BCBA and RBT Services

Board Certified Behavioral Analyst
Shayle Welch-Ulrich, welchulrichs@hancockesc.org

The Board Certified Behavior Analyst’s (BCBA) role tends to vary depending on where they work. In our school settings, the BCBA fills a consultative role to teachers, classroom aides, and administrators. The BCBA provides guidance and training on evidence-based strategies to address students’ challenging behavior in the classroom, assists with data collection for challenging behavior, and might author behavior interventions plans, if needed. BCBAs can also assist with skill acquisition when traditional teaching methods are ineffective for students. The BCBA will develop programs and teaching instructions to be carried out by teachers, aides, or Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). From there, the BCBA oversees data collection and review to make sure every student on their caseload is reaching their full potential.

In cases when a student greatly struggles with skill acquisition or challenging behavior in a classroom, a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) might be assigned to work with a student. RBTs have been specially trained to tap in to students’ special interests and teach students using evidence-based strategies that differ from traditional teaching styles. RBTs receive frequent, high-quality supervision and instruction from BCBAs on a regular basis. This additional level of support ensures that the teaching methods designed by the BCBA are as effective as possible.