Learn how to supervise behavior interventions.
The Post-Master’s Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis program prepares you to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®). This graduate-level certification qualifies behavior analysts to supervise the work of Assistant Behavior Analysts, Registered Behavior Technicians, and others who implement behavior-analytic interventions.
Upon earning this certificate, you should be able to effectively analyze behavior, design interventions, and evaluate interventions to better guide them toward socially significant behavior change. You should also be able to resolve dilemmas in accordance with behavior-analytic ethical guidelines, evaluate the impact of diversity issues and demonstrate competence working with diverse populations, and conduct behavior-analytic research effectively and ethically.
*The Post-Bachelor's Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis program is not available to residents of North Carolina.*
Shannon Ormandy, Ph.D.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- Application
- Application fee ($50)
- Master's degree from an accredited university
- Graduate GPA 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Official transcript(s)
- Students must submit official transcripts from all schools where a degree was earned.
- It is recommended that transcripts are submitted from all schools where credit was received to enhance their applications.
- Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 are required to submit additional documentation:
- One letter of recommendation
- Admission essay (approximately 500-700 words)
Each applicant is reviewed holistically, taking factors such as personal and professional experience and accomplishments into consideration. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions to discuss their unique qualifications.
Send materials to:
Admissions Operations
c/o The Chicago School
203 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60601
For electronic delivery, send to [email protected].
Licensure
For information on whether a program at The Chicago School meets or does not meet licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit our licensure disclosures page.
Articulation Agreements
The Chicago School has also established agreements between the Post-Master's Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis program and the programs listed below to allow qualified students to enroll in doctoral level courses while completing their master’s degree that will count toward the doctoral degree. Click on the link of the program that interests you for details.
- M.A. Counseling Psychology and Post Master’s Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
Sample Courses
Below are a few examples of courses offered to students enrolled in the in-person and online Post-master's Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis program.
Concepts and Principles in Behavior Analysis
This course instructs students in the basic principles of operant and respondent conditioning, selection by consequences, and the research literature from which the principles were derived. The course also addresses the philosophical assumptions of behavior analysis (i.e., radical behaviorism).
Measurement and Design in Behavior Analysis
This course addresses the measurement of behavior, data display, interpretation of data, and experimental design. Aspects of measurement including behavior definition, measurable dimensions of behavior, measurement systems and their selection, and data collection, graphing, and interpretation will be covered. Students will learn how to evaluate the validity and reliability of measurement procedures including interobserver agreement, social validity, and treatment integrity. This course also covers the uses and defining features of single-subject experimental designs as well as their advantages and limitations.
Professional Ethics and Issues in Behavior Analysis
In this course, professional, ethical, and legal issues related to the practice of psychology and behavior analysis, based on the ethical standards of these fields are critically examined. Issues considered include privacy, privilege, confidentiality and its limitations, informed consent, clients’ rights, malpractice, client-therapist relationships, and regulation influencing the practice of therapy.
Career Pathways
This program prepares students to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts® (BCBAs®), which is a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis. Professionals who are certified at the BCBA® level can supervise the work of BCaBAs®, Registered Behavior Technicians, and others who implement behavior-analytic interventions.
Financing Your Education
The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our professional degree programs accessible to anyone regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid Department will provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.
Post-Master's Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis FAQs
Do you need to get a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis to become a certified BCBA®?
No, the BACB® only requires candidates to have completed ABA coursework in order to be eligible to take the BCBA® examination. This program is designed for someone who got a master’s degree in a non-ABA field who wants to pursue licensure as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst®.
