In the last two decades, there has been a rapid development and development in behavior analysis in the United States and in many parts of Europe. Demand for the services of people with education and experience in behavioral analysis is growing. In accordance with the growing demand, the Board Certified Behavior Analyst was established to better enable those who benefit from the services of behavior analysts to distinguish between those who have minimal education and experience in behavior analysis and those who do not have this education and experience . In order to receive expert certification, an expert must meet the requirements for theoretical study and work experience in behavior analysis and pass an exam administered by the BACB institute. A specialist must also meet continuing education requirements to maintain specialist certification. However, experts who work within behavior analysis are not required to meet the requirements for expert certification in order to work as behavior analysts. This is not a validation. However, employers and clients in the United States today require professionals who provide counseling and conduct behavioral therapy to have this certification. Many schools in the United States and Europe with graduate programs in behavior analysis emphasize preparation for the BCBA exam. The University of Reykjavík has also started a course in behavior analysis in the MSc program in psychology that meets the requirements for taking the BCBA exam. Professionals with a BCBA specialist certificate must meet continuing education requirements over a three-year period. If they have not met these requirements, their specialist certification will be invalidated. On August 27, 2016, six Icelanders working in Iceland met the requirements for BCBA specialist certification.
More information about the specialist certification can be found on the website of The Behavior Analysis Certification Board
