Archived News
March 1,2005
UBC Becomes the Second University in Canada to Offer BACB Approved Courses
In an exciting development, which will make a significant contribution to improving the quality of intervention for children with autism in BC, The Behaviour Analyst Certification Board (BACB) recently approved the University of British Columbia as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the rigorous Behavior Analysis Certification Board Examination. UBC has now become the second university in Canada approved to provide this option to professionals who engage in behaviour analytic practice and are interested in obtaining this well-respected certification from the BACB which is based in the U.S.
UBC anticipates offering the courses to Masters and Doctoral students starting in September 2005. They expect to offer one course on-line and the remaining four on campus. These courses will also be available to students who have already completed their masters or a higher degree and need to take these courses as part of the requirements for Board Certification. For more background on BACB see their website at http://www.bacb.com
ACT – Autism Community Training is delighted at UBC’s initiative. We congratulate Drs. Pat Mirenda, Joe Lucyshyn, and their colleagues in the Department of Educational & Counseling Psychology & Special Education at UBC for initiating this development. Drs. Mirenda and Lucyshyn are internationally recognized scholars in the field of positive behavior support and autism and have been strong supporters of data driven analysis of autism intervention strategies. (For a fascinating look at the results of Dr. Mirenda’s recent research project into autism early intervention programs in BC see: http://educ.ubc.ca/faculty/pmirenda/autismfinal.plain.05.htm)
BACB accreditation is not the only worthy indicator of competence in Applied Behavior Analysis, nor is it sufficient in itself to ensure competence in providing intervention to young children with ASD. Training and experience specific to autism is needed in addition to generic skills in Applied Behaviour Analysis. The Association for Applied Behavior Analysis has provided recommendations regarding specialized training in their Revised Guidelines for Consumers of Applied Behavior Analysis Services to Individuals with Autism and Related Disorders at: www.abainternational.org/sub/membersvcs/sig/contactinfo/Autism.asp
A growing number of professionals on the Qualified Service Providers List for Children Under Six (administered by ACT on behalf of BC’s Ministry of Children and Family Development) have either succeeded in attaining these qualifications or are in the process of doing so.
These pioneers of the BCBA accreditation process in BC and the increased government funding allocated to intervention programs for children under six reflect the growing international recognition that professionals working in this field need to acquire specific skills designing and implementing programs to effectively service this rapidly expanding group of children.
In past decades, funding has been available in B. C. for behavioural support services with the goal of developing strategies to successfully include children in their homes, schools, and communities. Developing and running intensive early intervention programs requires consultants to have additional knowledge and skill sets well beyond skills in positive behaviour support.
ACT is advising behaviour consultants who do not have at least a Master’s level degree in psychology, special education or a related field, with academic coursework and significant experience in Applied Behaviour Analysis and who wish to work as an independent behavioural consultant with children under six, that BCBA certification with specialized education and training in autism is recommended if they wish to practice long-term in BC.
ACT is dedicated to working with the professional community and MCFD to clarify and standardize requirements for Behaviour Consultants as currently there is no provincial professional body which sets out criteria for who is qualified to practice.
UBC’s program will greatly assist in the development of an on-going formal credentialing process for professional behaviour analysts through the Behaviour Analyst Certification Board (BACB) within BC. In addition, formal credentialing of professional service providers will provide consumers with specific safeguards, such as a minimum standard of education, experience and professional training, as well as legal recourse for unethical or incompetent practices and services provided. To obtain more information on UBC's courses, availability, costs, enrollment and other important details, please visit their website at www.ecps.educ.ubc.ca/courses/aba1.htm
To obtain more information on how to assess the qualifications of service providers, we recommend you visit our section on Assessing Qualifications – Tips for Parents.
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