# BCBA CEU planner

> How do I plan BCBA CEUs before recertification?

A BCBA must complete 32 continuing education units in each 2-year recertification cycle, including at least 4 CEUs in ethics, plus 3 CEUs in supervision for any certificant who supervises others. BCaBAs need 20 CEUs on the same cycle length. Plan by dividing the units you still need by the months left in your cycle and booking the ethics and supervision content first, because those are the categories people run short on.

Source page: https://operation-optimize.com/tools/bcba-ceu-planner
Publisher: Operation Optimize (ABA Team Intelligence)
Last verified against published sources: 2026-08-17

## How it is calculated

- The cycle is two years long and runs from your certification or most recent recertification date.
- The subtotals sit inside the overall requirement: the 4 ethics CEUs and the 3 supervision CEUs count toward the 32, they are not additional.
- The supervision CEUs apply to certificants who supervise trainees or RBTs during the cycle.
- The planner converts your remaining units into a monthly pace so the last quarter of the cycle is not a scramble.

Formula: `monthly pace = (CEUs required − CEUs earned) ÷ months remaining in the cycle`

## Worked example

1. A BCBA supervising two RBTs has a cycle ending 30 June 2027.
2. 32 CEUs are required, including 4 ethics and 3 supervision.
3. By 30 June 2026, 14 CEUs are earned (2 ethics, 0 supervision).
4. 18 CEUs remain across 12 months — including 2 ethics and 3 supervision.

Result: 1.5 CEUs per month, with the 2 ethics and 3 supervision units booked first.

## Official sources and effective dates

- BACB BCBA Handbook — Current edition — https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BCBAHandbook_240426-a.pdf
- BACB continuing education requirements — Current — https://www.bacb.com/continuing-education/

## Related questions

### How many CEUs does a BCBA need to recertify?

32 CEUs per 2-year cycle, including at least 4 in ethics and, for those who supervise, 3 in supervision.

### How many CEUs does a BCaBA need?

20 CEUs per 2-year cycle, with the same ethics and supervision subtotals applying.

### Are ethics CEUs on top of the 32?

No. The ethics and supervision units are subtotals within the 32, not extra units.

### Who needs the supervision CEUs?

Certificants who supervise trainees, RBTs or other certificants at any point during the cycle.

### Can CEUs be carried into the next cycle?

No. CEUs must be earned within the cycle they are reported against.

### What records should I keep for a CEU audit?

Keep the certificate for each event with the provider, date, CEU type and number of units, retained for the period the certifying body specifies.

## Save your result

Store your cycle, your ethics and supervision subtotals and the certificates behind them in a free Professional Passport, and get reminders as the recertification date approaches. Start free at https://operation-optimize.com/auth.

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