How many fieldwork hours do I need for BCaBA certification?

1,300 hours of Supervised Fieldwork or 1,000 hours of Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork under the current requirements, within five continuous years. A mix is allowed: multiply the concentrated hours by 1.3, add the supervised hours, and reach at least 1,300.

How many hours can I log per month?

Between 20 and 130 fieldwork hours in a calendar month. From 2027 the maximum rises to 160.

How much supervision do I need each month?

At least 5% of that month's fieldwork hours for Supervised Fieldwork, or 10% for Concentrated, with at least 4 or 6 contacts respectively and an observation with a client. At least half of the supervision must be individual.

Does the 40% unrestricted rule apply every month?

No. It is measured across all of your fieldwork hours, so you can have a lighter month as long as the overall share reaches 40% by the end.

Is BCaBA fieldwork different from BCBA fieldwork?

The structure is the same, but the totals and one share differ: BCBA needs 2,000 or 1,500 hours with 60% unrestricted and a 1.33 multiplier; BCaBA needs 1,300 or 1,000 with 40% unrestricted and a 1.3 multiplier.

BCaBA fieldwork requirements

To become a BCaBA you complete 1,300 hours of Supervised Fieldwork or 1,000 hours of Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork (or a mix), within five continuous years. Each calendar month you log 20 to 130 hours, with at least 5% of them supervised (10% if concentrated), 4 supervisor contacts (6 if concentrated) and one observation with a client.

Next: log your months and check each minimum in the free fieldwork tracker

Updated 2026-10-06 · 5 min read

Requirements cross-checked against BACB sources on 2026-10-06

Written by Operation Optimize editorial team · Last updated 2026-10-06

Rules version 2026.08 · Verified against the BACB source on 2026-10-06

Editorial policy Corrections policy

This guide covers the fieldwork you complete before you are certified. Once you hold the BCaBA credential, a different set of rules applies — see BCaBA supervision requirements for ongoing oversight.

The requirements at a glance

	Supervised Fieldwork	Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork
Hours to qualify	1,300	1,000
Fieldwork hours per month	20 to 130	20 to 130
Supervision each month	At least 5% of hours	At least 10% of hours
Supervisor contacts each month	At least 4	At least 6
Observation with a client each month	At least 1	At least 1
Individual share of supervision	At least 50%	At least 50%
Unrestricted activities, overall	At least 40% of hours	At least 40% of hours

The BACB publishes the authoritative figures and revises them over time. Check the current BCaBA Handbook before you plan your hours — this page is an educational summary, not a certification or eligibility decision.

How the month works

The BACB evaluates fieldwork in supervisory periods of one calendar month, and each month has to stand on its own. A strong month cannot make up for a month with too little supervision.

One month, checked

You work 100 fieldwork hours in Supervised Fieldwork
5% of 100 is 5 supervision hours, so you need at least 5 supervised hours
At least half of those, 2.5 hours, must be individual rather than group
You need 4 contacts with your supervisor and one observation with a client

What counts as unrestricted

At least 40% of your total fieldwork hours must be unrestricted activities, the work a BCaBA is most likely to do, such as observation and data collection, overseeing and evaluating the effects of your own service delivery, and evaluating the effects of supervision. Unlike the monthly minimums, this share is checked across your whole experience, not each month. For example, 520 of 1,300 hours.

Mixing the two fieldwork types

Add up your Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork hours.
Multiply that total by 1.3.
Add your Supervised Fieldwork hours.
The combined total must reach at least 1,300 before you apply.

The multiplier is only used to check the combined total. On your verification forms and application, record the actual hours you worked, not the adjusted number.

Who can supervise you

Your supervisor must be an active BCBA with no current disciplinary sanctions who either has been certified for at least a year and meets the ongoing supervision CEU requirement, or has been certified for less than a year and receives monthly consultation from a qualified consulting supervisor. Confirm this before you start, because hours supervised by someone who does not qualify can be lost.

What changes in 2027

Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork drops from 1,000 to 800 hours; Supervised Fieldwork stays at 1,300.
The monthly maximum rises from 130 to 160 fieldwork hours; the 20-hour minimum stays.
Observation is measured in cumulative minutes each month: 60 for Supervised Fieldwork and 90 for Concentrated.
Applicants choose between two pathways: a degree from an ABAI-accredited program, or a degree plus behavior-analytic coursework.

Hours are checked against the requirements in force when you apply, so check the BACB's transition guidance if your fieldwork spans the change.

What to keep

Fieldwork paperwork

0 of 5 done

A signed supervision contract before you begin
Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form (M-FVF), signed by your supervisor each month
Final Fieldwork Verification Form (F-FVF) when the experience ends
Your own log of hours by month, type and unrestricted share
Copies of everything for at least seven years, held by both you and your supervisor

Ticks stay in this browser. Print the page to keep a copy.

Frequently asked questions

How many fieldwork hours do I need for BCaBA certification?: 1,300 hours of Supervised Fieldwork or 1,000 hours of Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork under the current requirements, within five continuous years. A mix is allowed: multiply the concentrated hours by 1.3, add the supervised hours, and reach at least 1,300.
How many hours can I log per month?: Between 20 and 130 fieldwork hours in a calendar month. From 2027 the maximum rises to 160.
How much supervision do I need each month?: At least 5% of that month's fieldwork hours for Supervised Fieldwork, or 10% for Concentrated, with at least 4 or 6 contacts respectively and an observation with a client. At least half of the supervision must be individual.
Does the 40% unrestricted rule apply every month?: No. It is measured across all of your fieldwork hours, so you can have a lighter month as long as the overall share reaches 40% by the end.
Is BCaBA fieldwork different from BCBA fieldwork?: The structure is the same, but the totals and one share differ: BCBA needs 2,000 or 1,500 hours with 60% unrestricted and a 1.33 multiplier; BCaBA needs 1,300 or 1,000 with 40% unrestricted and a 1.3 multiplier.

How this works in Operation Optimize

Operation Optimize keeps your fieldwork next to the rest of your credential record.

Month-by-month fieldwork log with each minimum checked as you enter it
Projected finish date from your current pace
Saved to your free Professional Passport so it follows you between employers

Start your fieldwork log

Sources

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Related tools

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BCBA fieldwork hours tracker — Log fieldwork by month and check supervision minimums, contacts and observations for BCBA and BCaBA candidates.

Related guides

BCaBA supervision requirements

The tiered monthly minimum, who may supervise, and how it differs from RBT supervision.

BCBA supervision CEU requirements

The supervision-specific CEU inside the recertification cycle, and how to track it.

The BCBA exam content outline, explained

The nine domains of the current BCBA exam content outline, what each covers, and how to self-assess.

RBT supervision requirements

The monthly 5% minimum, two contacts, the client observation, and what to record.