Association for Behavior Analysis International

Most behavior analysts work as clinicians with individuals who have developmental disabilities (Behavior Analyst Certification Board [BACB], 2021). The BACB has a test content outline that informs the verified course sequence adopted by most programs in the United States. The test content outline focuses on building a solid theoretical foundation of the science of behavior that is meant to regulate training programs. Currently, there is limited literature on other potentially important areas of considerations for employers, such as interpersonal skills and professional skills. Additionally, it is not known whether skills that employers find valuable have any influence on the theoretical knowledge or clinical experiences that the course content outlines. This current panel discussion will examine the aforementioned topics according to the perspective of the hiring team. This discussion will provide insight to students, faculty, and clinicians about what employers value in newly minted behavior analysts. Further, we will tackle how employers assess competence during the interview process so that programs can tailor their training in such a fashion to prepare students.