Understanding BCBA Fieldwork Hours
- Ashleigh
- Dec 4, 2022
- 9 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Confused about the BCBA fieldwork process? You're not alone. Aspiring behavior analysts often find fieldwork to be overwhelming, especially at the beginning. If you’re working toward BCBA certification or considering it, this guide will answer the most common fieldwork questions, like:
What are restricted and unrestricted hours?
How many hours do I need?
How long does fieldwork take to complete?
Can I complete my hours remotely?
And more!
Note: The BCBA Handbook is your best resource for understanding.all requirements to become a BCBA. To ensure up-to-date information, we encourage you to review it in full.
What are BCBA Fieldwork Hours?
BCBA fieldwork consists of 1,500-2,000 hours of activities applying behavior-analytic concepts and principles to real-world situations (pathway 4 only requires 500 hours, though that pathway will be eliminated in 2027). The fieldwork experience is supervised by a qualified supervisor (i.e., a BCBA). The end goal is to prepare you for a role as a behavior analyst. While coursework provides the knowledge, there is no substitute for actively applying that knowledge with actual clients. This is why fieldwork is so vital.
When Can I Start BCBA fieldwork?
You can begin accumulating fieldwork hours once you’ve started your first master’s-level course and have a supervision contract in place with a qualified BCBA. You can't count any hours until both conditions are met.
Can I count my hours worked as an RBT before starting coursework?
You cannot begin accruing hours until after you start your coursework. Even if you're already working in the field before starting your master's coursework, you can't count those hours.
How Many BCBA Hours Can I Accrue Each Month?
You can accrue between 20 and 130 hours per month. If you don’t accrue at least 20 hours in a given month, you cannot count those hours. You can work more than 130 hours per month. That is totally fine! Simply do not record hours beyond 130 on your fieldwork documentation.
2027 Update: In 2027, the total hours you can acrrue monthly will change to 20-160.
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How Long Does BCBA Fieldwork Take?
If you max out on 130 hours per month, you can expect to finish your fieldwork hours in 11.5-15.5 months. However, many trainees accrue fewer hours each month. A more realistic range of time is 18 months-3 years. Remember, you can begin accruing hours while enrolled in your master’s program, which can help shorten the overall process.
What are Restricted and Unrestricted Hours?
Unrestricted tasks are all of the activities a BCBA is likely to do. The goal of BCBA fieldwork is to prepare student analysts for the role of a BCBA. Because of this, it's required that the majority (60%+) of the fieldwork experience centers around activities that develop BCBA-related competencies.
Unrestricted activities may include:
Observation and data collection
Training staff and caregivers on behavior-analytic programs or content
Conducting assessments related to the need for behavioral intervention
Meeting with clients about behavior-analytic programming and services
Conducting behavior-analytic assessments (e.g., functional analyses, stimulus preference assessments)
Data graphing and analysis
Researching the literature relevant to a current client’s programming
Writing and revising behavior-analytic programs
Per the BCBA Handbook updates in August 2025, all fieldwork activities must be tied to a specific client. This means unrestricted tasks have to connect directly to an actual client’s programming, not reports or programming for fictional cases.
Restricted activities include the direct implementation of therapeutic and instructional procedures. This is typically the role of a behavior technician or other paraprofessional role. You don't have to do restricted hours at all. You can complete 100% unrestricted with no restricted hours. Most people do both, though.
The one requirement is that you must have at least 60% unrestricted hours and no more than 40% restricted. For those accruing 2,000 hours, this means you must have at least 1,200 unrestricted hours, and you cannot accrue more than 800 restricted hours.
Doesn't the supervisor get the final say in what counts?
It’s important to remember that the BACB’s guidance on fieldwork activities is intentionally broad to cover the many ways behavior analysis can be applied. The BCBA Handbook lists examples of acceptable and unacceptable activities, but it does not provide a definitive answer for every situation. Ultimately, your supervising BCBA is responsible for interpreting the handbook and guiding you in activities that are compliant with the guidelines. However, they cannot assign tasks that don't comply with the fieldwork standards. If your hours are audited, you may need to show documentation proving your activities complied with fieldwork standards.
Unacceptable Fieldwork Activities
Your fieldwork experience should encompass activities that will best prepare you for a BCBA role. Scheduling, listening to podcasts, administrative duties, laminating stimuli, or other tasks that aren't behavior-analytic and/or duties specific to a behavior analyst cannot be counted.
The BACB provides further clarification in the handbook. Here is a list of unacceptable activities. You cannot do any of these activities for restricted or unrestricted hours, per the BACB.
Attending professional conferences, workshops, or university courses
Completing didactic-course assignments (e.g., completing homework assignments, readings)
Attending meetings with little or no behavior-analytic content
Providing interventions that are not based in behavior analysis
Performing nonbehavioral administrative activities
Participating in nonbehavior-analytic trainings related to service delivery (e.g., crisis management, CPR, billing systems)
Completing nonbehavioral assessments (e.g., diagnostic assessments, intellectual assessments), paperwork, documentation, billing, or any other activities that are not directly related to behavior analysis
Listening to podcasts
Role-playing behavior-analytic procedures that are not client related
What are the Monthly Supervision Requirements?
The following table shows the monthly supervision requirements for both supervised and concentrated supervised fieldwork. The primary difference between the two is with the concentrated path, you can complete your hours quicker. However, you would need more monthly supervision. Some supervisors may not have the capacity to provide concentrated supervision, so if that is something you're interested in, clarify this before agreeing to supervision
Supervised Fieldwork | Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork | |
Number of total hours | 2,000 | 1,500 |
Number of supervisor observations with a client | 1 | 1 |
Number of contacts with supervisor | 4 | 6 |
% of hours supervised | 5% | 10% |
You can do a combination of supervised and concentrated. Hours accrued under the concentrated supervised fieldwork are accrued at a value of 1.33x the supervised fieldwork. Therefore, use a multiplier of 1.33 for any months that you accrue hours per the concentrated fieldwork requirements. Talk to your supervisor about how to do this.
Is there a limit to the number of monthly supervised hours?
Absolutely not! You can receive supervision for more than 5% of your total hours. The BACB sets forth minimum acceptable standards. A higher percentage of supervision may be beneficial and, in some cases, necessary for maintaining a high level of client care.
Can I do Remote BCBA Supervision?
You can! There are many companies, like ATCC, that offer supervised fieldwork remotely. It is important to note that you still need to maintain the monthly requirements, including one client observation each month. Check out our Remote BCBA Supervisor Database to locate a supervisor.
What are the Pathways to Becoming a BCBA?
There are currently 4 pathways, though 2 will be eliminated in 2026. You can learn more about the pathways to becoming a BCBA here.
What Should I do if my Fieldwork Experience Doesn't Feel Right?
I firmly believe that everyone is not for everyone—and that is okay. In other words, your supervisor may not be a great fit for you. Having a supervisor who fits your needs can make a big difference in the level of quality supervision you receive. If something doesn't quite feel right, advocate for whatever changes may be needed. I.e., more tasks assigned, increased feedback, additional support in XYZ, etc. If your requests are not acknowledged or addressed, you may want to consider seeking supervision elsewhere. This might include seeking employment elsewhere or securing external supervision.
Can I Have More than One Supervisor?
Yes, you can! As long as you have a contract in place with each supervisor, you can accrue hours with more than one supervising BCBA. If you have more than one supervisor within the same organization, then the supervisors can collectively work together to meet all of your monthly supervision requirements (i.e., you might have 2 contacts with Supervisor A and 2 contacts with Supervisor B). However, if you have supervisors in different organizations, each of them will need to independently meet all of the monthly requirements.
Let's break it down further. Imagine you work for ABC Company. You have one supervisor there, but they aren't providing you with as many hours as you'd like. You secure a remote supervisor outside of your company who provides you supervision to supplement your hours. In this case, your supervisor at ABC Company and your remote supervisor will each need to observe you with a client at least once per month, have 4 supervisory contacts, and supervise a minimum of 5% of your hours. Your total hours must still be between 20 and 130 per month. You cannot accrue more than 130 hours monthly, even if you have multiple supervisors.
Who Counts as a Client for BCBA Fieldwork?
The BACB considers a client as anyone who receives behavior-analytic services in any setting. They further clarify anyone to mean a person or group of people. A large majority (around 70%) of the field works with the autism community, so many people accrue their hours while working with autistic children in the ABA field. However, this is not required. Any person or persons who would benefit from behavior analytic services can count as a client.
Important note: Clients cannot be family members, friends, or anyone else that would constitute a dual relationship.
Do I Have to be an RBT Before Becoming a BCBA?
No! Being an RBT is not a prerequisite, nor do you need to be an RBT to accrue fieldwork hours.
How Long Does the Fieldwork Experience Last?
You can accrue a maximum of 130 hours per month. This means if you are maxing out on hours, you could complete your fieldwork hours in as little as 11.5 months if you are going the concentrated route (1,500 hours) or 15 months if you are going the traditional route (2,000 hours).
Typically, it takes between 1 1/2 and 3 years for student analysts to complete their hours. It is important to note that you cannot exceed five consecutive years, though. Factor this into your plans if you expect to take breaks along the way or if you'll be accruing hours on the lower end of the range.
Can any BCBA supervise?
No. A supervisor must meet one of the following requirements.
A current BCBA with no current disciplinary sanctions. Must complete an 8-hour supervision course and meet ongoing supervision CEU requirements. If they have been a BCBA for less than one year, they must receive ongoing consultation from a qualified consulting supervisor.
A licensed or registered psychologist certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology who has tested in ABA.
An authorized Verified Course Sequence (VCS) instructor.
You can check the BCBA Registry to confirm that your potential supervisor meets the requirements to supervise.
Note: In 2026, only BCBAs will be allowed to supervise fieldwork hours.
How Do you Track Fieldwork Hours?
Maintaining a record of your fieldwork activities is critical. The BACB advises keeping records for seven years in the case of an audit. Both the Supervisor and Supervisee should keep copies of all documentation.
There are a few websites that offer fieldwork trackers:
Related: How to Track BCBA Fieldwork Hours
Learn more about fieldwork documentation:
Can I count hours if I didn't receive supervision one month?
No. You must receive supervision every month you accrue fieldwork hours. If you do not meet the monthly requirements, you cannot accrue hours that month. If you work a partial month due to a vacation or client cancelations, for example, you may be able to prorate the month. Talk to your BCBA about how to do this.
Can I accrue BCBA fieldwork hours during periods of time off?
I get this question often lately. For example, someone is taking a maternity leave or an extended vacation and will not be working for a few months. Technically you can accrue hours in these circumstances. However, this is only the case IF you continue to have access to a client. You must meet the monthly requirement of 1 observation with a client each month and all activities must be related to a current client, so if you don't have access to clients during these periods of time off, then you would not be able to accrue hours.
More resources
The following links are more BACB resources specific to the fieldwork experience. I highly recommend reviewing each of these.
How to Prepare for the BCBA Exam
Note: Some links shared are affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission. This does not change the total price that you pay on any products or services.
