Advanced Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
At the bottom of this page, you can read about how this program is registered at Teachers College and with New York state. However, changes to the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) requirements on 1/1/2026 and 1/1/2027 mean that the program registered with the state may not meet BCBA requirements. The text here will explain how to meet those requirements.
The ABA Certificate program offers Pathway 2 coursework toward becoming a BCBA. The BCBA requires specific coursework, a relevant Master’s degree, and supervised experience hours (see https://www.bacb.com/bcba/). This qualifies one to take the BCBA exam, which is the final requirement to become a BCBA.
Anyone interested in becoming a BCBA should read the 2027 guidelines and BCBA Handbook on the website: https://www.bacb.com/bcba/
Below are the 7 courses we offer that meet the BCBA coursework requirements:
HBSE 4014 or HBSE 4015 - Applied Behavior Analysis 1 (meets Basic Principles requirement)
HBSE 4016 - Applied Behavior Analysis 2 (meets Philosophy requirement)
HBSE 4044 - Methods 1 (meets Research Methods requirement)
HBSE 4045 - Methods 2 (meets 1 of 2 course requirement for Behavior Assessment and Intervention)
HBSE 4048 - Working with Families (meets 1 of 2 course requirement for Behavior Assessment and Intervention)
HBSE 4304 - ABA Practicum (meets Organizational Behavior Management requirement)
HBSE 4049 - Ethics in ABA (meets Ethics requirement)
Contact the program director, Dr. Fienup@tc.columbia.edu for information about when these courses are available. Some of these courses are offered online and some are offered in-person.
**Note, BCBA Pathway 2 is time-limited. The BCBA will only be available for folks who graduated from an accredited ABA Master’s degree (Pathway 1) beginning January 1, 2032. Thus, for an applicant to qualify to sit for the BCBA exam via Pathway 2 (like from our program), one must complete all coursework and supervised experience hours by December 31, 2031. Plan accordingly.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2027, Summer 2027, and Fall 2027 terms.
Program is not accepting applications for the 2027 cycle.
Advanced Certificate
- Points/Credits: 23
- Entry Terms: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Master's degree required | |
| Must hold Master's degree in a related area (education, psychology, etc.) or be an admitted student to the Applied Behavior Analysis, School Psychology, or Intellectual Disability/Autism Master's degree program at TC |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact HAEPadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2026-2027)
View catalog information for the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 and Summer 2027 terms.