Guide · updated October 2026
The 2027 BACB fieldwork requirements
If you apply for BCBA certification on or after January 1, 2027, all of your supervised fieldwork must meet the 2027 requirements, including months you completed earlier.
What changes
| Rule | Before 2027 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly maximum | 130 hours | 160 hours |
| Concentrated supervision | 10% | 7.5% |
| Observation with a client | 1 per month | 60 min (Supervised) · 90 min (Concentrated) |
| Supervision contacts | 4 or 6 per month | Not listed in the 2027 requirements |
What stays the same
- 2,000 hours Supervised, or 1,500 hours Concentrated
- At least 20 hours each month
- 5% supervision for Supervised Fieldwork
- Group supervision at most 50% of supervision
- At least 60% unrestricted hours, within 5 consecutive years
Track observation in minutes now
Observation moves from a count to a duration. A single “observation” logged under the old rules may not show how many minutes it lasted, so it may not prove you met 60 or 90 minutes. Log the minutes your supervisor watched you with a client for every session, starting today.
Fieldwise asks for observed minutes on every supervised session and totals them per month against 60 or 90. Switch between the 2022 and 2027 rule sets anytime to see both.
Use the 2027 forms
If you apply under the 2027 requirements, use the 2027 Monthly Fieldwork Verification Forms. Fieldwise picks the right version from your application date.
Check your months against 2027 rules
Source: BACB, Guidance for Meeting the BCBA Requirements During the 2027 Transition (updated June 2025).