FieldworkABA logo
Log in Get Started
Free Tool · BCaBA

BCaBA fieldwork hours & unrestricted ratio planner

BCaBA fieldwork needs at least 40% unrestricted activities across 1,300 Supervised or 1,000 Concentrated hours (800 from 2027). Enter your hours to see how many unrestricted hours you still need — and whether you’re quietly over the restricted cap.

Your BCaBA fieldwork

38%Unrestricted
Below 40%
Prioritize unrestricted hours to get above the line.
220
Unrestricted hours still needed
100
Restricted you can still log
400
Total hours remaining
—
Projected finish
The BCaBA rule: at least 40% of your total hours must be unrestricted (no more than 60% restricted). For 1,300 hours that’s ≥520 unrestricted and ≤780 restricted. Under 2027 standards, count 20–160 hours per month with the required supervision.

Free planning tool — not affiliated with or endorsed by the BACB. Always confirm against the current BCaBA Handbook and your supervisor. BCBA, BCaBA, and BACB are registered trademarks of the BACB.

How BCaBA fieldwork hours add up

BCaBA certification takes fewer hours than BCBA and asks for a different unrestricted ratio. Here are the numbers this calculator uses, drawn from the BACB BCaBA Handbook and the 2027 BCaBA Requirements.

RequirementSupervised FieldworkConcentrated Supervised Fieldwork
Hours to qualify1,3001,000 · 800 from 2027
Concentrated multiplier—×1.3 · ×1.625 from 2027
Unrestricted activitiesAt least 40% of total hours (no more than 60% restricted) — measured over your full fieldwork, not monthly
Hours per monthMinimum 20 — maximum 130 (160 from 2027)
Supervision per month5% of hours10% of hours
Individual supervisionAt least 50% of supervised hours (group may not exceed 50%)
Observation with a clientPre-2027: 1 per month + contacts (4 Supervised / 6 Concentrated). From 2027: 60 min (Supervised) / 90 min (Concentrated) cumulative
Working toward BCBA instead? Use the BCBA fieldwork hours calculator — 2,000 / 1,500 hours and the 60% unrestricted rule.

Stop guessing at the ratio

FieldworkABA checks your 40/60 balance and BCaBA hour goals automatically as you log — so you never discover the problem at the finish line. Free for 14 days, no card.

Get Started For Free See Total Hours Tracking
Muffins the Cat with common BCaBA fieldwork ratio questions
Frequently Asked Questions

BCaBA fieldwork, answered

How many unrestricted hours do I need to fix my ratio?
The planner shows two different numbers, because there are two different questions. Unrestricted hours still needed is what your finished record requires. To get back to 40% from where you are today is the catch-up you are carrying right now: take two thirds of your restricted hours and subtract the unrestricted hours you already have. With 120 restricted and 40 unrestricted, that is 40 unrestricted hours to get back to the line. The rule is judged on your final total, so the second number is a checkpoint rather than a deadline, but it is the honest measure of how far behind the line a heavy direct-service stretch has put you. See where each hour lands for how the categories work.
What is the 40% unrestricted rule for BCaBA?
At least 40% of your total fieldwork hours must be unrestricted activities, and no more than 60% restricted. For 1,300 Supervised hours that’s ≥520 unrestricted; for 1,000 Concentrated hours, ≥400 (or ≥320 out of 800 under 2027).
How many hours does BCaBA fieldwork require?
1,300 Supervised Fieldwork hours or 1,000 Concentrated hours (800 under the 2027 requirements), or a combination. Concentrated hours are weighted — multiply by 1.3 (or 1.625 under 2027) and add your Supervised hours to reach the 1,300 combined total.
What if I log too many restricted hours?
Restricted hours can’t be removed, and the ratio is measured on your final total. If restricted passes 60% of the goal, you have to keep going until your total reaches restricted ÷ 0.60, and those extra hours must be unrestricted. The planner shows the exact number.
How is BCaBA fieldwork different from BCBA?
BCaBA needs fewer hours (1,300 / 1,000 vs 2,000 / 1,500) and only 40% unrestricted instead of 60%. Under 2027, Concentrated BCaBA supervision stays at 10% while Concentrated BCBA drops to 7.5%. Working toward BCBA? Use the BCBA calculator.
Is this calculator official?
No. It’s a free, independent planning tool and isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by the BACB. Always confirm your hours against the current BCaBA Handbook and your supervisor.