What a BCBA Actually Does (And How We Support Them)

If your child is receiving ABA therapy, you’ve probably heard the term BCBA. But what exactly does a BCBA do, and how do they support your child’s progress?

Let’s break it down.

What is a BCBA?

A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is a licensed clinician with advanced training in behavior analysis. BCBAs design, oversee, and adjust treatment plans to help individuals learn socially significant skills and reduce behaviors that may interfere with learning.

At Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, BCBAs are the clinical leaders on your child’s care team. While your child works directly with a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) during most sessions, the BCBA is the one writing the goals, tracking the progress, and providing training and guidance behind the scenes, and often, directly in session too. 

What does a BCBA do day to day?

Here’s a quick look at what BCBAs are responsible for:

• Assessments: Conducting evaluations to understand your child’s current skills, behaviors, and areas for growth

• Goal Setting: Creating individualized treatment goals across communication, daily living, social skills, and behavior

• Program Oversight: Observing therapy sessions, analyzing data, and making sure goals are on track

• Staff Training: Coaching RBTs on how to implement strategies correctly and consistently

• Family Collaboration: Meeting with caregivers to provide support, updates, and training for home carryover

• Problem Solving: Adjusting plans when behaviors change or progress stalls

How we support our BCBAs

At Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, we believe that supporting our BCBAs means better care for your child. That includes:

• Keeping caseloads manageable so BCBAs can give each child the attention they deserve

• Encouraging collaboration between BCBAs, RBTs, speech therapists, and OTs

• Building in time for caregiver training and interdisciplinary teamwork

• Providing ongoing professional development so our team stays at the cutting edge of the field

When a BCBA is empowered, your child benefits.

Final Thoughts

BCBAs are more than supervisors—they’re the ones who design the roadmap, make real-time course corrections, and ensure your child’s therapy is both effective and compassionate.

Behind every skill gained and every milestone reached, there’s a BCBA working hard to make it happen.