May BCBAs and BCaBAs Implement Nonbehavioral Interventions?

The BACB periodically receives inquiries from certificants regarding the appropriateness of BCBAs and BCaBAs who either deliver both behavioral and nonbehavioral interventions (e.g., ABA and Floortime) or are affiliated with agencies that do. The inquiries often imply that such activities constitute unethical behavior of certificants. Indeed, this notion might seem to be supported by the BACB Guidelines for Responsible Conduct, especially the following guidelines:

* The behavior analyst always has the responsibility to recommend scientifically supported most effective treatment procedures (2.10a)

* The behavior analyst designs programs that are based on behavior analytic principles (4.0)

* The behavior analyst should promote the application of behavior principles in society by presenting a behavioral alternative to other procedures or methods (9.01)

However, it is important to note that the BCBA and BCaBA credentials and the Guidelines for Responsible Conduct only relate to the behavior-analytic activities described in the BACB Task List.  

The BACB does not recommend that certificants deliver nonbehavioral interventions, especially if they have not yet been scientifically supported. Such activity is contrary to the tenets of our discipline and can be confusing for the consumers of behavior-analytic services.  

That said, the BACB cannot legally* prohibit certificants who are appropriately trained and credentialed in other areas from engaging in those relevant activities as long as they do not advertise or imply that they are competent to perform those activities because of their BACB certification. However, unsanctioned practice of nonbehavioral interventions or misrepresentation of nonbehavioral interventions as being covered by a BACB credential would be grounds for BACB disciplinary action under the Professional Disciplinary and Ethical Standards.  

Unlawful practice would likely be implicated by a sanction (Standard 7) or charge/conviction (Standard 8) and misrepresentation of the scope of coverage of the BACB credential may constitute misuse of trademark (Standard 3) or gross or repeated misconduct/unprofessional conduct (Standard 6).

If you deliver or are otherwise affiliated with the delivery of nonbehavioral interventions, we strongly encourage you to include a written disclaimer in all promotional materials (including web sites) in which both behavioral and nonbehavioral interventions are mentioned. The disclaimer should be placed alongside the names and descriptions of nonbehavioral interventions and read as follows:

These interventions are not behavior-analytic in nature and are not covered by my BACB credential.

If the BACB receives a complaint regarding certificants who are involved with nonbehavioral interventions, the following questions will be asked to determine whether a violation of the Professional Disciplinary and Ethical Standards has occurred.

1. Did the certificant identify nonbehavioral interventions as BCBA- or BCaBA-related services?

2. Did the certificant bill nonbehavioral interventions as BCBA- or BCaBA related services?

3. Is the certificant independently credentialed to provide the nonbehavioral interventions in question?

4. Was the consumer or third-party payer informed that the nonbehavioral interventions are not covered by the BCBA or BCaBA credentials?

It is now, more than ever, critical that behavior-analytic services be kept separate and distinct from nonbehavioral interventions. After decades of growth, applied behavior analysis is coming into its own as an independent profession and the discipline's leaders are working together to ensure clear scopes of practice and recognition for third-party payment. Failure to keep behavioral and nonbehavioral interventions distinct from each other would be detrimental to our consumers and to the formal recognition of applied behavior analysis.