Domain E
BCBA ethics practice questions for professional judgment scenarios
Ethics items often look like ordinary clinical decisions, but the best answer usually depends on scope, consent, documentation, supervision, client rights, or risk.
Common ethics distractor patterns
- Acting before checking competence, consent, or supervision needs.
- Choosing the most forceful intervention before confirming assessment and data.
- Treating stakeholder preference as enough when documentation or client rights matter.
- Ignoring the difference between clinical judgment and professional boundary decisions.
Ethics questions to review first
Distractor patternsCore ethics-code principles: Scope of competence.
A funding coordinator asks the BCBA to alter a progress summary so the case appears to meet a payer's continuation rule, saying the client will lose services otherwise. The file includes 2 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the caregiver. The BCBA should:
Key clue: A funding coordinator asks the BCBA to alter a progress summary so the case appears to meet a payer's continuation rule, saying the client will lose services otherwise. The file includes 2 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the caregiver. The BCBA should:
Risks of unethical behavior: Risks and prevention of unethical behavior.
A supervisor notices that a BCBA is accepting favors from a client's family and then assigning that client extra appointment times over others with similar need. The file includes 3 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the teacher. The BCBA should:
Key clue: A supervisor notices that a BCBA is accepting favors from a client's family and then assigning that client extra appointment times over others with similar need. The file includes 3 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the teacher. The BCBA should:
Competence through professional development: Scope of competence.
A family asks the BCBA to design a feeding protocol, but the BCBA has not been trained or supervised in feeding intervention. Services are delayed and the family is frustrated. The file includes 4 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the clinic director. The BCBA should:
Key clue: A family asks the BCBA to design a feeding protocol, but the BCBA has not been trained or supervised in feeding intervention. Services are delayed and the family is frustrated. The file includes 4 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the clinic director. The BCBA should:
Confidential-information requirements: Confidentiality and consent.
A clinic director wants to show a recording of a client's session during a staff meeting that includes employees who are not on the authorization. The file includes 5 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the payer representative. The BCBA should:
Key clue: A clinic director wants to show a recording of a client's session during a staff meeting that includes employees who are not on the authorization. The file includes 5 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the payer representative. The BCBA should:
Public statements and professional representation: Confidentiality and consent.
A local news reporter asks the BCBA to describe a client's dramatic progress and wants a few session details to make the story convincing. The file includes 6 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the supervisee. The BCBA should:
Key clue: A local news reporter asks the BCBA to describe a client's dramatic progress and wants a few session details to make the story convincing. The file includes 6 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the supervisee. The BCBA should:
Discontinuing services and transitions: Scope of competence.
A payer stops authorizing sessions next month. The team wants to tell the family on the final day and close the case immediately. The file includes 2 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the caregiver. The BCBA should:
Key clue: A payer stops authorizing sessions next month. The team wants to tell the family on the final day and close the case immediately. The file includes 2 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the caregiver. The BCBA should:
Multiple relationships and risk mitigation: Risks and prevention of unethical behavior.
A caregiver offers the BCBA a paid weekend tutoring job for the client's sibling and says it will help the family stay engaged with services. The file includes 3 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the teacher. The BCBA should:
Key clue: A caregiver offers the BCBA a paid weekend tutoring job for the client's sibling and says it will help the family stay engaged with services. The file includes 3 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the teacher. The BCBA should:
Interpersonal skills for professional relationships: Scope of competence.
During a team meeting, a BCBA becomes frustrated and sends a sarcastic message blaming the teacher for a client's lack of progress. The file includes 4 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the clinic director. The BCBA should:
Key clue: During a team meeting, a BCBA becomes frustrated and sends a sarcastic message blaming the teacher for a client's lack of progress. The file includes 4 related notes from service week 10, and the request came from the clinic director. The BCBA should: