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Fieldwork hours & unrestricted ratio planner

The 60/40 unrestricted rule is where most trainees get tripped up. Enter your hours and see exactly how many unrestricted hours you still need — and whether you’re quietly over the restricted cap.

Your fieldwork

56%Unrestricted
Below 60%
Prioritize unrestricted hours to get above the line.
300
Unrestricted hours still needed
100
Restricted you can still log
400
Total hours remaining
—
Projected finish
The rule: at least 60% of your total hours must be unrestricted (no more than 40% restricted). For 2,000 hours that’s ≥1,200 unrestricted and ≤800 restricted. Under 2022 standards, count 20–130 hours per month with the required supervision and one client observation.
Going for BCaBA instead? Use the BCaBA fieldwork hours calculator — 1,300 / 1,000 hours and the 40% unrestricted rule.

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

Stop guessing at the ratio

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

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Muffins the Cat with common fieldwork ratio questions
Frequently Asked Questions

The 60/40 rule, 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 60% from where you are today is the catch-up you are carrying right now: multiply your restricted hours by 1.5 and subtract the unrestricted hours you already have. With 112.5 restricted and 72.5 unrestricted, that is 96.25 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 60/40 unrestricted rule?
At least 60% of your total fieldwork hours must be unrestricted activities, and no more than 40% restricted. For 2,000 Supervised hours that’s ≥1,200 unrestricted and ≤800 restricted; for 1,500 Concentrated hours, ≥900 and ≤600.
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 40% of the goal, you have to keep going until your total reaches restricted ÷ 0.40 — more than 2,000 (or 1,500) — and those extra hours must be unrestricted. The planner shows the exact number.
Does the ratio have to be met every month?
No. The 60/40 split is a requirement for your total accrued fieldwork, not a monthly rule — but watching it monthly is the only way to avoid a nasty surprise at the end. FieldworkABA’s total hours view tracks it as you go.
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 BCBA Handbook and your supervisor.