When to Involve a BCBA — Understanding Their Role on Your Child’s ABA Team
If your child is receiving ABA therapy, there’s someone guiding the plan behind the scenes: the BCBA, or Board Certified Behavior Analyst. While the RBT is the one implementing therapy day-to-day, the BCBA is the architect of your child’s success — assessing behavior, designing goals, monitoring progress, and leading the clinical team.
But what exactly does a BCBA do, and when should you connect with them directly? Let’s break it down.
What Is a BCBA?
A BCBA is a master’s level professional with:
A degree in behavior analysis, education, or psychology
1,500+ hours of supervised fieldwork
Certification through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)
Ongoing ethics and continuing education requirements
BCBAs are qualified to assess behavior and create individualized behavior intervention plans for clients of all ages, but especially children with autism.
What Does a BCBA Do?
BCBAs don’t just create plans — they manage the whole therapeutic process. Their responsibilities include:
Conducting Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs)
Writing measurable, meaningful treatment goals
Designing skill acquisition and behavior reduction programs
Training RBTs and caregivers on implementation
Observing therapy sessions and reviewing data
Adjusting strategies based on your child’s progress
Collaborating with school teams, SLPs, OTs, and other providers
They ensure the ABA therapy your child receives is effective, ethical, and personalized.
When Should You Involve the BCBA?
As a parent, you should have ongoing access to your BCBA — not just when something goes wrong. That said, here are specific times to reach out:
1. At the Start of Services
Review the assessment results together
Go over therapy goals and priorities
Ask how progress will be measured and shared
2. If You Notice New Behaviors
Is your child suddenly eloping or becoming aggressive?
Are there changes at home (e.g., new sibling, schedule change)?
Let the BCBA know so they can update the plan accordingly
3. If Goals Aren’t Progressing
If a skill seems stuck for weeks, ask what’s being done to modify the teaching strategy
4. Before Major Transitions
Starting school?
Moving to a new home?
Vacation coming up?
Your BCBA can help with transition plans and strategies
5. When You Have Questions or Concerns
Never hesitate to ask:
“Why are we working on this skill?”
“Can we add something new?”
“How can I use these strategies at home?”
Your BCBA should welcome your input — therapy is most effective when families are active participants.
What Makes a Great BCBA?
Clinical Expertise: They know the science, but also the child.
Good Communication: They explain strategies clearly and respectfully.
Adaptability: They change what’s not working.
Partnership: They value your insight as the expert on your child.
Questions to Ask Your BCBA
What are our short-term goals?
How will we track and review progress?
What strategies can we use at home?
How often will you observe sessions?
Real-Life Example
Sofia, age 6, had a treatment plan focused on language development. But her parents noticed she was struggling with transitions at school. After meeting with the BCBA, new goals were added for managing transitions using visuals and social stories. Within a month, Sofia was moving between activities with fewer meltdowns.
Final Thoughts
The BCBA is more than a supervisor — they are your child’s behavior coach, strategist, and advocate. Don’t wait until there’s a problem to get involved. When parents and BCBAs collaborate, children thrive.
