How much supervision does a certified BCaBA need each month?

At least 5% of the behavior-analytic service hours delivered that month during the first 1,000 hours after certification, then at least 2% after that. There must also be at least one supervision meeting every month, and during the first tier no less than one hour of supervision every two weeks.

Is the BCaBA requirement the same 5% as the RBT requirement?

Only for the first 1,000 hours after certification, and even then the surrounding rules differ. RBT supervision requires two real-time contacts a month with at least one individual and at least one observation with a client; BCaBA supervision requires a monthly meeting with an active BCBA under a signed contract.

Who is allowed to supervise a BCaBA?

An active BCBA in good standing. A licensed psychologist certified by ABPP in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology also qualifies until 31 December 2026.

Can a BCaBA supervise RBTs?

Yes, provided the BCaBA has their own qualified supervisor on record. Without one they are inactive for supervisory purposes and may not supervise RBTs, deliver RBT training, or sign competency assessments. Their supervisory work is itself part of what their own supervisor oversees.

Is a supervision contract required?

Yes. A written contract signed before the supervisory relationship starts, defining each supervisor's responsibilities where more than one is involved. Treat an expired contract as an open action, not a formality.

BCaBA supervision requirements

A certified BCaBA practices under ongoing supervision from an active BCBA for their entire certification: at least 5% of monthly behavior-analytic service hours for the first 1,000 hours after certification, then at least 2% thereafter, with at least one supervision meeting every month and a signed supervision contract in place.

Updated 2026-08-13 · 5 min read

Requirements cross-checked against BACB sources on 2026-08-13

BCaBA supervision is frequently modelled on RBT supervision inside organizations, which is close enough to be convenient and different enough to cause problems. The monthly percentage is not the same number, the supervisor must hold a different credential, and a written contract is not optional.

The monthly minimum is tiered

Stage after certification	Monthly supervision minimum	Frequency
First 1,000 hours of behavior-analytic services	At least 5% of service hours delivered that month	No less than 1 hour of supervision every two weeks, and at least one meeting per month
After 1,000 hours	At least 2% of service hours delivered that month	At least one supervision meeting per month

Applying a flat 5% to every BCaBA is the most common error. After the first 1,000 post-certification hours the published minimum drops to 2% — organizations that keep 5% are exceeding the standard, which is defensible, but organizations that count the 1,000 hours wrongly in the other direction are not.

Where it differs from RBT supervision

Aspect	RBT	BCaBA
Monthly minimum	5% of service hours, every month	5% for the first 1,000 hours post-certification, then 2%
Required contacts	Two real-time contacts, at least one individual	At least one supervision meeting per month
Observation with a client	At least one of the two contacts each month	Not required monthly under current rules (quarterly from 2027)
Supervisor	RBT Supervisor or RBT Requirements Coordinator with the required supervisor training	An active BCBA in good standing
Written contract	Not required, though most organizations use one	Required, signed before the supervisory relationship begins
Scope supervised	Direct service delivery	Service delivery plus any supervision the BCaBA themselves provides

A BCaBA with no qualified supervisor on record is inactive for supervisory purposes: they may not supervise RBTs, deliver the 40-hour RBT training, or complete RBT competency assessments or attestations until a supervisor is recorded. Treat a lapsed contract as an immediate staffing issue, not paperwork.

What changes on 1 January 2027

The tiered structure is removed — a flat 5% monthly minimum applies to every BCaBA regardless of hours since certification.
A direct observation of the BCaBA with a client is required at least quarterly.
The psychologist and ABPP supervisor option ends on 31 December 2026; from 2027 the supervisor must be an active BCBA.

What to document

Per month

Service hours delivered, and cumulative hours since certification (this decides which tier applies)
Supervision hours received and the resulting percentage
Date, duration and format of each contact
Topics covered, including any supervision the BCaBA is providing to others
The monthly supervision meeting form, completed and signed
Current supervision contract on file, signed and in date

Both the BCaBA and the supervisor retain supervision documentation for seven years, and the obligation survives the end of the supervisory relationship or the employment.

Supervision percentage calculator

Enter the hours recorded for a single calendar month. Nothing is stored or sent anywhere.

Service hours this monthSupervision hours receivedRequired percentage

Supervision percentage

5.00%

Hours needed at 5%

5.00 h

Status

Minimum met

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This calculator performs arithmetic on the figures you enter. It does not determine compliance — confirm current requirements and how your hours qualify with the certifying body and your supervisor.

The BACB is the authority on these requirements and revises them over time. Verify the figures on this page against the current BCaBA Handbook before acting on them.

Frequently asked questions

How much supervision does a certified BCaBA need each month?: At least 5% of the behavior-analytic service hours delivered that month during the first 1,000 hours after certification, then at least 2% after that. There must also be at least one supervision meeting every month, and during the first tier no less than one hour of supervision every two weeks.
Is the BCaBA requirement the same 5% as the RBT requirement?: Only for the first 1,000 hours after certification, and even then the surrounding rules differ. RBT supervision requires two real-time contacts a month with at least one individual and at least one observation with a client; BCaBA supervision requires a monthly meeting with an active BCBA under a signed contract.
Who is allowed to supervise a BCaBA?: An active BCBA in good standing. A licensed psychologist certified by ABPP in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology also qualifies until 31 December 2026.
Can a BCaBA supervise RBTs?: Yes, provided the BCaBA has their own qualified supervisor on record. Without one they are inactive for supervisory purposes and may not supervise RBTs, deliver RBT training, or sign competency assessments. Their supervisory work is itself part of what their own supervisor oversees.
Is a supervision contract required?: Yes. A written contract signed before the supervisory relationship starts, defining each supervisor's responsibilities where more than one is involved. Treat an expired contract as an open action, not a formality.

How this works in Operation Optimize

Operation Optimize applies credential-specific supervision rules per person.

Monthly requirements evaluated against the individual's credential track and fieldwork status
Supervision contracts stored against the record with expiry visibility
BCaBAs appear both as supervisees and as supervisors where applicable
Gaps surface as named actions with owners

Apply the right rules per credential

Sources

Related guides

RBT supervision requirements

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

BCBA supervision CEU requirements

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

ABA supervisor workload tracker

Why headcount misleads, what to measure instead, and when to rebalance.