaBA and BCBA is that BCBAs generally have more autonomy, conducting assessments, developing behavior plans, and directly supervising others. BCaBAs, while crucial in treatment, work under a BCBA’s guidance, using behavior plans and collecting data. Together, they use evidence-based interventions tailored to each person’s needs. 

What Kinds of Career Opportunities Are Available for a BCBA vs BCaBA?

Career prospects for BCBAs and BCaBAs are promising, driven by the growing demand for autism therapies. BCBAs can work in schools, clinics, and private practices, often holding supervisory roles and conducting assessments.

Both roles offer advancement opportunities. BCBAs can pursue advanced certifications like BCBA-D, leading to higher-level positions and research opportunities. BCaBAs can gain experience, pursue higher education, and take on more responsibilities, such as supervising other BCaBAs.

Specializations within behavior analysis — such as early intervention or verbal behavior — allow professionals to focus their expertise and advance their careers. Staying informed and pursuing ongoing professional development can lead to successful and fulfilling careers in autism therapies.

BCaBA Salary vs BCBA Salary: What’s the Difference?

Across the country, BCBA salaries typically range from $55,000 to $85,000 per year, influenced by experience, location, and work setting. BCaBAs earn between $35,000 and $55,000 per year, with similar influencing factors.

Geographic location, level of experience, specialization, and work setting all affect BCBA vs BCaBA salary levels. BCBAs and BCaBAs working in educational institutions or private clinics may earn higher salaries compared to those in nonprofit organizations.

While BCaBAs earn lower salaries, they play a crucial role in providing behavior analysis services under BCBA supervision. Ultimately, career goals, desired responsibility level, and commitment to professional development should guide the choice between these positions.

BCBA or BCaBA: How Do You Choose the Right Career Path?

If you’re seeking a career in autism therapy, both roles are crucial positions. You can start at one level and work your way up through education and experience. It’s common for people to earn an assistant certification before working toward becoming a BCBA.

Many BCBAs first earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, education, or ABA, then pursue a master’s degree in ABA or a related field. The job growth rate for BCBAs is projected to be 8 percent from 2020 to 2030, which is faster than average for psychologists.

To learn more about BCBA or BCaBA job opportunities available at LEARN, visit our careers page.

How to Manage a Career, While Raising a Child with Autism

by

When Laura Brompton’s son, Bertie, was a toddler going through the assessment and diagnosis process for autism spectrum disorder, she says she needed a job she could do without needing to be emotionally invested.

She wanted to be able to walk out and leave work at the door.

“I didn’t have the emotional capacity to juggle Bertie’s needs with a job that would need me to focus my mind,” she says. “Bertie’s needs were the priority.”

She wondered how she could ever manage the stress of a career while raising a child with autism. She knew caring for her son would be demanding and expensive. She wanted to be fulfilled in her own work and be fully engaged as a parent. She knew some semblance of a work-life balance was going to be tough to achieve. But she was willing to adapt. So, she trusted her instincts and persevered until she found the right fit.

“When Bertie started school, I realized that I had a lot more time on my hands,” she says. “The job I was working in was weekends and early mornings, but I wanted to find something that would fit into Bertie’s school day so that I was always home when he was, and so I could take him to and from school.”

She wanted the same thing many parents juggling career and family do: a stable routine.

“For me, the best solution was to also work in a school,” she says. It was a change in her career path, but it was a way for her to strike a balance between work and home life. It gave her the freedom to be available when she needed to be.

Her son is almost 6 now, and she has found her niche working in a school and running “Bertie’s Journey,” a blog on Facebook documenting the frequent highs and occasional lows of Bertie’s life on the autism spectrum and their family’s day-to-day life in the United Kingdom.

While she doesn’t claim to have all the answers, she says these tips helped her transition:

1. Talk to your employer.

Finding an understanding employer is key to having the flexibility you need as a special-needs parent.

Academic studies, such as, “Daily Experiences Among Mothers of Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder,” from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, have looked at daily stressors parents experience, and researchers concluded that these parents need more support from employers.

“Make it clear to your employer that you have a child with autism spectrum disorder, and there may be times where that has to come before your work,” Brompton says. That opens the door to clear communication about expectations. And it opens up the opportunity for additional emotional support at work, where your employer understands the challenges you face.

2. Find a job you enjoy.

If you find joy in your work, it will reflect in the rest of your life, Brompton says. “It will help in so many ways and allow you a bit of time to be yourself.”

If you can’t find joy in your work, you may find yourself in a category researchers refer to as “parental burnout”—a phenomenon that can have serious negative consequences because a work-life balance seems so out of reach. Researchers see it as kind of a dying battery. When you can’t recharge, the whole family feels your zapped energy.

3. Establish routines.

Having good routines in place makes all the difference in keeping everything on track, Brompton says. Like many kids on the autism spectrum, her son thrives on routine. So she worked on establishing a consistent schedule. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has some tips here about how to create consistent routines for your own family.

“Getting to work and caring for a child with ASD can be a tricky mix,” Brompton says. “Having a set routine will make this run a lot smoother.”

4. Don’t take on more than you can handle.

Even before the COVID pandemic, women took care of almost twice the load as men when it came to shopping, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of kids and parents in the household, a McKinsey Global Institute study found. And many women are burning out. Last year, a Women in the Workplace study indicated that one in four women are considering leaving the workplace or downshifting their careers.

Brompton says she has learned when to say when. Sometimes, managing the balance between a career and raising a child with special needs can be overwhelming, she says. Sometimes you need a support system.

“If things get too much,” she says, “reach out to people.”

Laura Brompton says her most important role is “mum to Bertie,” who was diagnosed with non-verbal autism, among other diagnoses, in 2018. She blogs at @bertiesjourney on Facebook.

Looking for more tips about balancing a career while raising a special-needs child? Read “Perspectives: Support Women in the Workplace During the Pandemic.”