A BCBA, or Board Certified Behavior Analyst, is a professional who designs and supervises behavior-analytic services. In ABA therapy, the BCBA typically assesses needs, writes goals, trains the team, reviews progress, and updates the plan. Families should know who the BCBA is and how to reach them.
Assessment and planning
The BCBA may complete interviews, observations, skill checks, and record review. They use that information to recommend goals and supports.
The plan should explain what skills are being taught, how sessions will run, and how progress will be measured.
Supervision
The BCBA usually supervises the staff delivering direct therapy. Supervision may include observation, feedback, data review, and changes to teaching procedures.
Families can ask how often supervision occurs and what to do if they have concerns between scheduled meetings.
Caregiver collaboration
BCBAs often work with caregivers on practical strategies for daily routines. This may include communication supports, transition planning, or responses to challenging behavior.
Caregiver collaboration should be respectful and realistic. Strategies need to fit the home.
Progress review
The BCBA should review data and caregiver feedback regularly. If a goal is not improving, the plan may need to change. If a goal is mastered, the team should decide how to maintain and generalize the skill.