BCBA Exam Resources

Format & Delivery

BACB examinations are composed of multiple-choice questions. Each question has 4 possible answers and only 1 correct answer. Examinations are administered in-person at authorized Pearson VUE testing sites and US military bases using computer-based testing (CBT).

Exam Specifications by Credential

Testing Locations

BACB authorizes testing sites in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. New sites are evaluated routinely and upon request through Pearson VUE.

Scored vs. Unscored Questions

The BCBA exam contains 185 questions, but only 175 are scored. The remaining 10 are unscored pilot questions being evaluated for future use. You will not know which questions are unscored, so treat every question as if it counts.

Modified Angoff Method

The BACB uses the modified Angoff method for establishing the passing score. This is criterion-referenced, meaning your performance depends on established standards, not on other test-takers' performance. New base forms are created approximately every five years or with significant content changes.

Scaled Score System

• Scores are reported on a scale from 0 to 500
• A score of 400 or above is required to pass
• Scaled scores allow direct comparison across different examination forms
• The passing standard is always the same regardless of which form you receive

Score Equating

The BACB maintains a large pool of questions that can be used to generate many different forms of the examination. Multiple forms exist during each testing period with random assignment to candidates. Slight variations in difficulty are accounted for when passing scores are set, so it does not matter which form you receive.

Score Reporting

• Passing candidates: Receive notice of passing with their scaled score; no additional performance details provided
• Failing candidates: Receive performance reports with percentage correct and question count by content area (BCBA/BCaBA) or a list of tasks answered incorrectly (RBT)
• Results are provided at the testing site upon completion, via email, and appear in BACB accounts within approximately one week

BCBA First-Time Test Takers

BCBA Retakes

BCaBA First-Time Test Takers

RBT First-Time Test Takers

9 Content Domains

The BCBA examination covers 9 content domains based on the 6th Edition Task List, which took effect in January 2025. The exam emphasizes applied knowledge, ethical reasoning, and cultural humility.

• Foundations of ABA
• Applications of ABA
• Experimental Design
• Measurement and Data Display
• Behavior-Change Procedures
• Behavior Assessment
• Ethics
• Supervision and Management
• Personnel Supervision and Management

Study Guidance

The BACB advises candidates to study all content areas during preparation rather than focusing only on weak areas. Performance reports provide limited information since the number of items per task is relatively small and may not be predictive of your overall understanding.

Official Resources

• BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.) - available on bacb.com
• BCaBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.) - available on bacb.com
• RBT Task List (2nd ed.) - available on bacb.com

BCBA & BCaBA Examinations

Any appointment canceled or rescheduled within 30 days of the examination date will be subject to a fee. Appointments canceled or rescheduled 30 or more days prior will not incur a fee.

• 30 to 5 days before appointment: $59 fee
• 5 days to 48 hours before appointment: $69 fee
• Within 48 hours: cancellation/rescheduling unavailable; no refund issued

RBT Examination

RBT exams must be rescheduled or canceled at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled date.

• 30 to 5 days before appointment: $27 fee
• 5 days to 48 hours before appointment: $32 fee
• Within 48 hours: cancellation/rescheduling unavailable; no refund issued

Request Process

The BACB is dedicated to complying with all accommodation requirements, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

• Complete the BACB Examination Accommodation Request Form
• Combine with required documentation into a single PDF
• Submit through the "Submit Accommodations Documentation" form using Accommodations Requests or Questions categories

Timeline

Review is typically completed within 10-14 days, but may take longer if additional documentation is requested.

Score Cancellation

The BACB reserves the right to cancel or withhold examination scores due to suspected or documented misconduct during testing at a Pearson VUE site or violation of the BACB Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts.

Appeals

If score invalidation occurs, candidates are encouraged to submit an administrative appeal. Invalidation may also occur due to circumstances beyond the candidate's or BACB's control.