Do the 2027 changes reduce the number of fieldwork hours?

No. The totals stay the same: 2,000 hours for Supervised Fieldwork and 1,500 for Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork, with at least 60% unrestricted.

Are the monthly supervisory contact meetings still required in 2027?

No. The 2027 standards remove the fixed monthly contact counts (4 for Supervised, 6 for Concentrated). Instead they keep the supervision percentage and require cumulative observation minutes with a client: 60 minutes per month for Supervised and 90 minutes for Concentrated.

Can my current supervisor still supervise me in 2027?

Only if they are an active BCBA in good standing. The 2027 standards remove the qualifying-psychologist and ABAI Verified Instructor supervisor routes that were allowed under 2022.

Do my 2022 fieldwork hours count toward the 2027 requirements?

Hours you have accrued still count as hours, but the standard in effect on your application date governs your fieldwork. Observation in particular changes from a monthly contact to cumulative minutes, so confirm with your supervisor that each month meets the standard that will apply to you.

BCBA® Fieldwork in 2027: What Changes vs. 2022

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Applicants for BCBA® certification on or after January 1, 2027 follow an updated set of supervised-fieldwork rules. The good news: the big pillars — the hour totals and the 60/40 unrestricted rule — don’t change. What changes is how supervision and observation are measured. Everything below comes from the BACB®’s own 2027 Requirements document, Fieldwork Requirements, and newsletters (linked at the bottom).

2022 vs. 2027 at a glance

Requirement	2022 (current)	2027 (from Jan 1)
Hours to qualify	2,000 Supervised / 1,500 Concentrated	2,000 / 1,500 same
60% unrestricted rule	At least 60% of total hours unrestricted	At least 60% same
Hours per month	20–130	20–160 changed
Supervision %	5% Supervised / 10% Concentrated	5% / 7.5% Concentrated changed
Supervisory contacts / month	4 (Supervised) / 6 (Concentrated), each ≥15 min	No fixed contact count removed
Observation with a client	1 observation per month	60 min Supervised / 90 min Concentrated, cumulative changed
Individual supervision	At least 50% of supervised hours	At least 50% same
Who may supervise	BCBA/BCBA-D, qualifying psychologist, or ABAI Verified Instructor	Active BCBA® only changed
Verification forms	2022 Monthly & Final forms	2027 Monthly & Final forms changed

What stays the same, what changes

Stays the same

2,000 / 1,500 total hours
The 60/40 unrestricted rule, measured over your total fieldwork
20-hour monthly minimum to count
At least 50% of supervision must be individual
The 5-year window and 7-year record retention
A signed supervision contract and work with multiple clients

Changes in 2027

Monthly cap rises 130 → 160 hours
Concentrated supervision drops 10% → 7.5%
Fixed monthly contact counts are removed
Observation becomes cumulative minutes (60 / 90), not one event
Supervisors must be active BCBAs®
New 2027 verification forms; activities tie to a specific client
Eligibility Pathways 3 & 4 end (Pathway 2 ends 2032)

Do my current hours carry over?

Hours you’ve already accrued still count as hours — but the standard in effect on your application date governs your fieldwork. The place this bites is observation: under 2022 it’s “one contact that includes observing you with a client,” while under 2027 it’s a minutes target that differs by pathway. A month that satisfied the 2022 observation rule may not add up to the 2027 minutes.

The practical move: if your fieldwork spans the transition, confirm with your supervisor which standard will apply when you plan to apply, and make sure each month meets that standard — especially observation minutes and the supervisor’s BCBA® status. Track it monthly so nothing is discovered at the finish line.

The dates that matter

Jan 1, 2026

Supervisor & coursework tightening

The noncertified RBT® Supervisor role is eliminated (RBT supervisors must hold BCaBA® or BCBA®), and Pathway 2 applications require a coursework attestation.

Jan 1, 2027

New BCBA® & BCaBA® fieldwork rules

The fieldwork changes above take effect, alongside updated degree, coursework, CE, and supervision rules. Eligibility Pathways 3 & 4 are discontinued.

Jan 1, 2032

Accredited-degree pathway only

Pathway 1 (a degree from an accredited program) becomes the only route to BCBA® certification; Pathway 2 ends.

Official sources

Don’t take our word for it — these are the primary BACB® documents this guide is built from:

Read it from the BACB®

2027 BCBA® Requirements (BACB®) “Fieldwork: Getting It Right” blog post (BACB®) FAQs about supervised fieldwork (BACB®) BACB® Newsletters (Feb 2026, Mar 2025)

This guide is educational and independent. FieldworkABA is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the BACB®. Requirements can change — always confirm against the current BCBA® Handbook. BCBA®, BCaBA®, RBT®, and BACB® are registered trademarks of the BACB®.

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BCBA® fieldwork in 2027: what changes