Applied Behaviour Analysis Certificate Program | College of Extended Learning | UNB

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College of Extended Learning

Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Program

Practical application. Real-time education.

The Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) program is designed to produce proficient, compassionate, committed, and ethical assistant-level practitioners and consultants.

In this certificate program, you will learn how to use ABA to find solutions to difficult or complex behavioural issues. You will also explore evidence-based practices that can help clients improve what is important to them and how to best inform your practice by staying current with the most recent research findings.

Benefits

In this certificate, you will learn the foundations and applications of applied behaviour analysis (or ABA), including how people learn and unlearn behaviours and skills, how to determine why someone engages in inappropriate behaviour, how to set up a behaviour intervention plan and how to continuously manage behaviour change programs in ethical ways.


You will be able to apply the skills you learn in this certificate program in different ways and settings, including:

  • Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Classroom management and education
  • In-home care for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and the elderly
  • Common parenting concerns including but not limited to bedtime struggles, "potty" training, and feeding problems
  • Training and supervision of human services staff

Developed and taught by Board Certified Behaviour Analysts (BCBA®'s) with a diverse range of clinical and research expertise, the courses in this certificate program are offered on-campus and online to accommodate your schedule.

Online courses are also self-paced to meet your needs.

This certificate program can also help prepare you to develop your professional repertoire and/or enter graduate programs.


This certificate program is the first program of its kind in Atlantic Canada that meets the coursework requirements needed to apply for the BACB®'s Board Certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst® (BCaBA®) examination.

People who hold BCaBA® Certification are highly sought after by employers.

VCS Program logoThe Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) has verified that the curriculum used in the Certificate in Applied Behavioural Analysis courses covers all required content areas for eligibility to take the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination.

Note: you will need to meet additional requirements before you can be deemed eligible to take the examination.

Not only that, but our certificate program meets or exceeds international certification requirements for mid-level behaviour analysts.



How to apply

  • Undergraduates studying psychology or a related human services field (e.g. education, kinesiology)
  • Individuals who have a Bachelor’s degree and want to enrich their skillsets in behaviour assessment and intervention
  • Those seeking to understand complex behaviours in a variety of settings and populations
  • Support service workers (e.g. judicial, social work, law, teaching) looking to add to their current expertise by understanding and using applied behaviour analysis

All applicants must:

  • Meet UNB admission requirements
  • Provide a resume that outlines academic and relevant work/volunteer experience
  • Submit a statement of interest outlining:
    • Whether you want to complete the program online or on-campus
    • Your goals and objectives in pursuing training in Applied Behaviour Analysis, including professional or career goals
    • Any relevant experience or interests related to applied behaviour analysis or any helping profession
  • Have two letters of recommendation:
    • Academic referee: a professional individual who is aware of the applicant's scholastic ability within a post-secondary setting
    • Supervisor referee: an individual who has supervised the applicant in a clinical or applied setting
  • Have completed, or be in the process of completing, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, or a related field
  • Have completed 6 credit hours of Introductory Psychology with a grade of at least a B within the previous seven years
  • Have a minimum of a B average in all coursework

  • Online program: Applications are reviewed as they are received.
  • On-campus: March 31 for admission for the fall semester.


Apply now

Current UNB students

Current UNB students who are enrolled in an undergraduate degree program are required to complete the undergraduate transfer request.

Declare your interest in taking the ABA Certificate program concurrently with your current degree program.

Submit the completed form, along with the supplementary documents listed under "admission requirements", to the Registrar's Office (Admissions) for processing.

New applicants to UNB

New applicants who are not UNB students must complete the undergraduate application.

Note: Successful applicants will be required to submit a current criminal background check.


Program curriculum

To meet the diverse needs of students, the program provides two separate routes for accruing practical experience:

Practicum (1000-1300 hrs practicum):

  • Designed for campus-based students
  • Three intensive placements at approved local agencies
  • Individualized supervision with an approved BCBA supervisor
  • Group supervision with peers overseen by the C-ABA Program Coordinator
  • Courses:
    • PSYC 4525 - Applied Behaviour Analysis Practicum I (6 CH)
    • PSYC 4535 - Applied Behaviour Analysis Practicum II (6 CH)
    • PSYC 4565 - Applied Behaviour Analysis Practicum III (6 CH)

Supervised Independent Fieldwork (1300 hrs fieldwork):

  • Designed for students studying online
  • Fieldwork site and BCBA supervisors to be approved by the C-ABA Program Coordinator
  • Prior Learning Assessment (up to 18 CH)

Upon successful completion, you will:

  • Understand the causes of behaviour and the theory behind ABA
  • Be able to work with diverse populations and settings including neurotypical populations, those with intellectual or developmental disabilities, those on the autism spectrum, education systems, management and training of those in the human services workforce, and parents
  • Know how to use a variety of assessment tools, create and implement individualized treatment protocols, and evaluate the effectiveness of behaviour analytic interventions
  • Become a professional assistant-level behaviour analyst who can evaluate your practice from legal, human rights, and ethical standpoints


Common questions

The ABA Certificate Program provides students with highly specialized education and applied knowledge in conducting behavioural assessments and developing and implementing behaviour change programs.

As a student, you gain a solid understanding of the theory and principles underlying ABA, and training in the application of behavioural principles in diverse settings and situations.


The Certificate Program has been verified to provide the coursework requirements needed to sit for the BCaBA® exam by the Association for Behavior Analysis International.

Those who want to sit for the BCaBA® exam will also need a bachelor’s degree and will need to accrue the required experience hours in addition to the coursework provided by this program.

To complete the program and become certified through the BACB, students must meet three requirements and then pass the BCaBA® exam.

These students may also request a certificate of completion for the ABA Certificate program from UNB CEL. Some students may not desire to become certified through the BACB®.

In these cases, students would request a certificate of completion for the ABA Certificate program from the UNB Registrar's Office. These processes are summarized in this figure:

Learn more about additional BCaBA exam requirements.


The on-campus program begins each fall.

The application deadline for students who want to enrol in the on-campus program is March 31.

Online program applications are reviewed as they are received.


Students may submit their referee's letter in their application. If referees would prefer to send the letters separately, they can email the letter to admissions@unb.ca.

The program recognizes that students may not have a clinical supervisor or academic that they can ask for a letter. In these cases, we ask students to find someone who can clearly attest to the students ability to learn new content and skills as a student (as would be the case for the academic letter) or their ability to work with others in a professional manner and their skills as an employee (as would be the case for the supervisor letter).



Pass rates and privacy

VCS Program logoVCS pass-rate information is published annually.

Pass-rate data are not published for sequences with fewer than six first-time candidates in a single year or for sequences within their first four years of operation.


UNB is committed to protecting the personal information of all individuals and any information being collected is under the authority provided for in the New Brunswick Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

For more information consult:

UNB Policy for the Protection of Personal Information and Privacy and the University Secretariat
University of New Brunswick
PO Box 4400
Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3
(506) 453-4613



Contact a representative

abacredit@unb.ca | Toll-free 1-888-259-4222