UNIVERSITY TRAINING FOR THOSE PURSUING BCBA CERTIFICATION - Behavior Analyst Certification Board

Upcoming Changes | Pathway 2 Attestations | Faculty Resources | University Contact Form

University Training Options

Currently, universities can offer behavior-analytic coursework in one of two ways:

Pathways	University Training	Description	Resources	What will students experience when applying for certification?
Pathway 1	Accredited Degree*	Your master’s degree program must be: accredited or recognized as a Tier 1, 2a, or 2b by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), OR accredited by the Association for Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA)	Review accreditation/recognition requirements for: ABAI, OR APBA	Students who earn a master’s degree or higher from one of ABAI or APBA’s accredited/recognized programs will have fulfilled the coursework and degree requirements for BCBA eligibility under pathway 1. When applying, the student’s transcripts must show that they have obtained the accredited degree and that the degree was conferred during the dates the program was accredited.
Pathway 2	Verified Course Sequence*	ABAI reviews your university’s coursework to determine whether it can be considered a Verified Course Sequence (VCS), indicating that the necessary content-hour requirements are satisfied. Note: Students applying under this option must also hold a master’s degree.	Review the BCBA Handbook’s pathway 2 section on behavior-analytic coursework requirements	Students who successfully complete an entire 5th edition Verified Course Sequence will meet the behavior-analytic coursework requirement for pathway 2. When applying, the student will submit their transcript(s) with the courses that depict the VCS coursework. The BACB will assess whether the requirements are met through one of the following methods: VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation Course-by-Course Review
Pathway 2	Nonverified Coursework*	Your university may offer behavior-analytic coursework that could be applied towards pathway 2 eligibility. Note: Students applying under this option must also hold a master’s degree.	Review the Nonverified Course Content Attestation	Students who successfully complete one or more nonverified courses might use those courses to meet a portion of the behavior-analytic coursework requirement for pathway 2. Most students will also complete VCS coursework to meet the coursework requirement. When applying, the student will submit their transcript(s) depicting the behavior-analytic courses. When students apply with nonverified coursework, the BACB will determine whether the specific course is already in the nonverified course records. If not, the Department Chair will need to complete a Nonverified Course Content Attestation and provide it to the student. The BACB will then conduct a course-by-course review.

*See the Upcoming Changes section below regarding changes that will impact this option.

Important Upcoming Updates to BCBA Coursework Requirements

In response to the profession’s changing needs, there are notable updates to university training in the coming years. We recognize such changes require time and effort for preparation and we routinely provide public notice—often years in advance—to help support a smooth transition.

Jan. 1,
2026

Change: ABAI’s Verified Course Sequence (VCS) system for pathway 2 will be replaced by a BACB-managed Pathway 2 Coursework Attestation System.

Implications for Universities:

Programs must have a full-time faculty member in the department where the program is located who holds an active BCBA certification. This individual—the Pathway 2 Program Contact—will complete coursework attestations for BCBA applicants from their program.
Managing VCS course records with ABAI will no longer be required.
Students can only apply for certification through pathway 2 if an attestor submits a coursework attestation, as the course-by-course review using ABAI’s VCS course records will no longer be an option. Nonverified coursework attestations may no longer be submitted.
For details about 2026 coursework evaluations, refer to the BACB-managed Pathway 2 Coursework Attestation System section below.

Jan. 1,
2027

Change: Applicants for BCBA certification must meet the 2027 coursework requirements described in the March 2022 Newsletter.

Implications for Universities: Coursework for pathway 2 certification must align with the updated coursework requirements in advance of this date.

Jan. 1,
2032

Change: Applicants for BCBA certification must apply via pathway 1. Only ABAI or APBA-accredited program degrees will qualify for certification since pathway 2 will be discontinued.

Implications for Universities: Universities must have their degrees accredited by ABAI or APBA. Note: ABAI’s Tier 2a- and 2b-recognized programs will no longer be accepted.

Pathway 2 Coursework Attestations

Students who complete the behavior-analytic coursework requirements for BCBA certification can apply under pathway 2 once they meet all eligibility requirements. The BACB verifies that applicants meet pathway 2 coursework requirements through one of two ways:

Verified Course Sequence (VCS) Coordinator Coursework Attestation: A BCBA-certified VCS Coordinator reviews the student’s course materials. If all requirements are met, the VCS Coordinator submits a VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation to the BACB before the student applies. For more details, review the VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation section below.
Course-by-Course Review: The BACB reviews all completed courses against ABAI’s VCS Directory to confirm all content requirements are met. For information about your VCS course records, contact ABAI.

As of January 1, 2026, ABAI’s VCS system is being discontinued and will be replaced by the BACB-managed Pathway 2 Coursework Attestation System. For more details, review the Pathway 2 Coursework Attestation section.

Before January 1, 2026, VCS Coordinators can attest that an applicant meets coursework requirements for certification through pathway 2. They can do this by completing a BCBA VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation (Attestation) and submitting it directly to the BACB. The attestation will be reviewed as part of the applicant’s certification application.

Note: The VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation will no longer be accepted for applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, when ABAI discontinues the VCS system. Review the Pathway 2 Coursework Attestation section for information on the new process.

VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation FAQs

BCBA VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation

Starting January 1, 2026, universities can continue to offer behavior-analytic coursework for BCBA certification under pathway 2 if they:

Meet all pathway 2 coursework requirements for BCBA certification, AND
Have a full-time faculty member in the department where the program is housed who has an active BCBA (or BCBA-D) certification who will:
- Review each student’s coursework,
- Confirm all coursework requirements under pathway 2 are met, AND
- Complete an Attestation for each eligible applicant through their BACB portal account.

Becoming a Pathway 2 Program Contact:

Starting mid-2025, there will be a pre-registration period for full-time faculty members to add their programs and apply to become a Pathway 2 Program Contact by:

Providing complete program details in the application.
Obtaining confirmation from their college dean or department chair/head that they are the appropriate Pathway 2 Program Contact for the program. Note: All programs must go through this process to maintain accurate records and contacts with the BACB, even if they already have a VCS.
Renewing their status in their BACB portal account every 2 years to confirm they are still the appropriate person for the role.

Pathway 2 Program Contact Responsibilities:

Review student’s coursework and, if applicable, complete an Attestation in their BACB portal.
Maintain accurate records and update the BACB if their role changes.
Serve as the primary contact for coursework-related questions.

Attesting to a Student’s Pathway 2 Coursework:

After a student has completed a course sequence, the Pathway 2 Program Contact will:

Log into their BACB portal account,
Attest the student meets all of the current pathway 2 coursework requirements,
Indicate which program the applicant completed, AND
Upload a table showing the student’s completed coursework.

Note: If the student has a BACB ID, an attestation can be completed any time after coursework completion. Effective January 1, 2026, students cannot complete their pathway 2 application until an attestation is in their account. The student will be notified when the attestation is in their account.

Pathway 2 Program Contacts may start using this attestation process for students who are applying for certification on or after January 1, 2026.