Unlicensed, Certified BCBA Provide Supervision
- 1.Approaching Former Adult Client
- 2.Medical Marijuana
- 3.Pro Bono Work
- 4.Supervision Has Multiple Relationships with Family Receiving Services
- 5.Parent Training Concerns
- 6.Parents Not Implementing Procedures
- 7.Soliciting Parent Testimonials
- 8.Retaliation Towards Mandated Reporting
- 9.Family Rejecting Safety Measures
- 10.Parental Collaboration
- 11.Hostile Work Enviornment
- 12.Creating Protocol to Prevent and Treat Trauma with Limited Functional Language
- 13.Parent ABA Practice Questions in OT & Speech
- 14.Potential Gifts From Clients on Social Media
- 15.Helping Close Relationships With ABA Tips
- 16.Parent Utilizing CBD & THC
- 17.Client Pre-Authorization Denied For Much Needed Services
- 18.Supervisee Slaps Child in School Setting
- 19.Changing Direction of Treatment from Previous BCBA
- 20.BCBA Subpoenaed in Family Court
- 21.Terminate Services Due To Parent Behavior
- 22.Parents Offering Token Items During Check Out/Transition
- 23.Family Doesn’t Want Details Released To Funding Source Without Permission
- 24.Resources for IRB Approval for Independent Researchers
- 25.Speech Therapist Refusing To Do PECS
- 26.BCBA Receives Cease & Desist
- 27.Unlicensed, Certified BCBA Provide Supervision
Scenario
There are currently 3 BCBAs on the staff at my current site. 2 of the BCBAs are licensed and one of us is working on getting licensed, we are all certified. The 2 BCBAs that are licensed are relatively new to this site and have not mastered the work that we do. We have a few supervisees that require supervision. Per the BACB, a supervisee is expected to have 2 client observations supervised as well as individual supervision meetings. Is it ethical to have the unlicensed but certified BCBA who is an expert in session run client observation audits while the other 2 BCBAs provide independent and group supervision on the task list that they are experts in? Currently we are having only the licensed BCBAs provide supervision. However, this is leading to staff burn out and may not be appropriate according to 5.01 and 5.04 ethical compliance codes.
Response
- Codes to Consider: 5.01, 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.05
- Steps to Explore: The credentialing LBA vs BCBA doesn’t appear to be an ethics concern as long as the nature of the supervision and consequences of such are disclosed to the supervisee; it would fall under a barrier to licensure. The hours by the unlicensed person would not count pursuant of licensure in AZ. Those hours would have to be accrued under an LBA when acquiring licensure. However, delegation of tasks in relation to supervisor scope of practice and scope of competency should be taken into consideration. Unlicensed BCBA can still support supervisees in areas of expertise (outside of formal supervision). Assess appropriate supervisee volume/capacity- provision of effective supervision.