Common Mistakes New BCBAs Make (and How to Avoid Them!)
Heyyy BCBA Ruby Here,
Becoming a new BCBA is exciting—but let’s be real, it can also be terrifying. You go from being a supervisee with constant guidance to suddenly being the person responsible for making clinical decisions. It’s a huge shift, and mistakes? They’re bound to happen. But the good news? You can learn from them!
Here are some common mistakes new BCBAs make (and how to avoid them):
🚩 1. Trying to Do Everything Alone
When you first get certified, it can feel like you need to prove yourself. But here’s the thing—you’re not supposed to know everything yet. ABA is a lifelong learning process.
✅ How to Avoid It: Lean on your mentors, collaborate with other BCBAs, and never be afraid to ask questions. The best clinicians are the ones who keep learning!
🚩 2. Writing Overly Complicated Programs
It’s tempting to create detailed, complex treatment plans with every possible intervention included. But if a plan is too overwhelming for RBTs (or parents) to follow, it’s not effective.
✅ How to Avoid It: Keep your programs clear, practical, and achievable. Make sure interventions are easy to implement and prioritize what’s most important for the client’s progress.
🚩 3. Ignoring the Importance of Rapport
Just because you’re the BCBA doesn’t mean your clients or staff will automatically trust you. If you jump straight into data and programming without building relationships, you’ll struggle with buy-in.
✅ How to Avoid It: Take time to connect with your clients, parents, and RBTs. A strong foundation of trust makes interventions (and teamwork) way more effective.
🚩 4. Not Prioritizing Ethics from Day One
Some new BCBAs feel pressure to “bend the rules” to keep parents, employers, or funding sources happy. But your ethical code is non-negotiable. Cutting corners now can lead to major consequences later.
✅ How to Avoid It: Read and understand the BACB Ethics Code inside and out. If something feels off, consult with other BCBAs or reach out to an ethics board.
🚩 5. Poor Time Management
Between writing reports, supervising RBTs, attending meetings, and handling parent concerns, your schedule can get out of control FAST. Many new BCBAs burn themselves out trying to do it all.
✅ How to Avoid It: Set boundaries early. Schedule dedicated report-writing time, stick to a manageable caseload, and don’t be afraid to say no when necessary.
🚩 6. Overlooking the Importance of Staff Training
RBTs are the ones implementing your programs every day—so if they’re not trained well, your interventions won’t be effective. New BCBAs sometimes assume staff will “figure it out,” but that’s a huge mistake.
✅ How to Avoid It: Prioritize ongoing training and feedback. Model interventions, provide clear expectations, and make sure your team feels supported.
🚩 7. Taking Parent Pushback Personally
Parents might question your recommendations, challenge your approach, or even get frustrated with you. It’s easy to feel defensive—but remember, they’re advocating for their child.
✅ How to Avoid It: Listen to their concerns, educate them on the reasoning behind your decisions, and collaborate. You’re on the same team!
🚩 8. Expecting Instant Progress
Not every client will make rapid progress, and that’s okay. New BCBAs sometimes feel discouraged when interventions don’t work right away, but behavior change takes time.
✅ How to Avoid It: Stay patient, data-driven, and flexible. If something isn’t working, analyze the data and adjust your approach as needed.
Final Thoughts
Making mistakes as a new BCBA is completely normal—it’s part of the learning process! What matters is how you grow from them. Stay humble, stay curious, and most importantly, never stop learning.
Are you a new BCBA? What challenges have you faced so far? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear from you! 💬
