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BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) Examination

The BCBA Examination is the computer-based, 185-item (175 scored + 10 unscored pilot) certification examination in behavior analysis that candidates must pass after completing a graduate-level eligibility pathway to earn the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board; it is built on the 6th Edition Test Content Outline (exams beginning in 2025) and delivered in person at Pearson VUE test centers.

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Questions185 multiple-choice questions: 175 scored plus 10 unscored pilot questions
Testing time4 hours
ScoringPass/fail against a criterion-referenced passing score set with the modified Angoff method by a panel of BACB-certified subject matter experts and approved by the BACB Board of Directors; forms are statistically equated, so the raw number of correct answers required varies by form and is not reported; failing candidates receive a content-area performance report
Exam feeUSD 245 BCBA certification application fee (BACB, one-time) plus USD 125 examination appointment fee collected by Pearson VUE at scheduling; each retake requires a new USD 140 retake application plus a new USD 125 appointment fee; BACB accepts only US currency

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Study resources for BCBA Exam

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Exam overview

What to know before choosing your prep

Who runs it
BACB
Category
Behavior Analysis
Current version
BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.) — the basis of the examination beginning in 2025
Where it applies
International / multi-country
Exam languages
English
Score scale
Scaled scores are reported on score reports (scale anchored so the passing score is fixed across forms); the numeric scale range is not published on the pages opened
Testing provider
Pearson VUE
Format
In-person, computer-based testing (CBT) at authorized Pearson VUE testing sites and US military bases; no online/remote delivery option
Availability
Continuously available by appointment after application approval and Authorization to Test; candidates have two years from application approval to pass
Results
Pass/fail notification at the testing site immediately upon completion; BACB confirms results by email and in the BACB account within approximately one week; certification number is generated within 24 hours of passing
Remote testing
Not available

Exam structure

185 four-option single-correct-answer multiple-choice questions distributed across 9 domains: Behaviorism and Philosophical Foundations 8 (5%), Concepts and Principles 24 (14%), Measurement/Data Display and Interpretation 21 (12%), Experimental Design 13 (7%), Ethical and Professional Issues 22 (13%), Behavior Assessment 23 (13%), Behavior-Change Procedures 25 (14%), Selecting and Implementing Interventions 20 (11%), Personnel Supervision and Management 19 (11%); the TCO covers 104 tasks

Where rules vary

One uniform examination worldwide, but BACB accepts new certification applications only from residents of the US, Canada (Quebec excluded; Ontario BCBA applications end June 30, 2026) and Australia (applications end January 1, 2027); the UK was removed from BACB jurisdiction. Existing certificants may maintain certification and reside in any country.

Eligibility

Graduate-level eligibility pathway (ABAI/APBA-accredited degree, behavior-analytic coursework, faculty teaching and research, or postdoctoral experience) plus supervised fieldwork; an approved BCBA Certification Application (USD 245) and Authorization to Test email are required before scheduling with Pearson VUE; applicant must reside in BACB jurisdiction (US; Canada; Australia)

Retake policy

Up to 8 attempts within the 2-year authorization period, with at least 30 days between attempts; each retake requires a new $140 Examination Retake Application and a new $125 Pearson VUE appointment fee

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