Remote BCBA Supervision (That Happened by Accident)

If you are searching for remote BCBA supervision or BCBA fieldwork supervision, you have probably noticed that many options sound identical. Everywhere promises support. Everywhere says they are ethical. Everywhere says you will get your hours.

Here is the honest story of how my practice became what it is.

When I opened this company, I did not expect it to become a remote supervision practice. I did not want to be a company owner. I was focused on doing the work, helping families, and operating with the level of ethical responsibility I rarely saw modeled well in the field.

Then something happened that changed the trajectory.

My story made the front page of the local newspaper, the Culpeper Star-Exponent. After that, supervisees started reaching out. Not one or two, but enough that I realized there was a real need for a different kind of supervision.

Read the Star-Exponent feature here: Culpeper Behavior Analyst Offers Pro Bono Parenting Classes

That is how this grew, not from a business plan, but from demand, visibility, and a clear mission.

How This Became Remote Supervision for BCBA Candidates

When trainees started contacting me after the Star-Exponent feature, the pattern was consistent.

BCBA supervision students were looking for BCBA supervision that was actually available. They needed someone who could teach, respond, and provide structure. Many were also specifically trying to build unrestricted hours in a way that felt meaningful and clinically relevant, not like busywork.

At the same time, the pro bono work with families was increasing. It became obvious that if services were going to remain pro bono and ethically run, the work had to be sustainable.

That is where the model came from.

Supervision fees support the infrastructure that keeps pro bono services possible. Trainees receive remote BCBA supervision that is responsive and teaching-focused while also supporting access to behavioral help for families who cannot get it elsewhere.

Why Pay for BCBA Supervision When Clinics Offer It “Free”?

I have seen this question floating around online: Why would anyone ever pay for BCBA supervision if an ABA clinic offers it for “free”?

Here is the answer I learned the hard way.

When I was an RBT, I signed a contract that promised “free supervision,” but it was only free if I agreed to stay with the company for a set period of time. In my case, it was two years after becoming a BCBA, and the fine print gave the employer a lot of control over what my work life would look like during that period.

At the time, I did not worry about it. I assumed an established provider, whether a huge corporation or a long-standing local clinic, would be fair. I assumed that if they were offering supervision, it was because they cared about developing their staff. I assumed the contract would be reasonable.

I wish I had questioned it before I signed.

What many people do not realize is that “free supervision” can be structured like golden handcuffs. It can come with requirements that lock you into staying, limit your options, and punish you financially if you want to leave.

That is exactly what happened to me.

When the clinic environment became toxic and I wanted out, I learned the cost of that “free” supervision. I was pressured to either stay under their terms or repay what they claimed the supervision was worth. I was also scared by the way the situation was framed to me, including warnings that they could create serious professional consequences if I did not comply.

I panicked. I thought I would be sued and that my certification and license that I worked so hard for would be revoked. I borrowed the money, and paid. It was close to $10k.

That experience permanently changed how I think about supervision, and it is one of the biggest reasons I built a different option. Because no one should feel trapped in a clinic, or trapped in a contract, just to become a BCBA.

ABA is everywhere. It is in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. You should be able to earn your fieldwork hours in a way that is ethical, educational, and sustainable without feeling pressured to tolerate a work environment that is harming you.

This Is My Full-Time Practice, Not “Supervision on the Side”

One of the biggest differences is simple.

I dedicate 100 percent of my professional time to this practice. I do not work somewhere else and squeeze supervision into leftovers. I am not half-available. This is not an add-on. I respond to emails within 24 hours, I guide you every step of the way through FBAs to BIPs, then with ongoing parent coaching.

Because of that, I can offer flexible scheduling that many trainees need, including early mornings, afternoons, evenings, nights, and weekends. That matters when you are balancing school, work, and family responsibilities while still trying to meet BACB supervision requirements. Supervision should be fun, not a chore.

Paid BCBA Supervision Should Mean Something

Paid BCBA supervision should feel like premium support. Not just “meeting minimum requirements,” but becoming the kind of professional who can think clearly, design ethically, and make decisions that really can break negative parenting cycles.

Many trainees tell me they wish they had found me sooner because things finally make sense. I explain concepts in plain language, with easy-to-remember examples, and with teaching that connects directly to what you will face as a practicing BCBA.

Prompt Communication and Reliable Follow-Through

If you are looking for responsive BCBA supervision, this is one of the most noticeable differences.

When we schedule a supervision time, I call at that exact time. I do not treat your schedule casually. I respond to emails within 24 hours. I typically respond to texts within one to two hours. If something is time-sensitive, it is treated as time-sensitive. This should be normal. In too many supervision experiences, it is not.

Ethical ABA Supervision, Including Assent

Ethics in ABA cannot just be something people talk about. It has to show up in how services are designed and delivered.

Assent is not optional in this practice. It is built into how I operate and how I teach trainees to operate.

I have encountered professionals who treat injuries like a badge of honor, as if bruises and bite marks are proof you are dedicated. I do not respect that mindset. In many cases, it reflects poor design, weak cooperation, and a willingness to rely on control instead of building voluntary participation.

Have I ever been hit? Sure. But it is rare, and it should be rare when the work is designed ethically and competently. This is not a special personality trait. It is what happens when autonomy and cooperation are treated as real priorities. No one likes being told what to do by someone they experience as aversive, whether they are a child, teen, or adult.

Ethical BCBA fieldwork supervision should teach you how to prevent harm, not normalize it.

A Remote Supervision Model That Funds Pro Bono ABA Services

This practice exists because trainees choose to be part of something different.

Supervision fees support pro bono behavioral services for families who are stuck, overwhelmed, or excluded by long waitlists and barriers. Trainees earn unrestricted hours and build real skills while supporting a mission-driven model that increases access. I take that responsibility seriously. If you are paying for supervision, you deserve a supervisor who is present, structured, and accountable.

Is This Remote BCBA Supervision the Right Fit?

If you are looking for remote BCBA supervision that is:

• Responsive and consistent

• Focused on unrestricted hours and real skill development

• Grounded in ethical practice and assent

• Delivered by a supervisor who dedicates full-time attention to this work
  

Then this may be a strong fit. If you are looking for the quietest way to get a form signed, you should pick a different option.

I did not set out to build a supervision company. The Culpeper Star-Exponent feature made people aware of what I was doing, supervisees began reaching out, and the demand made it clear that the field needed something better. This is what it grew into.

FAQ: Remote BCBA Supervision and Unrestricted Hours

What is remote BCBA supervision?

Remote BCBA supervision is supervision delivered through video calls, phone, and secure review of materials while meeting BACB supervision requirements.

Can I earn unrestricted hours with remote supervision?

Yes. Unrestricted hours can be earned through appropriate professional activities such as data analysis, treatment planning, caregiver training, assessment support, and clinical decision-making tasks.

What should I look for in BCBA fieldwork supervision?

Look for responsiveness, consistency, clear feedback, ethical practice, and teaching that helps you apply concepts, not just repeat terms.

What is the risk of “free” supervision from an ABA clinic?

Sometimes “free” supervision is tied to an employment contract with payback clauses, required time commitments, or other restrictions. Read the agreement carefully and compare the full cost, including lost wages and repayment risk, to paid supervision that increases your career options.