TBU for QABA Certifications | ABAT, QASP-S & QBA Training
Create an account
Login
Login

ABAT Certification: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Professionals

The Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) certification is a credential for professionals who work in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA is a scientific approach that focuses on analyzing and modifying behavior to achieve socially significant outcomes. It is an evidence based practice. An ABAT is an individual who has obtained specialized training in ABA techniques and principles and is qualified to assist in the implementation of behavior intervention plans under the supervision of a Qualified Behavior Analyst (QBA). ABATs work with individuals on the autism spectrum or other developmental disorders to support skill development and behavior management. The ABAT certification helps ensure that practitioners have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide effective ABA services.

In order for a candidate to be eligible for the ABAT credential, they must meet all requirements and understand the following:

  • Must be at least 18 years old Possess a minimum of a high school diploma or national equivalent
  • Must have completed 40 hours of approved assessment-based ABA coursework (including 3 hours in Ethics and 5 hours in Autism Core Knowledge)
  • Training must be completed within 5 years unless otherwise specified Training must be developed or delivered by a master’s level licensed professional within the scope of ABA and autism
  • 15 hours of supervised fieldwork
  • Recommendation from their supervisor
  • Criminal background check conducted by the QABA Board through our 3rd-party background check provider, or evidence from an employer that there has been no change in status since the last background check was completed
  • Successful passing of accredited exam proctored by Examity
  • Agree to the QABA Code of Ethics and all renewal requirements
  • All eligibility criteria will be reviewed by the QABA Board before formal credentialing
  • Placement on QABA public registry
  • Renewed every 2 years
  • Work experience requirement

Candidates must be enrolled in the related coursework before the supervision hours begin.

15 Hours of Supervised Fieldwork

15 hours of supervised fieldwork must be completed to finalize the ABAT credential. The supervisor verifying your fieldwork will be required to do so using the online verification system to acknowledge that all credentials and all requirements of the supervised fieldwork have been met. Supervisors will need to be in a position to verify 1 (one) hour of supervision for every 10 hours of independent supervised fieldwork.

Fieldwork Hours That Will Not Count as Supervised hours

  • Participation in meetings that are not specific to the person-centered planning process
  • Implementation of plans outside of evidenced-based practice
  • Documentation other than data collection, progress notes, graphs, and other necessary paperwork related to the person-centered planning process

Purpose of Supervision

  • Demonstration of skills related to observation and measurement of behaviors and skills acquisition
  • Demonstration of an understanding of advocacy, professionalism and ethical behavior
  • Demonstration of a working knowledge of the mechanisms and strategies for effectively supporting and assisting with skill/behavior development in individuals diagnosed with autism.

Recommendation

QABA requires one professional recommendation which focuses on your qualifications and experience working with and supporting individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. You may choose which evaluator, supervisor, or administrator provides the recommendation.

Eligibility Agreement

ABAT candidates must agree to the following:

  • Agreement to work under the code of ethics
  • Acknowledgement of the renewal requirements
  • Agree to the terms of listing on the ABA registry
  • Agree to the general terms and conditions

Enrollment Application Requirements

  • Government issued photo ID
  • Certificate of completion for 40 hours of ABAT coursework
  • Current background check or background attestation form signed by your employer/supervisor
  • Submission of your supervisor’s name and email address. An electronic form to verify fieldwork hours will be emailed to your supervisor.
  • Submission of your supervisor/evaluator/administrator’s name and email address. An electronic form will be emailed to your supervisor to complete the recommendation form.

(It’s important to note that specific requirements can vary from state to state, as well as change, so it’s recommended to consult the certification program or organization offering the ABAT certification for the most accurate and up-to-date information.)

 

Here are some steps you can take to prepare for the Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) exam:

  1. Review the Exam Content Outline: Familiarize yourself with the content areas and topics that will be covered in the ABAT exam. This will help you understand the breadth of knowledge required and guide your study plan. See what you may already know and then focus on areas that might need a little more attention.
  2. Study Materials: Obtain study materials specifically designed for the ABAT exam. These can include textbooks, study guides, online courses, or practice exams. Look for resources that cover the relevant concepts, principles, and techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis. There are numerous resources online for you to find the study materials you need to successfully complete the ABAT exam. These include websites, forums, and videos that provide additional information and examples related to ABA. These resources can enhance your understanding of concepts and provide practical insights.
  3. Create a Study Plan: Develop a structured study plan that includes a schedule and specific study goals. Break down the content into manageable sections and allocate dedicated time for each topic. This will help you stay organized and ensure comprehensive coverage of the exam material.
  4. Practice Exams: Take practice exams or quizzes to assess your knowledge and identify areas that require further study. This will also help you become familiar with the format and types of questions you may encounter on the actual ABAT exam. It also allows you to pinpoint areas that you may not be as strong in and allow you to work on those.
  5. Seek Guidance and Collaboration: If possible, connect with experienced professionals in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis or individuals who have already passed the ABAT exam. They can provide valuable insights, study tips, and guidance based on their own experiences. See what worked for them and made them successful in retaining the concepts you are trying to learn.
  6. Review and Self-Assessment: Regularly review the material you have studied and gauge your understanding of key concepts. Engage in self-assessment activities, such as summarizing information, explaining concepts to others, or creating flashcards, to reinforce your knowledge. Allocate sufficient time for preparation and practice regularly to ensure you feel confident and well-prepared for the ABAT exam.

When taking the Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) exam, there are a few things you can expect:

Format: The ABAT exam is typically computer-based and consists of multiple-choice questions. The ABAT examination consists of 125 questions. 100 of the questions are live and scored, while 25 of the questions (pre-test questions) are not scored. The unscored questions will not be marked, so it is very important to answer all 125 questions to the best of your ability.

Content Areas: The exam will cover various content areas related to Applied Behavior Analysis. These may include basic behavior principles, measurement and data collection, assessment techniques, behavior intervention strategies, ethics, and professional conduct. 

ABAT Competency Standards:The QABA offers the ABAT certification for those with at least a high school diploma or equivalency. ABATs work by directly implementing treatment plans, behavior reductions, and/or programs written by either supervisor (QBAs or BCBAs) or assistants (QASP-S or BCaBA). Data collection by the ABAT provides supervisors the information to ensure appropriate treatment for clients. It is not within the scope of practice of an ABAT to create or modify treatment plans. ABATs are supervised for at least 5% of their direct hours in the field.

Domains

1) Autism Core Knowledge

 1. ASD and common characteristics and deficits
 2. Autism as a spectrum disorder and its core deficits as outlined in the DSM-V.
 3. ‘Red flags’ used in early diagnosis
 4. Risk factors to autism spectrum disorders
 5. Terminology associated with diagnosis, such as pragmatic language, receptive and 
expressive language,
6. sensory-motor, social skills, joint attention, stereotypy
 7. How and when disorders are commonly associated in differential diagnosis, such as learning disabilities,   processing disorders, etc.
 8. Identify co-morbid disorders associated with ASD

2) Legal, Ethical, and Professional Considerations

  1. Scope and role of practice for the ABAT BOARD SIMPLIFY
  2. QABA code of ethics, policies and procedures
  3. Limitations of confidentiality – Mandated Reporting
  4. Define and understand HIPAA
  5. Advocacy and collaborative approach to intervention BOARD
  6. Identify the following acronyms: IEP, IDEA

3) Core Principles of ABA

  1. Behaviorism and behavior modification
  2. Classical and operant conditioning, conditioned and unconditioned reinforcement and punishment
  3. Three-part contingency; antecedents, behaviors, consequences (ABC data)
  4. Foundational behavioral terminology including, extinction, extinction burst, spontaneous recovery, deprivation, satiation, stimulus, discriminative stimulus, stimulus control, responses, motivation operations, establishing operations, setting events
  5. Principles and types of schedules of reinforcement and punishment
  6. Contingent and non-contingent; primary and secondary reinforcement and punishment
  7. Terms and definitions of Applied Verbal Behavior (AVB)

4) Antecedent Interventions 

  1. Define and identify positive behavior support systems
  2. Identify and explain the Premack principle, behavioral momentum, priming, forced choice
  3. Identify and explain the Premack principle, behavioral momentum, priming, forced choice Identify common environment and visual supports and benefits of each such as, functional communication training, PECS, TEACCH, social stories, video modeling, visual schedules

5) Skill Acquisition Programming

  1. Elements of effective goals and objectives
  2. Implementation of task analysis
  3. Types of prompts- Identify least to most
  4. Prompt dependence and fading
  5. Demands and demand fading
  6. Identify and define pairing
  7. Modeling
  8. Imitation
  9. Identify the six verbal operants
  10. Mimetic behavior
  11. Motor behavior
  12. Describe the implementation of Errorless learning and Error Correction procedures.
  13. Define Stimulus control and transfer
  14. The ABAT’s role in Transfer trials
  15. Understand the phases of Discrete trial teaching (DTT)
  16. Discrimination training
  17. Define Shaping and understand its implementation
  18. Describe the differences between backward and forward chaining
  19. Natural environment teaching (NET) and implementation
  20. Understand the purpose of generalization and maintenance
  21. Define pivotal behavior
  22. Pivotal response training (PRT)

6) Behavior Reduction Interventions

  1. Identify the components and purpose of a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)
  2. Identify and describe the 4 functions of behavior and define FB
  3. Contingency interventions, such as token economy, positive practice, over-correction, response cost, time out
  4. Differential reinforcement procedures: DRO, DRA, DRI, DRL, DRH

7) Data Collection and Analysis

  1. Define reliability and validity
  2. Describe components of operational definitions
  3. Types of assessments: preference, self-monitoring, ABC, environmental evaluation
  4. Types of measurement, such as frequency/event recording, duration, time sampling, interval, partial interval, and latency
  5. Types of continuous and discontinuous; direct and indirect data recording
  6. Identify and interpret basic graphs; line, scatterplot, bar
  7. Define and identify the benefits of IOA

Knowledge Application: The exam will assess your understanding of how to apply the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis in real-world scenarios. You may encounter questions that require you to analyze behavior graphs, interpret data, design behavior intervention plans, or apply assessment techniques. 

Exam Difficulty: The ABAT exam is designed to evaluate your knowledge and competency as an ABA technician. It typically requires a solid understanding of foundational concepts and their practical application. Some questions may be straightforward, while others may be more complex, requiring critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

Just like in the field, there’s no way to prepare for every scenario that you might encounter. However, by following the steps above in regards to preparation, that will go a long way toward your critical thinking and problem solving skills during the test.

Time Limit: You will have two (2) hours to complete the ABAT exam. If more time is needed, please complete the Exam Accommodations application. This can be accessed here:

https://qababoard.com/taking-examinations/

It is important to manage your time effectively, read each question carefully, and allocate appropriate time to answer each question. As a general test taking rule, it is a good idea to answer the questions you know first and then go back and answer the ones that might require more of your time.

Passing Score: The “cut score” or “pass point” for the ABAT examination is 72%. You will need to achieve this score or higher to successfully pass the exam and earn your ABAT certification.

If a person fails the ABAT exam they can retake it immediately. If they fail it again they must wait 30 days before their next attempt. Should they not pass on their third attempt, they must wait another 30 days before attempting it again. A person cannot take the test more than 4 times in any calendar year. 

To maintain your ABAT certification, you are required to renew it every 2 years and complete at least 12 continuing education units (CEUs)
There are 12 CEUs due for the ABAT, 20 CEUs for the QASP-S, and 32 CEUs for the QBA due at the 2-year renewal deadline.
A minimum of 25% of the hours must be live (3 out of 12 for ABAT, 5 for QASP-S and the QBA).
In addition, a minimum of 1 hour for ethics for the ABAT, 2 hours for the QASP-S, and 3 hours of ethics for the QBA.
Renewals may be done up to 60 days prior to the deadline. This will need to be completed by your employer/supervisor.

Renewals require the following:

  • Renewal application fee
  • A current background check or background attestation form completed by your employer (QASP-S and ABAT); A background self-attestation letter (QBA only)
  • Certificates of participation for all CEUs as outlined under the restrictions below
  • Supervised fieldwork verification form completed by your supervisor (QASP-S and ABAT only)

Check the QABA site for the renewal schedule:

https://qababoard.com/renewal/

All CEUs must have a certificate of attendance with the signature and printed name of the presenter. Presenters must be by a master’s level (or higher) professional within the field of applied behavior analysis or be in a related field.

College/university coursework may be considered following approval. Transcripts and curriculum must be provided and approved. Only subject matter specifically addressing the field of ABA, special education, autism, developmental disability, and similar subjects can be considered. The number of credits the course equals the number of CEU credits, for example, a 3-credit course equals 3 CEUs.

Teaching at the university level will be accepted for any university accredited for higher education. It is the responsibility of the certificant to show proof of the school accreditation as needed.

Ongoing Supervision Requirements:

  • Every 90 days, the ABAT and QASP-S are required to meet with his/her supervisor for 5% of the time they provide direct services to a client. The 5% supervision can be done remotely, using a HIPAA compliant video conferencing program; however, one of the contacts must be one-to-one in-person for a minimum of 1 hour unless a variance request is approved by the board. QBA certificants do not require supervision once certified as they are independent practitioners.
  • The QASP-S requires a supervisor (master’s level or above) to complete the online supervisor attestation form. Candidates must complete the 8 hours of supervisory coursework. They are required to have 5% of direct care hours supervised; however, once the QASP-S has completed 1,000 hours, they may reduce the supervision to 2%, upon supervisor discretion, with at least one contact in person one-to-one every 180 days.

Listed here are recommendations for textbooks, websites, and other study materials that you may find useful in preparing for the ABAT examination. What is listed contains information about online communities, professional groups, or forums for ABAT candidates and professionals. In addition to this, there are suggestions for additional training or courses related to ABAT certification:
Joining an online study group
Test your knowledge with practice exams
Review Applied Behavior Analysis Second Edition by John Cooper, Tim Heron and William Heward
Check the Apple App or Google Play stores for apps that can help you test your knowledge on the go

1. How does the ABAT certification help in career advancement?
ABAT certification shows that you are proficient in the discipline of Applied Behavior Analysis. Many organizations that employ behavior technicians want them to be certified.
2. How can TBU for QABA assist me in the process of becoming ABAT certified?

TBU for QABA provides ABAT training through a well-structured course with a total of 40 hours of content. Through working with professionals in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis, candidates from TBU for QABA will be prepared to enter the field upon completion of their coursework and passage of the ABAT.

3. Can I still apply for ABAT certification if my degree is from a field unrelated to ABAT?
Yes. However, prior to accessing the ABAT examination, coursework and training requirements, recommendation, fieldwork and supervision requirements will need to be completed, verified, and approved through the online process. In some cases, the ABAT exam may be taken before the fieldwork is completed; however, the credential will not be finalized until all fieldwork requirements are satisfied.
4. If I do not pass the ABAT exam on my first attempt, how soon can I retake it?
As stated above, if you don’t pass the ABAT exam on your first attempt you can immediately retake it.
5. What is the validity period of the ABAT certification and how often must it be renewed?
In order to maintain your ABAT certification, you are required to renew every 2 years and complete at least 12 continuing education units (CEUs).
6. What kind of job roles or positions can I apply for after obtaining the ABAT certification?
Upon successfully obtaining ABAT certification, a person can work as a Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) or a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). However, there are many other jobs in education (paraeducator, tutors, behavior support staff, etc.) in which the certification can be applied.
7. How does the ABAT certification compare to other similar certifications in the industry?
While all certifications have their merits, an Applied Behavior Analysis Technician certification will equip the candidate with the practical information they need to work with people who display various levels of neurodiversity.
8. How does ABAT certification compare to RBT certification?

The ABAT (Applied Behavior Analysis Technician) and RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) certifications are both entry-level credentials for individuals who work in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). They both require a high school diploma or equivalent, 40 hours of training, and passing an exam.
The ABAT certification is offered by the QABA (Quality Assurance Board for Applied Behavior Analysis), while the RBT certification is offered by the BACB (Behavior Analysis Certification Board). Presently, the ABAT certification does not require candidates to complete an initial competency assessment.

9. How much time should I ideally allocate for preparing for the ABAT exam?
Everybody has different study habits, however, it’s important to allot a decent amount of time to study and retain the knowledge for the ABAT examination. Think about how much time you’ve needed to study to achieve success at other examinations and follow that guideline.
10. Are there any financial assistance options or scholarships available for the ABAT certification process?
There are financial assistance options available. These can be accessed on the QABA website here: https://qababoard.com/taking-examinations/ There is also information about what a person needs to do if they need extra time to take their test.
11. Is there any way to verify if someone holds a valid ABAT certification?
The QABA provides a detailed registry of practitioners first and last names, their credentials, location, and when their credentials expire. That registry can be found here: https://www.qababoard.net/registry
12. Are there any online platforms or communities where I can connect with other ABAT aspirants or certified professionals for advice and guidance?

There are numerous online groups and communities on many of the platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) available. One needs to simply search up a group and see if the topics and content discussed meet their needs. They can also reach out privately to certified professionals for potential career advice and guidance.

Interested in taking the ABAT exam?

Please click on the button below to learn more about the courses offered.

Learn More