2027 BCBA® standards
The fieldwork rules effective Jan 1, 2027 — duration-based observation, lower concentrated supervision, higher monthly cap, BCBA-only supervisors.
What it means
Starting January 1, 2027, hours stay at 2,000 / 1,500 and the 60/40 rule is unchanged, but: fixed monthly contact counts are removed in favor of the supervision percentage plus cumulative observation minutes (60 min Supervised, 90 min Concentrated); concentrated supervision drops from 10% to 7.5%; the monthly cap rises from 130 to 160 hours; supervisors must be active BCBAs® (the psychologist and Verified Instructor routes end); and applicants use the new 2027 verification forms. More broadly, the 2027 update discontinues BCBA® eligibility Pathways 3 and 4, and Pathway 2 (coursework) is set to end in 2032 — leaving the accredited-degree Pathway 1 as the only route.
Example
Under 2027, instead of counting four meetings, you ensure your supervision percentage is met and you accumulate at least 60 minutes of observation across the month (Supervised pathway).
Where it trips people up
Hours logged under 2022 rules don’t automatically satisfy 2027 requirements — especially observation, which changes from “a contact” to minutes and differs by pathway. If your fieldwork spans the transition, check how your existing months are counted.
Let the software track this for you
FieldworkABA applies these rules automatically as you log — the 60/40 ratio, supervision, and monthly checks, done in the background. Free for 14 days, no card.
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