Advanced Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
At the bottom of this page, you can read about how this program is registered at Teachers College and with New York state. However, changes to the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) requirements on 1/1/2026 and 1/1/2027 mean that the program registered with the state may not meet BCBA requirements. The text here will explain how to meet those requirements.
The ABA Certificate program offers Pathway 2 coursework toward becoming a BCBA. The BCBA requires specific coursework, a relevant Master’s degree, and supervised experience hours (see ). This qualifies one to take the BCBA exam, which is the final requirement to become a BCBA.
Anyone interested in becoming a BCBA should read the 2027 guidelines and BCBA Handbook on the website:
Below are the 7 courses we offer that meet the BCBA coursework requirements:
HBSE 4014 or HBSE 4015 - Applied Behavior Analysis 1 (meets Basic Principles requirement)
HBSE 4016 - Applied Behavior Analysis 2 (meets Philosophy requirement)
HBSE 4044 - Methods 1 (meets Research Methods requirement)
HBSE 4045 - Methods 2 (meets 1 of 2 course requirement for Behavior Assessment and Intervention)
HBSE 4048 - Working with Families (meets 1 of 2 course requirement for Behavior Assessment and Intervention)
HBSE 4304 - ABA Practicum (meets Organizational Behavior Management requirement)
HBSE 4049 - Ethics in ABA (meets Ethics requirement)
Contact the program director, Dr. Fienup@tc.columbia.edu for information about when these courses are available. Some of these courses are offered online and some are offered in-person.
**Note, BCBA Pathway 2 is time-limited. The BCBA will only be available for folks who graduated from an accredited ABA Master’s degree (Pathway 1) beginning January 1, 2032. Thus, for an applicant to qualify to sit for the BCBA exam via Pathway 2 (like from our program), one must complete all coursework and supervised experience hours by December 31, 2031. Plan accordingly.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Fall 2026 terms.
Program is not accepting applications for the 2026 cycle.
Advanced Certificate
- Points/Credits: 24
- Entry Terms: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| , including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Master's degree required | |
| Must hold Master's degree in a related area (education, psychology, etc.) or be an admitted student to the Applied Behavior Analysis, School Psychology, or Intellectual Disability/Autism Master's degree program at TC |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact HAEPadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2025-2026)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2025, Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 terms.
Advanced Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
This certificate program will satisfy the coursework requirements for licensure in New York State as a Behavior Analyst (LBA) as well as the requirements for certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).听 Both the NYS licensure and BCBA requirements include a graduate degree in education or psychology, specified coursework in behavior analysis, supervised experience, and exam(s).听 We offer the practicum experience in conjunction with the coursework, for a more comprehensive, integrated program.
The 23-credit program can be completed in as little as one calendar year and students may begin the program at any point during the academic year (Fall, Spring, or Summer).听 During the semester when students are enrolled in practicum, a minimum of 2 days per week (10-15 hours per week for a minimum of 150 hours over the 15-week semester) in an approved practicum site is required. Outside of that, students can continue to gain the necessary 2000 supervised experience hours in approved settings under the supervision of appropriately qualified individuals (e.g., LBA/BCBAs).听 Such training opportunities will depend upon availability in university-approved settings, as well as commitment on the part of the student to adhere to all policies and expectations of the training site.听 Students will be responsible for keeping accurate and ongoing records of their experience hours, including supervision hours, as per LBA and BCBA requirements.
听
Required Courses
HBSE 4015 ABA I:听 Concepts and Principles in Pedagogy, Curriculum, and Management (3 credits)
HBSE 4016 ABA II:听 Foundational Concepts and Epistemology of Basic and Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credits)
HBSE 4044 Methods 1:听 Research Methods in Pedagogy, Curriculum, and Management (3 credits)
HBSE 4045 Methods 2:听 Curricular and Pedagogical Operations for Teaching the Foundations of Functional Academic Literacy (3 credits)
HBSE 4047 Record-Keeping in Applied Behavior Analysis (2 credits)
HBSE 4048 Working with Families of Children with ASD (3 credits)
HBSE 4049 Professional and Ethical Issues in Teaching as Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credits)
HBSE 4304* Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credits)
OR
HBSE 4704 Student Teaching Practicum (for students enrolled in the ABA MA program only) (3 credits)
*Students must take HBSE 4304 for 3 credits in the semester during which it is offered as a class; they may continue to register for sections of HBSE 4304 for 0 credits for subsequent semesters to indicate that they are completing experience hours if necessary.
OR鈥擣OR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY EdM STUDENTS ONLY:
HBSE 4304** Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis (1 credit in the first semester, 0 credits for all semesters after that).听
AND
HBSK 5050 Cognitive and Behavioral Interventions (3 credits)
Students are encouraged to review all requirements and regulations for both the LBA () and BCBA (), particularly as they relate to the necessary supervised experience.