Current and 2027 Requirements
A practical comparison of the supervised fieldwork rules that apply now and the changes taking effect January 1, 2027.
Reviewed against BACB materials updated through June 2026. Page updated .
The Most Important Question
The BACB requires you to meet the requirements in effect when you submit your BCBA certification application. The current requirements remain relevant for applicants who apply and meet eligibility before January 1, 2027. Applications submitted on or after that date must meet the 2027 requirements.
If you are uncertain about your application date, the BACB recommends planning to satisfy both sets of requirements and maintaining documentation that demonstrates compliance with each.
Side-by-Side Comparison
The total fieldwork-hour requirements stay the same, but the concentrated supervision percentage, monthly maximum, observation requirement, and verification forms change.
| Requirement | Current requirements | 2027 requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Effective period | Applications completed under requirements in effect through December 31, 2026 | Applications submitted on or after January 1, 2027 |
| Supervised Fieldwork total | 2,000 hours | 2,000 hours |
| Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork total | 1,500 hours | 1,500 hours |
| Required supervision | Standard: 5% Concentrated: 10% | Standard: 5% Concentrated: 7.5% |
| Fieldwork hours per supervisory period | 20 to 130 hours per month | 20 to 160 hours per supervisory period |
| Observation with a client | One observation per month for either fieldwork type | Standard: 60 cumulative minutes Concentrated: 90 cumulative minutes |
| Individual supervision | At least 50% of supervised hours must be individual | At least 50% of supervised hours must be individual |
| Unrestricted activities | At least 60% of total fieldwork hours | At least 60% of total fieldwork hours |
| Verification forms | Use the applicable 2022 Monthly and Final Fieldwork Verification Forms | Use the applicable 2027 Monthly and Final Fieldwork Verification Forms |
This is a planning summary, not a substitute for the current BACB handbook, forms, and guidance. Requirements may change, and the BACB is the authoritative source.
Planning Calculator
Choose the requirement set, fieldwork type, and number of fieldwork hours for the supervisory period.
The result is a planning aid. It does not determine whether an activity, supervisor, contract, or documentation system satisfies BACB requirements.
What the Percentages Mean
Supervised Fieldwork requires 2,000 qualifying hours. The minimum supervision percentage is 5% under both the current and 2027 requirements.
At a 60-hour monthly pace, the minimum is 3 supervised hours. At least half of those supervised hours must be individual.
Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork requires 1,500 qualifying hours. The current supervision requirement is 10%, while the 2027 requirement is 7.5%.
If you may apply before January 1, 2027, accruing concentrated hours at only 7.5% will not satisfy the current 10% threshold.
Restricted and Unrestricted Activities
Under both requirement sets, at least 60% of your total supervised fieldwork hours must involve unrestricted activities. Restricted activities may make up no more than 40%.
Unrestricted work should reflect the responsibilities of a behavior analyst, such as assessment, data analysis, program development, training, systems work, research, and professional decision-making. Whether a specific activity qualifies depends on what you actually did, why you did it, and how it relates to behavior-analytic practice.
BASN builds unrestricted experience around real client and organizational needs rather than disconnected filler assignments.
Planning Across the Transition
For concentrated fieldwork, 10% supervision satisfies the current threshold and exceeds the 2027 threshold. The reverse is not true for a current-requirements application.
Document both the number of client observations and the duration of each observation so your records can support either requirement set.
The BACB recommends maintaining the forms and documentation needed for both sets of requirements when your application date is uncertain.
The BACB requires fieldwork documentation to be retained for at least seven years. Monthly records should be complete, accurate, and consistent while the work is occurring.
How BASN Supports Fieldwork
BASN offers Standard and Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork, remote client opportunities, state-matched supervisors, individual supervision, and small-group learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
The BACB requires applicants to meet the requirements in effect when they submit their certification application. If you are unsure whether you will apply before or after January 1, 2027, the BACB recommends planning for both sets of requirements.
Both the current and 2027 requirements use 2,000 hours for Supervised Fieldwork and 1,500 hours for Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork.
Under the current requirements, Supervised Fieldwork requires 5% supervision and Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork requires 10%. Beginning January 1, 2027, the percentages are 5% and 7.5%, respectively.
The current requirements permit 20 to 130 hours per month. The 2027 requirements permit 20 to 160 hours per supervisory period.
At least 60% of total supervised fieldwork hours must be unrestricted under both the current and 2027 requirements.
Yes, but at least 50% of supervised hours must be individual. Group supervision may not exceed 50% of the total supervised hours in a supervisory period.
Independent educational resource: The Behavior Analyst Supervision Network is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. BACB, BCBA, and related marks belong to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Always confirm current requirements directly with the BACB.