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The BCAT

Author: Capella Partnered with CARD

what's covered

This lesson will explore the guidelines of the BCAT by defining and discussing the following:

BCAT Requirements
BCAT Next Steps

1. BCAT Requirements

The Board Certified Autism Technician (BCAT) is an entry-level certification specific to working with individuals with ASD using the principles of ABA. Individuals with the BCAT implement autism-specific, evidenced-based treatment and are supervised by a qualified health professional certified or licensed to practice in the field of ABA, such as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or licensed psychologist.

The Behavioral Intervention Certification Council (BICC) requires that one meet five specific eligibility criteria to become a BCAT.

In order to earn a BCAT credential, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Requirement	Description
Education	Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
Training	BICC Documentation of Relevant Training Form signed by instructor to demonstrate completion of 40-hour training in the six content areas from the BCAT Task List.
Experience	BICC Relevant Experience Form signed by supervisor verifying 15 or more supervised practicum or fieldwork hours accrued from working directly with individuals with ASD.
Ethics	Agree and adhere to the BICC Code of Ethics, successfully complete background check, and register with BICC registry.
Exam	Pass BCAT exam delivered via a computer-based system at an independent testing site.

Please check Behavioral Intervention Certification Council (BICC) for complete eligibility requirements.

hint

Evidence of all items will be submitted with your application to be verified by the BICC.

BCAT also requires ongoing supervision by an individual licensed and/or certified to practice in the field of ABA. The BICC requires that a minimum of 5% of service hours implementing treatment plans be supervised.

Some CARD sites may have space to complete the 15 hours of supervision required to obtain your BCAT. Please look here for more information.

2. BCAT Next Steps

Once you have completed this 40-hour training, there are still some steps that you will need to take in order to apply to sit for the BCAT exam.

Gather all of the required documents to submit with your application to sit for the BCAT exam:

Request that copies of your degree, diploma, and transcripts be sent directly to the BICC from the institution that awarded them. This can take a while depending on the processes at each institution, so it is recommended that you start this step as early as possible.
Submit the BICC Documentation of Relevant Training Form signed by the instructor to demonstrate your completion of this 40-hour training.
Submit the BICC Relevant Experience Form signed by your supervisor verifying the 15 or more supervised practicum or fieldwork hours accrued from working directly with individuals with ASD. Also submit the BCAT Documentation of Supervision form. You can secure a placement for accruing experience hours at any CARD site or under the supervision of a BCBA.
You will read, sign, and agree to adhere to the BICC Code of Conduct. Additionally, you will complete a criminal background check (which typically takes about three days).

To apply for the BCAT certification, submit the application online at https://behavioralcertification.org/.

Here are some fees associated with the application and exam:

Exam fee with application verification: $74
Two years’ criminal background check: $50

Once the application is completed and submitted with all of the specific documentation required, the BICC will review the information. When it is completed and approved, you will receive an email with instructions to schedule your appointment for the exam. All CARD sites are BCAT-approved testing sites.

When you go to sit for the exam, make sure you do the following:

Arrive early! Give yourself at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time.
Make sure you have your ID with your name that matches the name on the application.
You cannot bring any personal items in with you – no cell phone, food, drinks, study materials, backpacks, purses, etc. The testing center will have a place to store your items, but it is recommended that you leave as much as possible at home.
You cannot ask questions about the exam or discuss any of the exam material during or after the exam.
Dress comfortably and wear layers as it might be hot or cold at the testing site.
You cannot bring guests or children with you to the testing center.

Best of luck on your exam!

summary

In this lesson, you learned about the Board Certified Autism Technician (BCAT), an entry-level certification specific to working with individuals with ASD using the principles of ABA. You reviewed the BCAT requirements, noting that the Behavioral Intervention Certification Council (BICC) requires five specific eligibility criteria be met in order to become a BCAT, including education, training, experience, ethics, and the exam itself. You also reviewed BCAT next steps, such as gathering all of the required documents to submit with your application to sit for the BCAT exam, how to apply for the BCAT certification, the fees associated with the application and exam, and some tips to prepare for taking the exam.