E-12: Identify and apply the legal, regulatory, and practice requirements (e.g., licensure, jurisprudence, funding, certification) relevant to the delivery of behavior-analytic services ©
Our downloadable PDF review guides have an expanded Ethics section, including the full Ethics Code items, along with multiple ethical decision making models. Click here!
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Target Terms: behavior analysis service delivery, legal requirements, regulatory requirements
Definition: There’s a lot to know when working as a behavior analyst! Laws and regulations will apply to us based on our location (e.g. state of Arkansas) and our setting (e.g. inpatient pediatric psychiatric hospital). The requirements for our credentialing will also depend on where we are practicing. Some USA states require state-specific licensure in addition to board certification. This may involve a jurisprudence exam or other competence check, which refers to practice-specific laws within the jurisdiction. Depending on how our services are being funded, we may need to demonstrate specific qualifications to each funder (such as an insurance carrier). Also, please note that certain laws and rules that apply to us may not be specifically about behavior analysis at all! A common example is the law regulating the use of restraint/seclusion.
How do I figure out what applies to me?? Please make sure you have high quality supervision from a knowledgable mentor who is established and doing the same work you want to do. Additionally, state/country/territory specific ABA groups and licensing boards are valuable resources.
Please note some super important FAQs about the Ethics part of the TCO:
Is the Ethics Code part of the Task List or Test Content Outline? Well..not really. Unlike the rest of the TCO, which is its “own thing,” Part E is really a highlight reel of a separate and longer document. That document is called the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts (link here). Remember that the TCO reflects the parts of the Ethics Code that will show up on the certification exam.
If I go through the TCO items in section E, do I really need to read the actual code? Seems long and boring. YES, you totally and absolutely DO need to read the entire Ethics Code for our profession. Prepping to be a professional is not just about passing a test.
How do I interpret the Ethics Code in specific situations? That’s not for us to tell you. The ethics sections were trickier for us to put together than the other items in the review section. That’s because the items having to do with the science of behavior are straightforward, in a factual sense. Ethics codes are subject to interpretation, cultural influence, and changes over time. We have done our best to help you understand without telling you what to think. Our best advice? Become familiar with ethical problem solving models, and talk to colleagues, supervisors, and mentors.