- Look for a manageable caseload and protected time for supervision and analysis.
- Ask about productivity targets and how they're measured.
- Check the clinical values: assent, caregiver training, individualized goals.
- Collegial support matters for staying well in the job.
What makes a good BCBA job?
- Caseload that fits the clients. Practice guidelines discuss how caseloads should reflect client needs and supervision load.1
- Time for the analyst's work: data review, plan writing, caregiver training.
- Real supervision support: enough RBTs, and time to observe and coach them.
- Clinical values you share: assent-based, caregiver-centered, individualized care.
- Support and peers. A study of early-career BCBAs found low collegial support was linked to higher burnout.3
What should I ask in interviews?
Try
- What's the typical caseload and how is it decided?
- What are billable-hour or productivity expectations?
- How much non-billable time is protected for planning?
- How do you approach assent and caregiver training?
- What happens when a client's needs change?
Skip
- Accepting without seeing the caseload
- Vague answers about productivity
- Pressure to write goals to maximize hours
More questions in BCBA interview questions and answers.
What are the red flags?
- Caseloads that grow without more support
- Unpaid drive time or documentation time
- Pressure to recommend hours based on funding rather than need
- High RBT turnover and no training plan
- Little respect for client assent or caregiver input
How do I compare offers?
Compare the whole package: salary or pay model, benefits, CEU funding, caseload, travel, schedule, supervision support, and growth paths. See How do I negotiate a BCBA salary and benefits?
What can I do this week?
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