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.
During a home program, parent asks the BCBA to act quickly even though the requirement related to core ethics-code principles is directly relevant. What is the most appropriate response? The case file includes 8 recent sessions, 5 implementers, and 1 setting.
Key clue: The clue is the combination of caregiver notes plus one direct observation, dropping to the floor when demands are presented, and the required task: Core ethics-code principles. The case file includes 8 recent sessions, 5 implementers, and 1 setting.
Risks of unethical behavior: Risks and prevention of unethical behavior.
A BCBA notices a service decision may create an ethical risk involving job coach and risks of unethical behavior. Which action is best? The case file includes 9 recent sessions, 5 implementers, and 1 setting.
Key clue: The clue is the combination of duration data showing long pauses after feedback, stopping work after corrective feedback, and the required task: Risks of unethical behavior. The case file includes 9 recent sessions, 5 implementers, and 1 setting.
Competence through professional development: Scope of competence.
During a community outing, care team asks the BCBA to act quickly even though the requirement related to competence through professional development is directly relevant. What is the most appropriate response? The case file includes 10 recent sessions, 5 implementers, and 1 setting.
Key clue: The clue is the combination of ABC data from three outings, grabbing preferred items, and the required task: Competence through professional development. The case file includes 10 recent sessions, 5 implementers, and 1 setting.
Confidential-information requirements: Confidentiality and consent.
A BCBA notices a service decision may create an ethical risk involving caregiver and confidential-information requirements. Which action is best? The case file includes 11 recent sessions, 5 implementers, and 1 setting.
Key clue: The clue is the combination of parent report that conflicts with recent session data, repeating questions after instructions, and the required task: Confidential-information requirements. The case file includes 11 recent sessions, 5 implementers, and 1 setting.
Public statements and professional representation: Confidentiality and consent.
During a clinic session, caregiver asks the BCBA to act quickly even though the requirement related to public statements and professional representation is directly relevant. What is the most appropriate response? The case file includes 12 recent sessions, 5 implementers, and 1 setting.
Key clue: The clue is the combination of four sessions of stable baseline data followed by two overlapping intervention points, leaving the instructional area, and the required task: Public statements and professional representation. The case file includes 12 recent sessions, 5 implementers, and 1 setting.
Discontinuing services and transitions: Scope of competence.
A BCBA notices a service decision may create an ethical risk involving teacher and discontinuing services and transitions. Which action is best? The case file includes 2 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 2 settings.
Key clue: The clue is the combination of frequency data that vary from 3 to 11 responses per session, calling out during independent work, and the required task: Discontinuing services and transitions. The case file includes 2 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 2 settings.
Multiple relationships and risk mitigation: Risks and prevention of unethical behavior.
During a home program, parent asks the BCBA to act quickly even though the requirement related to multiple relationships and risk mitigation is directly relevant. What is the most appropriate response? The case file includes 3 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 2 settings.
Key clue: The clue is the combination of caregiver notes plus one direct observation, dropping to the floor when demands are presented, and the required task: Multiple relationships and risk mitigation. The case file includes 3 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 2 settings.
Interpersonal skills for professional relationships: Scope of competence.
A BCBA notices a service decision may create an ethical risk involving job coach and interpersonal skills for professional relationships. Which action is best? The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 2 settings.
Key clue: The clue is the combination of duration data showing long pauses after feedback, stopping work after corrective feedback, and the required task: Interpersonal skills for professional relationships. The case file includes 4 recent sessions, 1 implementer, and 2 settings.