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| Abbreviation | QABA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2012 |
| Type | Professional credentialing board |
| Headquarters | Ogden, Utah, United States |
Region served | International |
Official language | English |
Executive director | Karen Dubon, MS |
| Website | qababoard |
The Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board (QABA or QABA Board) is a privately governed professional credentialing body that develops and administers examinations and practice standards for practitioners of applied behavior analysis (ABA). It offers tiered certifications for technicians, supervisors, and behavior analysts working primarily with autistic individuals and others who receive ABA services. [1] [2]
QABA has obtained accreditation from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for its core credentials and is recognized in multiple continuing education systems and regional regulations as one of several entities that certify ABA practitioners. [3] [4]
The Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board was established in 2012 as an independent credentialing organization for applied behavior analysis practitioners. [4] Early descriptions in trade press and provider marketing materials framed QABA as an alternative or complementary option to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) for providers and technicians who deliver ABA services, particularly in autism services systems that reimburse services from nationally accredited credentials. [5] [6]
Over the 2010s and early 2020s, QABA developed three main credentials with associated task lists and supervised fieldwork requirements: the Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT), the Qualified Autism Services Practitioner Supervisor (QASP-S), and the Qualified Behavior Analyst (QBA). [7] The board also created coursework approval standards that allow universities and training providers to advertise QABA-approved sequences for technician and analyst training. [8]
QABA has hosted periodic international conferences and online events. In 2023 it organized a virtual conference that offered continuing education credits recognized by multiple accrediting bodies, including QABA, the BACB, and other ABA-focused organizations. [9] [10]
In 2024 QABA publicized increased engagement in state-level licensure discussions, including repeated appearances before the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation and the Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board, as well as outreach to regulators in North Carolina, Alaska, and Arkansas. [11] [12] [13]
QABA states that its certification programs are accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which evaluates personnel certification programs for compliance with ISO/IEC 17024 and related standards. [1] [3] Public comments filed with Virginia regulators during consideration of behavior analyst licensing rules described QABA as having "international accreditation through the American National Standards Institute" and characterized ANSI accreditation as a "gold standard" for certification bodies. [3]
The QABA board lists a governing board of directors and an executive director, supported by advisory committees for ethics, international outreach, and coursework providers. [14] Biographical sketches for leaders describe backgrounds in clinical psychology, applied behavior analysis, and related fields, including faculty or clinical appointments in the United States and abroad. [14]
QABA offers three primary credentials in a tiered structure:
The organizations published materials describe competency-based task lists for each credential, required supervised fieldwork hours, and ongoing continuing education requirements. For example, the QBA credential requires at least 1,500 hours of supervised fieldwork, with supervision occurring for at least 5 percent of the supervisee's service hours within each supervision period. [7] Beginning in 2024 supervision periods for QBAs may not extend beyond 30 days, and supervision must be documented according to board rules. [7]
Certification examinations are delivered online through proctored testing services such as Examity, with identity verification and remote proctoring intended to safeguard exam integrity. [15] Third party commentary on QABA exams, including discussion forums and provider blogs, has noted the use of remote proctoring and described the credentials as meeting entry level standards for ABA employment markets in some regions. [16]
QABA approves coursework providers whose training sequences align with its task lists and supervision requirements. [8] Provider announcements from universities and private training organizations often highlight dual approvals by QABA and other bodies such as the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) or the BACB. [17] [18]
The Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) announced in 2023 that it had been approved as a continuing education provider by QABA, BICC, and the International Behavior Analysis Organization (IBAO), in addition to its existing BACB continuing education authorization. [4] ABAI has also advertised continuing education events where attendees can request QABA credits alongside BACB and other CE types.
QABA is one of several nationally accredited entities that certify behavior analysts and related practitioners in the United States. In state laws and regulations that govern licensure of behavior analysts, QABA is referenced in a growing number of jurisdictions alongside the BACB and other certifying bodies. [2] [3] These references typically occur in statutory definitions of "certifying entity" or in administrative rules that specify credentialing options for licensure eligibility.
Independent summaries of licensure requirements by state, prepared by universities and educational publishers, describe QABA as an accepted or potential certifying entity for licensure in some states, particularly where statutes refer to "nationally accredited" behavior analyst certifying bodies rather than naming a single board. [19] [20]
In Alaska, the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing states in a public frequently asked questions document that "the Qualified Behavior Analyst/Qualified Applied Behavior Analyst (QBA/QABA) certification is equivalent to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) certification" for purposes of licensing. [21] University licensure disclosures and national licensure summaries similarly note that Alaska law allows certification by the BACB "or another certifying entity approved by the department", a category that includes QABA according to the FAQ and QABA's own announcements. [19] [20]
QABA publicized Alaska's recognition in 2024, stating that its QBA and QASP-S credentials were now recognized in the state and describing this as opening "new opportunities for behavior analysts". [22]
North Carolina enacted behavior analyst licensure in 2022 and later amended its statute to recognize QABA as a qualifying certifying entity. The law's definition section provides that a "certifying entity" may be either the nationally accredited Behavior Analyst Certification Board or the nationally accredited Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board, or their successors. [23]
The North Carolina Behavior Analyst Licensure Board's requirements for licensure state that applicants must submit a current certificate from either the BACB or the QABA, for both behavior analyst and assistant behavior analyst licenses. [24] Board news updates noted in 2023 that QABA had been added to the statute as a certifying entity that could qualify someone for a license. [11]
North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services has referenced both the BACB and QABA in Medicaid policy communications. A 2023 and 2024 series of blog posts on supervision requirements for Board Certified Behavior Analysts state that state law permits behavior analysts or their "nationally accredited equivalents" to practice without psychologist supervision if they are certified by the BACB or the Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board. [25] [26]
Job postings in North Carolina list "Qualified Behavior Analyst (QBA)" as an accepted credential for positions that also require licensure from the North Carolina Behavior Analyst Licensure Board, reflecting employer uptake of QABA-based licensure pathways. [27] [28]
On 6 December 2024 the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation voted to approve the Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board as a certifying entity for behavior analysis licensure under Texas Occupations Code chapter 506. [29] [30] The department's Behavior Analysts news page and its February 2025 "Health Monitor" newsletter reported that individuals with active QASP-S certification could apply for assistant behavior analyst licenses and those with active QBA certification could apply for behavior analyst licenses. [13] [31]
An EIN Presswire story in December 2024 described the Texas vote as "adding the QABA certifications to its licensing" and characterized the action as a major step toward increasing access to ABA services by expanding the pool of eligible providers. [32] ABA consulting firm 3 Pie Squared published a 2025 article summarizing the Texas decision, noting that QABA's recognition allows practitioners with QBA and QASP-S credentials to pursue licensure and may expand service capacity in the state. [33]
The Texas decision has also been discussed within the ABA community as part of broader debates about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) standards. A 2025 statement by Black Applied Behavior Analysts (BABA) about the BACB's removal of explicit DEI requirements noted that during the December 2024 Texas meeting, QABA representatives emphasized their focus on merit based standards and described their approach to DEI requirements. [34] Online discussion forums and ABA news blogs have similarly framed Texas's recognition of QABA as a significant development in the credentialing landscape. [35]
Georgia established a Behavior Analyst Licensing Board in 2022. Early board documents focused on BACB certification, but later materials show the board considering QABA as a potential certifying entity. Draft minutes from a June 2024 meeting record discussion of the Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board and a request for more information about its credentialing process. [12] The Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board's "About" page lists the "QBA credential – QABA" alongside the BACB and the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts under "Professional Associations". [36]
In 2024 QABA announced what it described as a "Georgia milestone", stating in social media posts that the QBA credential had been "officially approved for professional licensure in the State of Georgia" and framing this as expanding "high quality, ethical ABA services". [37] [38] Independent licensure summaries prepared by universities still describe Georgia's statutory requirements in terms of BACB certification but allow for future recognition of additional certifying entities as the board's rules develop. [19]
In 2025 Arkansas enacted the Behavior Analyst Registration Act through House Bill 1245, creating a new registration system for behavior analysts in the state. [19] A separate measure, House Bill 1954, addressed recognition of QABA certifications. An EINPresswire article reported that the Arkansas House of Representatives had passed HB 1954 to recognize QABA certifications for behavior analyst registration and quoted supporters who argued that adding QABA would help address provider shortages and improve access to autism services. [39]
As of mid 2025 national licensure summaries described Arkansas as "pending" with respect to implementation of the Behavior Analyst Registration Act, noting that details about registration criteria and recognition of specific credentials would depend on the creation of a registration or licensing board. [19] QABA representatives have highlighted Arkansas in outreach materials as part of a group of states where their credentials may be used for state recognition, although formal implementation details remain under development. [39]
Beyond Alaska, North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, and Arkansas, QABA is cited in licensure or regulatory documents as a nationally accredited certifying entity in a number of contexts, including university licensure disclosures for New York and other states in which QABA certification can satisfy educational prerequisites when allowed by law. [20] [2]
QABA is mentioned in public comments and ABA association publications that discuss the broader landscape of ABA regulation, including references in Behavior Analysis Blogs, ABA workforce articles, and global continuing education offerings that advertise QABA ethics credits. [40] [41] Outside the United States, organizations such as the Dubai Autism Center and regional training institutes in Europe, Asia, and Latin America have announced collaborations with QABA or advertised QABA approved coursework and continuing education events. [42]
Specialist media, trade blogs, and online communities have discussed QABA as part of a broader conversation about the diversification of ABA credentials beyond the BACB. Some commentaries view QABA as a pragmatic option for addressing workforce shortages, especially in regions where licensure statutes allow multiple accredited certifying entities. [2] [6] Others raise concerns about potential confusion among families, payers, and policymakers if credentialing standards differ or if state regulations reference multiple entities without clear guidance. [43]
The inclusion of QABA in state laws has also intersected with debates about DEI standards and professional ethics. Some professional organizations and commentators have scrutinized statements made by QABA representatives in regulatory hearings and have urged careful evaluation of how different credentialing bodies address issues such as equity, cultural responsiveness, and consumer protection. [44] [40]
QABA's self published materials emphasize competency based training, ethics codes, and international accreditation as safeguards intended to ensure quality and safety in ABA services, and the board has published blog posts and outreach materials addressing the importance of competent practitioners in supporting autistic individuals and others who receive ABA services. [1] [45]