Question 1

1. What happens if the BACB audits my fieldwork?

Accepted Answer

If your fieldwork is selected for an audit, the BACB may ask for records supporting the hours you reported. Those records may include your supervision contract, Monthly Fieldwork Verification Forms, fieldwork tracking system, audit log, and other supporting documentation.Your certification application may be placed on hold while the audit is completed. Our review can help you organize your records and identify documentation concerns before you apply, but the BACB makes all final decisions about fieldwork acceptance and certification eligibility.

Question 2

2. How often does the BACB audit fieldwork hours?

Accepted Answer

The BACB does not publish a predictable audit schedule or a fixed percentage of applications that will be audited. Its current guidance states that trainees and supervisors may be audited at any time.An audit may occur as part of a quality-assurance review, a contested fieldwork matter, an ethics-related concern, or another compliance review. Because there is no reliable way to know whether your fieldwork will be selected, your records should be maintained as though they could be reviewed.

Question 3

3. What BCBA fieldwork documentation do I need to keep, and for how long?

Accepted Answer

Keep your BCBA fieldwork documentation for at least seven years. Your records should include your fieldwork tracking system, signed Monthly Fieldwork Verification Forms, Final Fieldwork Verification Form or Forms, supervision contracts and amendments, and documentation supporting required supervision contacts and client observations.You should also retain records of your dates, start and end times, activity descriptions, restricted and unrestricted classifications, supervised and independent hours, and monthly calculations. Keep complete copies rather than relying only on the total displayed by a tracking platform.

Question 4

4. Can BCBA fieldwork hours be rejected because of documentation errors?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Missing, inconsistent, incomplete, or unsupported documentation can place BCBA fieldwork hours at risk.Problems involving verification forms, signatures, dates, monthly totals, supervision percentages, required contacts, client observations, activity classifications, or discrepancies between records may result in hours not being accepted. Not every documentation error automatically causes hours to be lost, and some concerns may be correctable. Finding them before you apply gives you more time to determine what can be addressed.

Question 5

5. How do I know whether my BCBA fieldwork tracker is correct?

Accepted Answer

A BCBA fieldwork tracker is not necessarily correct just because the totals add up. The entries, calculations, and classifications should reflect the requirements that applied when your hours were accrued and should remain consistent with your signed verification forms and supporting records.A complete review should consider dates, start and end times, overlapping entries, monthly totals, supervised and independent hours, supervision percentages, contacts, observations, activity descriptions, and restricted and unrestricted classifications. A tracking platform can organize your records, but it does not replace your responsibility to confirm that the information is accurate.

Question 6

6. What if my Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form doesn't match my BCBA fieldwork tracker?

Accepted Answer

A mismatch should be addressed rather than ignored. First, determine whether the discrepancy appears in the tracker, the Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form, or both.Do not independently change a signed form simply to make the totals match. Any correction should be supported by the underlying records and completed appropriately with the supervisor responsible for that fieldwork period. Our audit identifies where the information stops matching so you know what needs clarification and whether your supervisor may need to be involved.

Question 7

7. What is the difference between a Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form and a Final Fieldwork Verification Form?

Accepted Answer

A Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form documents the fieldwork completed during an individual supervisory period. It confirms the hours and supervision recorded for that month.A Final Fieldwork Verification Form summarizes the fieldwork verified by a supervisor or organization when that supervision experience ends. Its totals should be supported by the corresponding signed Monthly Fieldwork Verification Forms. The Final Form is submitted with your certification application, while the Monthly Forms and supporting records should be retained in case the BACB requests them.

For a closer look at how the forms differ and what the totals need to support, read Monthly vs. Final Fieldwork Verification Forms: What Actually Has to Match.

Question 8

8. What if my Final Fieldwork Verification Form does not match my Monthly Fieldwork Verification Forms?

Accepted Answer

The totals on your Final Fieldwork Verification Form should be supported by the corresponding signed Monthly Fieldwork Verification Forms. The Final Form should not report more hours than the applicable Monthly Forms support.A mismatch may result from a calculation error, missing month, incorrect fieldwork classification, use of multiplied rather than actual hours, or hours being entered under the wrong supervision structure. The underlying records should be reviewed before anything is changed so you and the responsible supervisor can determine where the discrepancy began.Our guide to Monthly vs. Final Fieldwork Verification Forms explains how to compare the records and identify where the discrepancy may have started.

Question 9

9. What if my Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form was signed late or is missing?

Accepted Answer

A Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form must be signed by the last day of the calendar month following the month in which the supervision occurred. A form that was not signed by the required deadline may make that month’s fieldwork hours ineligible.A missing form can create the same problem because you may be unable to provide written verification of the supervision if the BACB requests it. Both the trainee and supervisor should keep copies of every signed Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form for at least seven years.Read Monthly vs. Final Fieldwork Verification Forms: What Actually Has to Match for a closer look at deadlines, missing forms, and the records supporting your Final Form.

Question 10

10. What if my supervisor refuses or is unable to sign my Final Fieldwork Verification Form?

Accepted Answer

Begin by trying to resolve the issue directly with your supervisor. Review the terms of your supervision contract, keep records of your attempts to contact the supervisor, and gather your signed Monthly Fieldwork Verification Forms and other documentation showing that supervision occurred.If the supervision-contract terms were met and the supervisor still refuses or is unable to sign the Final Fieldwork Verification Form, the BACB provides a Contested Fieldwork Form. That process applies to disputes involving a Final Fieldwork Verification Form. It cannot be used to contest a supervisor’s refusal to sign a Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form.

Question 11

11. What if I used the wrong BACB fieldwork form or the wrong requirement set?

Accepted Answer

Using the wrong form can create a documentation problem, but an older version is not automatically invalid. For applications submitted under the 2022 Fieldwork Requirements, the BACB currently accepts any version of the Monthly or Final Fieldwork Verification Form as long as it corresponds to the 2022 requirements.The more important questions are whether the form matches your application requirement set, whether you used the correct individual-supervisor or multiple-supervisors form, and whether the form is complete and properly signed. Applicants applying under the 2027 requirements must use the applicable 2027 forms. Because document guidance can change, we check the current BACB instructions during the audit.For a complete explanation of how the application date affects your fieldwork and forms, read BCBA Supervision Requirements: What the BACB Requires for Fieldwork.

Question 12

12. Can overlapping fieldwork entries or duplicate time place my hours at risk?

Accepted Answer

Overlapping entries may suggest that the same period of time was counted more than once, that a start or end time was entered incorrectly, or that two activities were documented in a way that needs clarification.An overlap does not automatically prove that the underlying hours were ineligible, but it creates an inconsistency that should be understood before the records are submitted or audited. We identify overlapping and potentially duplicated entries so the dates, times, activities, and supporting information can be reviewed more closely.

Question 13

13. What happens if I missed a required supervision contact, client observation, or supervision percentage?

Accepted Answer

The outcome depends on which requirement was missed and which fieldwork requirements apply to your application.Under the 2022 requirements, a month without the required client observation may have no eligible hours. Too few supervisor-trainee contacts or an insufficient supervision percentage may require the month’s hours to be reduced. Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork cannot be adjusted or prorated in the same manner. The 2027 requirements change several monthly standards, including maximum hours, concentrated supervision percentage, and required observation time. We review each month under the requirement set that applies to you.

Question 14

14. Can you review BCBA fieldwork from a previous supervisor?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can review documentation from previous supervisors as long as you provide the records you want included in the audit. This can be especially helpful if you changed supervisors, completed fieldwork with multiple supervisors, or have concerns about older documentation.We can identify inconsistencies, missing information, and other potential documentation concerns, but we cannot make supervisory decisions or sign documents on behalf of a previous supervisor. If a required form, signature, or supervisory decision is missing, you may still need to contact the BCBA who supervised those hours.

Question 15

15. Which verification forms should I use if I had multiple supervisors at one organization?

Accepted Answer

When multiple supervisors coordinate your fieldwork within one organization, the Multiple Supervisors at One Organization versions of the Monthly and Final Fieldwork Verification Forms may apply.The responsible supervisor is listed on and signs the Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form. The Final Fieldwork Verification Form identifies the supervisors who provided supervision through the organization, while the responsible supervisor signs the form. Your supervision contract should identify the participating supervisors, explain their roles, and name the responsible supervisor coordinating the experience.

Question 16

16. What if I completed fieldwork with supervisors at different organizations or settings?

Accepted Answer

Fieldwork completed under independent supervisors or separate organizations will generally require separate verification forms, and each experience may need to meet the applicable monthly requirements independently.Some fieldwork completed across multiple locations may qualify as one coordinated experience if it is organized under a clearly defined system with a responsible supervisor and meets the BACB’s requirements for multiple supervisors or settings. We review the supervision structure, contracts, forms, and monthly records to determine whether the experiences appear to have been documented separately or as a properly coordinated program.

Question 17

17. Why does a fieldwork documentation audit review my BCBA supervision contract?

Accepted Answer

A signed BCBA supervision contract establishes the structure behind your fieldwork. It should identify the trainee and supervisor or supervisors, describe their roles and responsibilities, explain how documentation and verification forms will be handled, and outline the conditions under which forms may or may not be signed.The contract must be in place before the fieldwork experience begins. We compare the contract with the records and forms you submitted to identify inconsistencies involving dates, supervisors, responsibilities, supervision structure, or documentation procedures.

Question 18

18. Can you audit a combination of Supervised Fieldwork and Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can review documentation that includes both Supervised Fieldwork and Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork.The actual hours completed under each fieldwork type should be documented on the applicable verification forms. The 1.33 concentrated-fieldwork multiplier may be used to estimate progress toward the combined total-hour requirement, but multiplied hours should not be entered as hours actually completed. We separate the two fieldwork types, review the monthly calculations, and determine whether the documentation appears consistent with the supervision requirements applicable to each type.

Question 19

19. Do you review restricted and unrestricted BCBA fieldwork classifications?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We review activity descriptions and their restricted or unrestricted classifications for possible inconsistencies.At least 60% of a BCBA trainee’s total fieldwork hours must be unrestricted, but that percentage does not have to be reached during every individual month. Direct work involving a client is not automatically restricted; the classification depends on the nature and purpose of the activity. We can flag descriptions or classifications that may need clarification, but the supervisor responsible for the fieldwork ultimately determines whether an activity should be approved.

Question 20

20. Can you audit fieldwork completed during the transition from the 2022 to the 2027 BCBA requirements?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can review records for trainees preparing to apply under either the 2022 or 2027 BCBA Fieldwork Requirements.Your application date determines which requirement set and verification forms apply. A complete application submitted by December 31, 2026, may be reviewed under the 2022 requirements. Applications submitted beginning January 1, 2027, must meet the 2027 requirements. If you are unsure when you will apply, the BACB recommends planning to satisfy both sets of requirements and completing both versions of the Monthly Fieldwork Verification Forms with your supervisor.For the full side-by-side comparison, read BCBA Supervision Requirements: What the BACB Requires for Fieldwork.

Question 21

21. Can you review records exported from Ripley Fieldwork Tracker?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can review records exported from Ripley along with your verification forms, supervision contracts, and other documentation you submit.We do not look only at whether the totals displayed by Ripley add up. We review the underlying entries for dates, times, overlapping records, activity descriptions, classifications, supervision percentages, contacts, observations, and consistency with your other fieldwork documentation. Ripley can help organize fieldwork records, but using a tracking platform does not by itself establish that every entry or calculation is correct.

Question 22

22. Should I have my documentation reviewed before completing my BCBA fieldwork?

Accepted Answer

You do not have to wait until all of your BCBA fieldwork hours are complete. Finding a documentation concern earlier may give you more time to review the underlying records, speak with your supervisor, and address correctable issues before additional months or years of fieldwork accumulate.A review can be useful when you are early in fieldwork, changing supervisors, nearing completion, preparing a Final Fieldwork Verification Form, or getting ready to submit your certification application.

Question 23

23. Can you fix my documentation for me?

Accepted Answer

We can identify concerns, show you where they appear, explain why they may matter, and recommend appropriate next steps.We cannot rewrite your fieldwork history, change records to make ineligible hours appear eligible, create documentation for supervision that did not occur, sign a verification form for another BCBA, or replace the judgment of the supervisor responsible for those hours. Some issues may be correctable, while others may require clarification, documentation, or action from your supervisor. Your report will distinguish between those situations.

Question 24

24. How much does a Fieldwork Documentation Audit cost, and what is included?

Accepted Answer

The Fieldwork Documentation Audit costs $499 and can include up to five years of fieldwork records.The review may include your BCBA fieldwork tracker, Monthly and Final Fieldwork Verification Forms, supervision contracts, monthly totals, supervised and independent hours, supervision percentages, required contacts and observations, activity descriptions, restricted and unrestricted classifications, signatures, dates, overlapping entries, and consistency across the records submitted.You receive a written report identifying what appears consistent, the exact items needing attention, why each concern matters, recommended next steps, questions for your supervisor, and a final action checklist.

Question 25

25. How long does the Fieldwork Documentation Audit take?

Accepted Answer

The standard turnaround time is five business days after we receive your payment and the complete set of de-identified records needed for the review.If important documents are missing, we may contact you before beginning or completing the audit. The five-business-day review period begins once the records required for the agreed scope of your audit have been received.

Question 26

26. What documents should I submit for the audit, and should they be de-identified?

Accepted Answer

Submit the records you want included in the review. These may include your fieldwork tracker export, Monthly Fieldwork Verification Forms, Final Fieldwork Verification Forms, supervision contracts and amendments, records identifying your supervisors, and other documentation supporting your contacts, observations, activities, or calculations.All documents should be de-identified before submission. Remove client names, dates of birth, addresses, contact information, and any other information that could identify a client or family. Your own name and your supervisors’ professional information may remain when needed for the review.

Question 27

27. Does the audit guarantee that the BACB will accept my fieldwork hours?

Accepted Answer

No. The BACB makes all final decisions about fieldwork acceptance, certification eligibility, and the outcome of any audit.Our service is an independent review of the documentation you submit. We identify concerns that can reasonably be detected within the materials and scope of the audit, but we cannot guarantee how the BACB will interpret every record or eligibility issue. Our double-your-money-back guarantee applies to the quality of our documentation review under its stated conditions. It is not a guarantee of BACB approval.

Question 28

28. How does the double-your-money-back guarantee work?

Accepted Answer

If the BACB removes fieldwork hours because of a documentation issue that was present in the materials we reviewed, was within the scope of your audit, and you followed the recommendations we provided, we will refund your audit fee and pay you that amount again.That means you receive a total reimbursement equal to twice the amount you paid for the audit. The guarantee applies to identifiable documentation issues within the records and review scope. It does not change the BACB’s authority to make final decisions about fieldwork acceptance or certification eligibility.

Question 29

29. Is the Fieldwork Documentation Audit separate from your BCBA supervision service?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Applied Behavior Analysts offers both BCBA supervision and Fieldwork Documentation Audits, but they are separate services with different purposes.Supervision guides, evaluates, and verifies fieldwork while it is being completed. The audit independently examines documentation that has already been created. We do not present a review as independent when the same fieldwork is currently being supervised through our organization. If you need ongoing supervision rather than an independent documentation review, we can help you explore that service instead.

Fieldwork Documentation Audit

Are You Sure Your Fieldwork Documentation Is Correct?

Records We Review

We compare the records supporting your BCBA fieldwork hours to identify inconsistencies, missing information, and potential documentation concerns.

What the Audit Covers

What Your Report Shows

Based on the materials you submit, your report shows what appears consistent, what needs attention, and outlines possible next steps.

How It Works

A simple four-step process for reviewing your BCBA fieldwork documentation

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Don't Wait Until the End of Fieldwork to Find a Problem

Built for BCBA Trainees Who Want to Be Fully Prepared

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What You're Purchasing

$499

Frequently Asked Questions