*e-5 Behavior analysts as supervisors

The BACB code of ethics establishes the profession's expectations of behavior analysts in their roles as teachers and/or supervisors. Behavior analysts should delegate responsibilities only to people with the knowledge necessary to perform them responsibly, design competent training programs, and avoid teaching techniques or procedures that require specialized training to people who are not qualified to do so.

Synopsis of each point

5.01 Design competent training programs and supervised work experiences

• Training programs must be competently designed and provide appropriate experiences to meet licensing, certification, or other objective requirements.

5.02 Limitations in training

• Behavior analysts should not teach techniques or procedures that require specialized training to people who are not trained to do so.

5.03 Provide course objectives or supervision

• Behavior analysts must provide a clear description of the objectives of a course or supervision at the beginning of the course or supervisory relationship.

5.04 Description of course requirements

• Behavior analysts must provide a clear description of the demands of a course or supervisory relationship at the beginning of the course or supervisory relationship.

5.05 Description of evaluation requirements

• Behavior analysts must provide a clear description of the requirements for evaluating a student's or supervisee's performance at the beginning of the course or supervisory relationship.

5.06 Provide feedback to students/supervisees

• Behavior analysts must provide feedback regarding a student's or supervisee's performance at least once every two weeks or in accordance with BACB requirements.

5.07 Feedback to students/supervisees

• Behavior analysts must provide feedback to the student/supervisee in a manner that increases the likelihood that the student/supervisee will benefit from the feedback.

5.08 Reinforce student/supervisee behavior

• Behavior analysts should use positive reinforcement as frequently as the student/supervisee's behavior and environmental conditions permit.

5.09 Using the principles of behavior analysis in teaching

• Behavior analysts should use as many principles of behavior analysis in teaching a course as the material, conditions, and academic policies permit.

5.10 Supervise requirements

• A supervisee's behavioral requirements must be in the supervisee's behavioral repertoire. If the required behavior is not in the supervisee's repertoire, the behavior analyst attempts to provide the conditions for the acquisition of the required behavior.

5.11 Training, supervision and security

• Behavior analysts must provide appropriate training, supervision, and safety advice to their employees or supervisees and take reasonable steps to ensure that such individuals provide services responsibly, competently, and ethically.

Conclusion

Behavior analysts have an ethical responsibility to ensure that those they train or supervise are adequately prepared to provide behavior analysis services responsibly and competently. By following this code, behavior analysts help protect clients and promote the integrity of the profession.