HomeFieldwork A–ZIndependent vs. supervised hours
Fieldwork A–Z

Independent vs. supervised hours

Independent hours are worked with the supervisor absent; supervised hours are worked with the supervisor present.

What it means

The BACB® splits fieldwork into independent hours (supervisor not present) and supervised hours (supervisor present, whether observing you with a client or meeting with you). Both are fieldwork hours and both count toward your total; the supervision percentage just sets the minimum share that must be supervised.

Example

On the standard pathway, a 100-hour month might be 95 independent and 5 supervised — meeting the 5% minimum.

Where it trips people up

“Supervised” doesn’t only mean being watched with a client — a one-on-one review meeting is supervised time too. Both observation and meetings count toward your supervised hours.

Related terms

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All Fieldwork A–Z terms