Becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is an impressive achievement! Passing the BCBA exam is the final step in earning this distinguishment. The exam is designed to test your knowledge and understanding of behavior analysis. Passing it requires:
- A full understanding of the concepts and principles.
- Thorough preparation.
- Strategic studying for both memorization and application.
Here are some pre-exam tips for helping you pass!
1. Understand the Exam Format
The BCBA exam lasts 4 hours and has 150 multiple-choice questions that are divided into two sections:
- Basic – Covers behavior analysis concepts
- Applied – Tests the real-world application of basic concepts
Review the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) outline, which shares specific content areas and their allocated question percentage. Two substantial sections to prioritize are:
- Ethics and Professional Conduct – Familiarize yourself with BACB ethical guidelines and best practice standards within the field, plus how they can be applied to real world scenarios.
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) – Understand foundational concepts, data analysis techniques, and intervention strategies.
2. Create a Study Plan
Start by identifying your strengths and weaknesses so that you can improve your weak areas. Create a study plan that starts far enough in advance of the BCBA exam… Last minute cramming isn’t fun!
- Break down the BCBA exam content into manageable study sessions.
- Outline the days/times you will study and keep schedule.
- Set specific goals for each study session.
- Prioritize topics based on your proficiency and spend more time on challenging topics.
3. Use Study Materials
Simply reading and reviewing textbooks can be monotonous, so use BCBA exam study materials. The BACB recommends specific resources including:
- Study guides and review books: Perfect review tools with digestible summaries and practice questions.
- Journal articles: Can help with the applied section of the exam.
- Online forums: Engaging with fellow candidates offers valuable insights, support, and discussion.
- Online Courses: Can focus your study efforts and offer valuable test taking tips!
- Mock Exams: Scores can help you gage your progress and highlight the content you need to focus on.
4. Practice Makes Perfect
Practice exams will familiarize you with the format of the BCBA exam and the types of questions asked. Mock exam results can also help you refocus your study efforts and adjust your approach by:
- Identifying knowledge gaps
- Reviewing key concepts
- Developing critical thinking skills
- Practicing test pacing
- Manage test anxiety
5. Join a Study Group
Collaborating with fellow BCBA candidates allows you to participate in interactive learning, discuss challenging concepts, and share perspectives. In group study sessions you can:
- Gain feedback on how well you understand the material.
- Share study materials and practice exams with others.
- Collaborate on real-world scenarios.
- Improve critical thinking.
6. Create Flashcards
Flashcards, either index cards or online flashcard tools, are a quick, easy, and effective way to review material. Use them for revisiting and practicing challenging concepts. Some things to include on flashcards are:
- Key terms
- Definitions
- Case studies
7. Use Memory Techniques
Memorization is critical for the BCBA exam, and there will be a lot of material. Try the following recall techniques!
- Mnemonics - Memory aids such as acronyms and rhymes.
- Visualization - Create mental images or diagrams to represent and remember key ideas.
- Chunking - Break down large amounts of information into manageable pieces.
8. Focus on Understanding
Memorization is important, but the BCBA exam will ask you to apply principles into real-world situations. Studying case studies and real-world situations will:
- Help you generalize concepts
- Make studying more enjoyable
- Clarify how principles relate to the real-world
- Remember concepts easier
9. Take Care of Yourself
With all the studying and preparation, remember to take care of yourself! Don’t risk getting sick by not keeping healthy routines leading up to the BCBA exam:
- Getting plenty of sleep
- Eating a healthy
- Exercising regularly
Healthy routines will help you stay focused and motivated during your study sessions.
After you’ve passed your exam, return to our website to apply for one of our open BCBA jobs! We have clinics throughout Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
