aba_cert_artpsd
aba_cert_typegif

Learn best practices for the education and treatment of students with disabilities.

The demand for teachers and practitioners trained in best practices for the education and treatment of individuals with autism and related disabilities has grown. The Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis at Western New England College will help you develop the skills to fill this void. Our certificate program will train leaders in the practice of Applied Behavior Analysis through a combination of coursework and supervised practicum - whether you have earned your bachelor's or master's degree, our program will position you to take the exam to become a Board Certified Associate Behavior Analysts (BCaBA) or Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA).

Post-baccalaureate preparation - Students with a bachelor's degree will prepare for the BCaBA requirements.
Post-master's preparation - Students with a master's degree will prepare for the BCBA requirements.

* The BCBA program at Western New England College serves as a post-baccalaureate or post-master's certificate program. Upon completion of the program, students will earn a certificate, however they will not be professionally certified BCBA's until they complete and pass the BCBA certification test through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BCBA®)

What is Applied Behavior Analysis?
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) can be summarized as the use of scientific principles of human behavior and learning to facilitate socially important behavior change. Applied behavior analysis is useful in school settings because it enables teachers to more effectively assess and influence student learning or problem behavior. The principles on which ABA is based are relevant to a highly diverse group of students. Among these, students with developmental disabilities have benefited from tremendous advances in educational tactics within the last 20 years of behavior analytic research.

Preparing you to succeed

  • Benefit from working with our nationally recognized faculty.
  • All courses are taught by professors holding doctorates and BCBA certification.
  • You will be assigned a doctoral-level, board-certified behavior analysts as your advisor.
  • Students will meet all requirements to sit for the Behavior Analysis Certification Board exam upon completion of the program.**
  • Curriculum includes a BCBA exam preparatory course.

** The Behavior Analysis Certification Board determines eligibility to sit for the BCBA® or BCaBA® exam based on successful completion of an independent application process.

Designed with working professionals in mind

  •  Classes are offered during the evening.
  • Classes meet one night per week.
  • Four 11-week terms offered annually.
  • Complete the program in two years.
  • If necessary, we will assist you with locating a practicum site.
  • BCBA® or BCaBA® practicum supervision provided in your school or organization.
  • Supervised practicum experiences are coordinated through the program.

Program Goals and Objectives
Candidates completing the requirements for a Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis will be able to:

  • Identify, critically analyze, and apply information from educational and psychological research for the benefit of students.
  • Use empirically-validated assessment tools to identify the function of problem behavior and design effective individualized and class-wide interventions based on the assessment information.
  • Use evidence-based teaching strategies to provide more effective instruction for students with disabilities.
  • Develop measurement systems for tracking student progress and assessing the adequacy of current strategies using single-subjects designs

Program Structure and Requirements
Courses will be offered during our 11-week graduate terms.  There are no credit minimums per term, and the completion timeline is liberally set at five years.  Students who enroll in 3 to 5 credit hours in each term will complete the program in just two years.  Students interested in finishing the program in two years will need to begin their studies in the fall - this is due to the sequence in which courses are offered.

View the curriculum.

Admissions Requirements
Candidates interested in this program need to satisfy the following:

  1. Candidates must have earned a minimum of a bachelor's (eligible for BCaBA certification) or a master's degree (eligible for BCBA certification), and have earned at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average in their most recent degree program.
  2. Candidates must already work in a relevant practicum site within 30 miles of the Western New England College campus or be willing to be placed in a relevant practicum site within 30 miles of the campus during the terms in which they are enrolled in practicum hours.

How to Apply
The following items must be submitted for consideration for admission to the program:

  1. A completed application for admission and a nonrefundable $30 application fee.  Download a copy of the application for admission.
  2. An official transcript from all institutions attended as an undergraduate or graduate student.  Your own copy is not acceptable.
  3. Submit a personal statement conveying why this program is relevant to your goals.
  4. Submit a statement indicating the name of the site where you will complete your practicum.  If you will require assistance locating a site, please provide a written request.

Tuition
View the current tuition.

To learn more about the admission process, please contact the Admissions Office at 413-782-1517 or study@wnec.edu. For more information about the program, contact Dr. Rachel Thompson, program director at 413-782-1485 or rthompson@wnec.edu.