Position on Accrediting Bodies for Applied Behavior Analysis Organizations (Adopted 12/15/2023)
The Virginia Association for Behavior Analysis (VABA or VirginiaABA) is the professional organization for behavior analysts in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Based on our Position of Credentials to Serve as Qualification for Licensure to Practice Behavior Analysis in Virginia (published March 2022), we offer the following best practices in professional accreditation. VirginiaABA encourages organizations to do their due diligence prior to choosing an accreditation organization with the following recommendations. Accrediting organizations should have:
- Non-profit status where potential recipients can verify who is leading the organization, as well as financial statements and other requirements of non-profit companies
- Published, publicly available bylaws, standards, and procedures
- A mission to protect consumers of behavior analysis services by establishing professional standards of practice for providers and provider organizations
- A governing body (typically a Board of Directors) whose voting members are
- Unpaid
- Credentialed (certified and/or licensed) behavior analysts representing the range of practitioners in the field and 1-2 consumers of behavior analytic services
- Selected or elected in accordance with procedures specified in the bylaws
- Independent of any other organizations or entities in making decisions about the organization’s credentialing programs
- Key leadership personnel who are credentialed, professional behavior analysts
- A well-established track record in managing accrediting programs for practitioners of behavior analysis
References
Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (2018). Guidelines for evaluating credentials in the practice of applied behavior analysis. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.apbahome.net/resource/collection/1FDDBDD2-5CAF-4B2A-AB3F-DAE5E72111BF/APBA_Guidelines_EvaluatingCredentials_180906.pdf