BACB CERTIFICATION EXAM · SIXTH-EDITION OUTLINE
BCBA Exam Study Center
Use the BACB’s current Test Content Outline to plan a focused review across nine areas. Start with the official task list, connect each task to your training materials, and give yourself time to explain the ideas in your own words.
START WITH THE CURRENT OUTLINE
The BCBA exam at a glance
The BACB’s June 2026 handbook says the current examination is based on the BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.). The outline organizes 104 tasks into nine content areas. Use the current handbook for application and appointment details; eligibility requirements can change separately from the exam outline.
Use the weights as a map. Each scored question is equally weighted, and the BACB bases the result on overall performance. Domain percentages are rounded; they are useful for planning review time, not for predicting a score.
MAP THE TEST BY ITS TASKS
The nine BCBA exam content areas
The question counts and rounded percentages below follow the current BACB handbook. Open the official outline for the full task statements and the knowledge attached to each area.
Area A
Behaviorism and Philosophical Foundations
8 · 5%
Review the assumptions and philosophical foundations that shape behavior-analytic work.
Area B
Concepts and Principles
24 · 14%
Strengthen your understanding of behavioral concepts and principles and how they relate to examples.
Area C
Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation
21 · 12%
Connect measurement choices to clear data displays and careful interpretation.
Area D
Experimental Design
13 · 7%
Review how designs help evaluate whether observed changes support a functional relation.
Area E
Ethical and Professional Issues
22 · 13%
Study the current Ethics Code and how professional responsibilities guide decisions.
Area F
Behavior Assessment
23 · 13%
Review assessment purposes, information sources, and how findings inform next steps.
Area G
Behavior-Change Procedures
25 · 14%
Compare procedures by the principles involved, the goal, and the available evidence.
Area H
Selecting and Implementing Interventions
20 · 11%
Connect assessment, goals, intervention selection, implementation, and ongoing review.
Area I
Personnel Supervision and Management
19 · 11%
Review how supervision, feedback, and performance systems support consistent practice.
The percentages are rounded in the BACB handbook. The nine areas total 175 scored questions.
MAKE YOUR REVIEW PRACTICAL
A study plan you can adjust
A useful plan starts with the outline and leaves room to revisit difficult ideas. You do not need to treat each area as a separate subject; the task statements often connect across the exam.
Mark the task list
Read the 104 tasks once. Mark each one as ready, needs practice, or new to you.
Set a balanced order
Give higher-weight areas regular attention, while scheduling review for every area.
Explain your choices
After practice from your training materials, explain why an answer fits and what makes a tempting alternative less suitable.
Keep an error log
Record the task, the idea you missed, and one action for your next review. Recheck the Ethics Code when an item turns on professional responsibilities.
GO TO THE SOURCE
Official BCBA resources
The BACB recommends reviewing the current content outline, Ethics Code, and materials gathered from your training. These official links help you check the source before you study a detail.
Official sources checked October 14, 2026. BACB requirements and examination information may change; confirm the current handbook before applying or scheduling.
QUICK ANSWERS
BCBA exam questions
How many questions are on the BCBA exam?
How long is the BCBA exam?
Which BCBA Test Content Outline is current?
What are the nine BCBA content areas?
What should I use to prepare?
Are exam eligibility changes the same as outline changes?
ANOTHER BEHAVIOR-ANALYSIS CREDENTIAL
Related online center
Preparing for the Registered Behavior Technician credential instead? The RBT study center covers a different BACB certification, role, and exam outline.
KEEP THE OFFICIAL GUIDE CLOSE
Let the task list guide your next session
Choose one task you want to strengthen, find it in the current outline, and connect it to the notes, examples, and practice from your training. Then return to the task list and choose what needs attention next.
Open the BACB content outline ↗
This independent study center does not include practice questions and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Use the BACB for current certification, eligibility, examination, and ethics requirements.
Source note
- BCBA Handbook, updated June 2026 — exam format, time, scored-item counts, content-area weights, and recommended preparation materials.
- BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.) — current task framework and domain definitions.
- BACB Examination Information and the BACB Ethics Codes page.
This page offers general study guidance. The BACB is the source for current certification, eligibility, examination, and ethics requirements.