Applied Behavior Analysis, Post-Master's Certificate
Already have a master’s degree and want to become eligible to sit for the BCBA® exam?
Saint Louis University’s post-master’s certificate in applied behavior analysis gives you the required coursework and supervised fieldwork needed to meet current BCBA® eligibility requirements. This SLU certificate is designed for professionals who already hold a graduate degree, may already be working in education, social services, psychology, health care, or related fields, and are ready to formalize their training in applied behavior analysis.
Fieldwork is required for BCBA® eligibility, but you have flexibility in how and where you complete it. You may complete fieldwork through SLU’s practicum sequence or at an approved employment site where qualified BCBA® supervision is already in place.
If you already have a master’s degree and want a clear, flexible path to BCBA® eligibility, SLU’s post-master’s certificate in ABA is built for you.
Why SLU for Your Post-Master’s ABA Certificate?
Culturally Responsive Training
You learn applied behavior analysis through a lens of cultural humility that emphasizes examining bias, power, and context so you can provide ethical and effective services across diverse communities and settings.
Flexible Fieldwork Options
If you already work at a site with qualified BCBA® supervision, you may complete your required fieldwork there. If you do not have access to supervision, you can complete fieldwork through SLU’s practicum sequence with structured oversight and support.
Choose Your Learning Format
Courses are offered in both online and in-person formats, allowing you to select the option that best aligns with your schedule and learning preferences.
Curriculum Overview
SLU’s post-master's certificate program includes seven required 3-credit-hour courses (21 credit hours), an optional 3-credit-hour course, and five optional practica.
ABA Fieldwork
Supervised fieldwork is required to sit for the BCBA® exam. As part of the post-master’s certificate in applied behavior analysis, you choose one of two ways to complete your required fieldwork hours.
Through SLU Practica
If you complete the five practicum courses, you can earn up to 1,500 supervised fieldwork hours, meeting current BCBA® requirements. SLU practica provide a structured framework for organizing your fieldwork goals, supervision, and documentation. These practica may take place at your current place of employment or at one of SLU’s approved practicum sites.
Through Your Workplace
If you are already employed at a site with qualified BCBA® supervision in place, you may complete your required fieldwork hours there and do not need to enroll in SLU practica.
In some cases, your workplace and a SLU practicum site may be the same. The key difference is that SLU practica offer added structure and oversight to help you organize your fieldwork experience, regardless of where the hours are completed.
Either path leads to:
- Completion of required coursework
- Completion or continuation of supervised fieldwork
- Eligibility to apply to sit for the BCBA® exam
Where the PMC Can Take You
As a graduate of the post-master’s certificate in applied behavior analysis, you are prepared to sit for the BCBA® exam and advance your career across a wide range of professional settings.
You can work in many fields, including providing services to individuals diagnosed with autism and their families, supporting adults with challenging behavior and developmental disabilities, and working in job training and workforce settings, schools, health care agencies, and community organizations. Some graduates also go on to lead state education initiatives and advocacy projects.
As a behavior analyst, you may also work in areas such as:
- Sports, health and fitness
- Organizational behavior management
- Diversity, equity, inclusion and access
- Gerontology
- Criminal justice
- Mental and behavioral health
Tuition
| Tuition | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|
| School of Social Work Graduate Certificates | $1,190 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Financial Aid
We recognize that cost can be a concern when choosing to continue your education and have identified the following financial aid resources to assist you.
FAFSA and Other Resources
All incoming students should complete the application for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A step-by-step guide to submitting your FAFSA is available online.
Saint Louis University Student Financial Services provides comprehensive information about financing your graduate education. The following resources in Saint Louis University Student Financial Services may also be helpful:
Other Funding
Certificate students are not eligible for scholarships or graduate assistantships.
Accreditation
Saint Louis University offers behavior-analytic coursework that is designed to meet the Pathway 2 behavior-analytic coursework eligibility requirements for BCBA® certification.
1. Conceptual synthesis and interpretation of behavior-analytic principles
Integrate and interpret foundational concepts and principles to support accurate, function-based analysis of behavior.
2. Researcher-practitioner decision-making
Apply single-case experimental design and data-based reasoning to evaluate behavior-analytic research and clinical decision-making in practice contexts.
3. Design behavior analytic interventions
Assess, design and evaluate behavior-analytic interventions that target meaningful, socially significant behavior change across diverse settings and populations.
4. Demonstrate ethical and professional conduct
Apply ethical and professional standards consistent with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts to evaluate and guide behavior-analytic practice and research.
Admission Requirements
- Application form
- Official transcript(s)
- Two letters of recommendation (one academic, one professional)
- One academic letter of recommendation from a professor who has evaluated your academic performance in the classroom
- One professional letter of recommendation from a supervisor who has evaluated your work in the field or related volunteer experience
- If you have been out of school for five or more years, you may submit two professional letters
- If you are entering the program directly from an undergraduate program, you may submit two academic letters
- If you have been out of school and the workforce for five or more years, please contact us to determine the best individuals to provide your letters of recommendation
- Resume or academic vita
- Professional statement
- Interviews may be requested
Requirements for International Students
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:
- Demonstrate English Language Proficiency. ABA requires a TOEFL score of 92 or higher.
- Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
- Courses taken and/or lectures attended
- Practical laboratory work
- The maximum and minimum grades attainable
- The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
- Any honors or degrees received.
- Credential Evaluation Reports (such as the WES, ECE, Spantran, or Scholaro) are required.
If admitted to the School of Social Work, the International Office will require additional documentation to issue an I-20. Questions about these requirements can be directed to internationalservices@slu.edu.
Application Deadlines
August 1 is the application deadline for students each year.
Review Process
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The admissions committee considers several factors to determine a candidate's eligibility:
- Strength of the undergraduate program
- Application information
- Professional statement
- Work experience
- Any graduate degrees earned
- Motivation, leadership and service
- Undergraduate GPA
- Clinical experience in behavior analysis
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ABA 5746 | Principles & Concepts in Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| ABA 5774 | Measurement & Experimental Design | 3 |
| ABA 5747 | Behavioral Assessment | 3 |
| ABA 5748 | Behavior Change and Process | 3 |
| ABA 5749 | Ethics in Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| ABA 5001 | Supervision and Organizational Behavior Management | 3 |
| ABA 5002 | Philosophy of Behavioral Science | 3 |
| Optional course: | ||
| Basic Behavior Analysis | ||
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses. Any course with a letter grade B- or below will have to be retaken.
Non-Course Requirements
Students seeking BACB certification must complete 1,500-2,000 clock hours of ABA field practicum under the supervision of a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA). Students may choose to complete their practice experience independently or take up to 14 credits of practicum through SLU's ABA program.
This roadmap is just one example of a semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. There are other plans students can and do take. The plan of study for each particular student is established in consultation with each student’s academic advisor; this roadmap does not replace academic advising appointments.
Roadmap notes:
- This Roadmap assumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
- Courses/Milestones marked with an “!” are critical and must be completed in the semester listed in the Roadmap to ensure a timely graduation.
- Course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| Critical course: ABA 5746 | Principles & Concepts in Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| ABA 5774 | Research Methods for Everyday Practice | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| ABA 5747 | Behavioral Assessment | 3 |
| ABA 5748 | Behavior Change and Process | 3 |
| ABA 5749 | Ethics in Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| ABA 5001 | Supervision and Organizational Behavior Management | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ABA 5002 | Philosophy of Behavioral Science | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
For admission questions contact:
School of Social Work Graduate Admissions Office
sswadmissions@slu.edu
314-977-2752
For program questions contact:
Michael J. Passage, Ph.D., BCBA
Director of the applied behavior analysis program
Assistant clinical professor
michael.passage@slu.edu
314-977-2733