Applied Behavior Analysis Programs Acknowledgment

As part of the admission process into Capella University’s BS in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis, or MS in Applied Behavior Analysis, or Graduate Certificate in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis (Capella’s ABA programs), Capella requires individuals to read and acknowledge the following:

Fitness to Practice

  • Throughout the training of each student, faculty and staff are responsible for educating and assessing students regarding their personal suitability and fitness for the profession. Faculty, training staff, supervisors, and administrators exercise their academic and professional judgments to assess whether students have the competence to manage professional relationships in an effective and appropriate manner and that they possess the emotional maturity, interpersonal stability, and intellectual judgment required to work with vulnerable populations.
  • Personal suitability and fitness for the profession includes, but is not limited to, demonstration of sufficient interpersonal and professional competence; self-awareness, self-reflection, and self- evaluation; openness to processes of supervision; and resolution of issues that interfere with professional development or functioning in a satisfactory manner.
  • Per Capella University policy, students who demonstrate behaviors that do not align with professional standards will be referred to a department or university faculty review panel for further evaluation which may result in remedial requirements or dismissal from the program.

National Certification

  • The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) offers two national credentials, a Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Each credential requires an exam through the BACB.
  • Obtaining a national certificate may not guarantee licensure or the ability to work in all US states and territories. Most jurisdictions require a jurisdiction-specific license to work and may also require an applicant to acquire a national credential.
  • Applicants applying to take one of the BACB exams must possess an undergraduate or graduate level degree from an accredited university and complete a 5th edition Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) verified course sequence. Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has obtained a 5th edition ABAI verified course sequence for Capella’s ABA programs.
  • National certificate applicants must meet supervised fieldwork hour requirements, set by the BACB, to be eligible for one of the national credentials. The BCBA credential requires 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork. The BCaBA credential requires 1,300 hours of supervised fieldwork. Supervised fieldwork hours can begin once students start the first course of the ABAI verified course sequence. Capella’s ABA programs do not include a site-based learning experience and one cannot be added to the programs. Supervised fieldwork hours must be accrued outside of Capella’s ABA programs.

Site-based Learning

  • Identifying and securing supervised fieldwork sites and obtaining the necessary authorizations and arrangements for fulfillment of the BACB’s supervised fieldwork requirements is the sole responsibility of the student. Capella’s ABA programs do not include a site-based learning experience and one cannot be added to the programs. Supervised fieldwork hours required for a BACB national certificate must be accrued outside of Capella’s ABA programs and can be earned during or after completion of a Capella ABA program.
  • Students may be required to pass fingerprinting and/or background checks required by a fieldwork site or licensing board to complete supervised fieldwork in the jurisdiction. Students are responsible for understanding and complying with any applicable fingerprinting or background check requirements, including any fees associated (approximately $36-$200 depending on jurisdiction and/or site requirements).
  • Students in Capella ABA programs are encouraged to identify their preferred supervised fieldwork sites and opportunities early in their programs. If current students engage Capella’s Site-based Learning team for assistance, Capella will provide support in identifying and securing supervised fieldwork experience sites at a geographically accessible location, which will depend upon the nature of the required supervised fieldwork activity and the student's location. Students must actively engage in the timely completion of Capella University mandated preparatory activities and the site procurement process. A student's delay in completing or refusal to complete such preparatory activities or prerequisites or refusal to engage in a supervised fieldwork experience at a geographically accessible supervised fieldwork site identified by Capella, may result in a student’s delay or inability to complete the program.
  • Students must be eligible to work within the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands at the time of the site-based learning experience. Students in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences agree that site-based learning experience may only be completed within the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands. Capella University is not able to offer visas or other types of work permits to students.

Professional Licensure

  • Capella University offers certain programs designed to prepare individuals to seek professional licenses or certifications. Professional licensing standards vary between jurisdictions, and it is important to understand all educational and jurisdiction-specific requirements for licensing. Completion of a Capella program alone may not meet licensure or certification requirements in some jurisdictions.
  • Transfer credit may be awarded through a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) for certain specializations. Some licensing boards or agencies may not accept transfer credits awarded through a PLA for various reasons, including but not limited to, length of time since the original course was completed, or status of specialized approval or accreditation of the courses. In addition to programmatic or academic requirements (degree type, accreditation, program credits, internship or practicum hours, coursework, etc.), licensing boards may require applicants to meet additional jurisdiction-specific requirements (professional examinations, background checks, years of work experience, fingerprinting, etc.) and to pay any associated fees. Students are advised to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensing board in the jurisdiction in which they intend to seek employment in a licensed profession.
  • Relocating to another jurisdiction may impact your ability to meet that jurisdiction’s licensure requirements. Students and graduates of Capella’s licensure programs should also be aware that some jurisdiction-specific license requirements cannot be fulfilled after degree conferral. Students enrolled in a professional licensure program who are considering moving or working in another jurisdiction should review the professional licensure disclosure for the jurisdiction in which they intend to practice and discuss the requirements with an academic advisor.
  • It is the applicant’s responsibility to understand and comply with the requirements for professional practice in any jurisdiction where they intend to seek a license or certification. Capella University cannot guarantee licensure, certification, or endorsement, and no statement made at any time by any member of the Capella faculty, or any representative of Capella shall be construed as a representation, warranty, or commitment to obtain professional licensure or certification. Please review Capella's Professional Licensure Disclosures for the program(s) and jurisdiction(s) for which you intend to seek a professional license, certification, or endorsement.

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