ABA Australia Regulatory Standards

ABA Australia’s Scope of Practice for Behaviour Analysts in Australia describes the professional roles, responsibilities, boundaries and areas of practice of behaviour analysts in Australia and supports safe, ethical and effective behaviour-analytic practice.

ABA Australia’s Code of Ethical Practice sets out the ethical and professional obligations applying to Certified Behaviour Analyst (CBA) and Certified Behaviour Analyst – Undergraduate (CBA-U) practitioners. The Code guides ethical decision-making, professional conduct and accountability across behaviour-analytic practice.

Applicants and certified practitioners must make declarations at initial certification and renewal under ABA Australia’s Mandatory Declarations Policy. These help identify matters relevant to certification and ongoing professional obligations.

ABA Australia manages complaints concerning the professional conduct, ethical practice and certification compliance of CBAs and CBA-Us, as well as membership conduct matters where an obligation arises from ABA Australia membership.

Complaints are managed in accordance with ABA Australia’s Complaints Policy and Procedure and the relevant professional, certification or membership requirements.

Concerns about a certified practitioner, member or ABA Australia itself can be raised through ABA Australia’s complaints process.

The Australian Professional Competency Standards for Behaviour Analysts describe the professional knowledge, skills and capabilities expected of behaviour analysts at entry to independent professional practice.

They provide the competency framework underpinning ABA Australia’s CBA and CBA-U certification pathways.

ABA Australia administers two professional certifications:

Applicants must meet the education, training, competency, English language and declaration requirements for their certification pathway.

The Certification Guidelines, CBA Application Guide and CBA-U Application Guide provide detailed requirements for each pathway.

CBAs and CBA-Us are required to undertake ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to maintain and enhance their professional knowledge and skills. Completion of annual CPD requirements in accordance with ABA Australia’s Continuing Professional Development Policy is a requirement for maintaining certification.

ABA Australia’s English Language Policy sets out the English language requirements applying to applicants for initial CBA and CBA-U certification and the evidence accepted to demonstrate English language proficiency for safe and effective professional practice.

Practising CBA and CBA-U certified practitioners are required to hold and maintain current professional indemnity insurance appropriate to their individual scope of practice and professional activities.

Practitioners declare compliance, review their cover annually and when their practice changes, and may be asked to provide evidence of insurance.

Further information is provided in the Mandatory Declarations Policy and relevant certification guidance.

CBAs and CBA-Us must meet ABA Australia’s Recency of Practice Policy, which sets out practice, evidence and declaration requirements for maintaining current skills.

Practitioners who do not meet applicable Recency of Practice requirements may be required to complete a Resumption of Practice pathway before returning to practice under CBA or CBA-U certification.

ABA Australia’s Resumption of Practice Policy sets out the requirements for demonstrating readiness to return to practice.

ABA Australia sets minimum qualification and behaviour-analytic coursework requirements for CBA and CBA-U certification.

Information about recognised education pathways is available through ABA Australia’s Education and Training Standards Policy and Certification Guidelines.

ABA Australia is also developing a program accreditation framework against these standards.