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How do I find a good BCBA supervisor for my fieldwork?

Where to look, how to check qualifications, what to ask, and what a strong supervision contract includes.

By The Autism Kit teamUpdated Sep 27, 2026 · 1 min read
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The short answer

Most trainees find supervisors through their employer, their graduate program, or professional networks. Before starting, verify the supervisor's certification on the BACB registry, confirm they meet the BACB's supervisor qualifications, and agree on a written contract covering goals, schedule, observation, feedback, fees and how either of you can end the arrangement.

Key takeaways
  • Look first at your employer, your graduate program and your network.
  • Verify certification on the BACB registry before logging hours.
  • Supervisors must meet BACB qualification rules.
  • Get a written contract that covers goals, schedule, feedback and fees.

Where can I find a supervisor?

  • Your employer. Many ABA organizations provide free fieldwork supervision to staff.
  • Your graduate program. Programs often keep lists of supervisors or practicum sites.
  • Professional networks. State ABA associations, conferences and alumni groups.
  • Independent supervisors. Some BCBAs offer paid supervision, often partly remote.

How do I check a supervisor is qualified?

  1. Look them up on the BACB certificant registry.1
  2. Confirm eligibility. Under the 2027 requirements, supervisors must be active BCBAs with no current disciplinary sanctions, and either certified for at least a year and meeting the supervision CEU requirement, or certified less than a year and receiving monthly consultation.2
  3. Ask about supervision training and experience with trainees.

What should I ask before I commit?

Try
  • How often will you observe me with clients?
  • How will you give feedback, and how quickly?
  • Which unrestricted activities can I do here?
  • How do you structure supervision around the Test Content Outline?
Skip
  • Supervisors who only sign forms
  • No written contract
  • No plan for unrestricted hours

What goes in a supervision contract?

Research on supervision recommends clear, written expectations up front.3 A good contract covers:

  • Goals and competencies you'll build
  • Meeting schedule and observation plan
  • How feedback is given and documented
  • Fees, if any, and cancellation policy
  • How either person can end the arrangement

What can I do this week?

0 of 3 done

Read next: How does BCBA supervised fieldwork work?

Common questions

Parts of supervision can often happen remotely, but you still need the required observation of you working with clients each period. Check the current BCBA Handbook for what counts.

Sources

  1. Behavior Analyst Certification Board: Verify certification. bacb.com
  2. Behavior Analyst Certification Board: 2027 BCBA requirements (supervisor qualifications). bacb.com
  3. Sellers TP, LeBlanc LA, Valentino AL. Recommendations for detecting and addressing barriers to successful supervision. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2016. doi.org

This guide shares general information and our team's perspective, based on the sources above. It isn't legal, billing or certification advice: always check the BACB's current requirements, your state's rules and your organization's policies. How we write our guides.

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