Education · 1 of 4
The path
A long one for a field that looks hands-on: the analyst credential sits on top of a master's degree.
- 1
High school
Grade 12
Strong marks in English, biology and psychology. Volunteer with kids with disabilities.
- 2
Bachelor's degree
4 years
Psychology is the usual route. Seneca and other Ontario colleges run 4-year honours degrees in behavioural psychology built for this career.
- 3
Work as a therapist
1 to 2 years
Instructor therapist or behaviour technician jobs in autism programs. Real experience before, or during, the master's.
- 4
Master's degree with behaviour analysis coursework
2 years
A master's that includes the verified course sequence set by the BACB (Behavior Analyst Certification Board). Brock, Seneca and several other schools offer it.
- 5
Supervised fieldwork, exam, registration
1 to 2 years
Roughly 1,500 to 2,000 supervised hours, then the certification exam. In Ontario you also register with the CPBAO (College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario), which runs its own entry exam and a period of supervised practice.