Application date controls
Fieldwork must meet the requirements in place when the certification application is submitted. BACB advises uncertain candidates to plan for both sets of rules.
Transition guide checked August 2, 2026
BCBA fieldwork requirements for 2027: the rules your monthly log must prove
The total remains 2,000 supervised hours or 1,500 concentrated hours. That familiar headline hides the real transition: 2027 changes the monthly maximum, lowers the concentrated supervision percentage, measures client observation in minutes, and requires forms that match the rules in force when you apply.
Fieldwork acceptability depends on the complete BACB requirements and the application date. Do not change, recreate, or backdate records based on a summary page. Review the official guide with the responsible supervisor.
Source policyQuick facts for search and AI answers
The short answer for candidates accruing hours during the 2026-to-2027 transition.
2027 monthly limits
Both fieldwork types allow 20-160 hours per month; supervision is 5% for supervised fieldwork and 7.5% for concentrated fieldwork.
2027 observations
Client observations become duration-based: 60 minutes per month for supervised fieldwork and 90 minutes for concentrated fieldwork.
2022 versus 2027: the differences that affect a monthly record
Total qualifying hours
2022: 2,000 supervised or 1,500 concentrated. 2027: 2,000 supervised or 1,500 concentrated. The headline totals do not change. The monthly rules and documentation do.
Supervision percentage
2022: 5% supervised; 10% concentrated. 2027: 5% supervised; 7.5% concentrated. A 7.5% concentrated month can satisfy 2027 but not the 10% threshold for a 2022 application.
Hours per month
2022: 20-130. 2027: 20-160. Hours above 130 may count in 2027 but cannot simply be carried into a 2022 application.
Client observation
2022: At least one observation each month. 2027: 60 minutes supervised; 90 minutes concentrated. The 2027 rule tracks duration, so a brief monthly contact may not be enough.
The safest transition strategy is to preserve both options
A candidate who expects to apply in December 2026 can still be pushed into 2027 by an unfinished degree, missing transcript, fieldwork correction, or other incomplete requirement. BACB therefore recommends that candidates with uncertain timing meet both sets of fieldwork requirements and complete both sets of monthly forms.
“Meet both” has a concrete meaning. For concentrated fieldwork, using 10% supervision satisfies both thresholds; using 7.5% satisfies only the 2027 threshold. Staying at or below 130 hours preserves both monthly maximums. Recording observation count and duration preserves evidence for the one-contact rule and the 60- or 90-minute rule. This is planning, not permission to relabel a month after the fact.
A seven-point monthly audit
- 1Record actual fieldwork hours, fieldwork type, restricted and unrestricted activity, and supervision contacts as the month occurs.
- 2Track both the number of client observations and their duration in minutes if the application could fall on either side of January 1, 2027.
- 3Calculate supervision percentage before the verification form is signed; do not infer it later from calendar entries.
- 4Confirm that at least half of supervised hours were individual supervision and that at least 60% of total fieldwork remains unrestricted under the 2027 requirements.
- 5Use the M-FVF that matches the requirements being documented. When timing is uncertain, BACB recommends completing both 2022 and 2027 M-FVFs.
- 6Have the M-FVF signed by the last day of the calendar month following the month of supervision.
- 7Keep the signed form, contract, hour log, observation detail, and supporting documentation in both the trainee's and supervisor's records for at least seven years.
Monthly forms, final forms, and the documentation behind them
The M-FVF is a monthly attestation, not the entire documentation system. BACB's April 2026 documentation guidance says the underlying system should support the entries and should be organized with an audit in mind. Both trainee and supervisor retain relevant records. The monthly form must be signed by the end of the calendar month following the month of supervision.
The F-FVF closes a supervision relationship or completed fieldwork experience and is the form ordinarily submitted with the application. When the application date is uncertain, the transition guide recommends completing both the 2022 and 2027 final forms. Monthly forms usually stay in the records, but BACB may request them, contracts, logs, and other supporting evidence during an audit.
Four mistakes a spreadsheet total will not reveal
- A month exceeds the applicable cap. The lifetime total can look correct while some hours cannot be counted.
- Observation is logged as “yes.” A 2027 review needs minutes, not only proof that contact occurred.
- Concentrated hours are converted on the form. BACB guidance says verification forms record actual hours; the multiplier is used for progress calculations.
- One party owns the only copy. Both trainee and supervisor are responsible for retaining relevant documentation.
Official sources used for this guide
Frequently asked questions
How many BCBA fieldwork hours are required in 2027?
The 2027 requirements retain 2,000 hours for supervised fieldwork or 1,500 hours for concentrated supervised fieldwork. Candidates may combine types according to BACB rules, but the monthly and documentation requirements still apply.
What supervision percentage is required for concentrated BCBA fieldwork in 2027?
The 2027 concentrated requirement is 7.5% of fieldwork hours in each supervisory period. The current 2022 requirement is 10%, so a month at 7.5% cannot be treated as concentrated fieldwork under the 2022 rules.
Do I need both 2022 and 2027 Monthly Fieldwork Verification Forms?
If you are uncertain whether the application will be submitted before or after January 1, 2027, BACB recommends completing and retaining both sets of M-FVFs each month while meeting both sets of requirements.
Are Monthly Fieldwork Verification Forms submitted with the BCBA application?
Normally the final form is submitted with the application, while monthly forms and supporting records are retained and may be requested in an audit. Both trainee and supervisor must keep the required records.
Can a 2022 client observation automatically count under the 2027 rules?
Not necessarily. The 2022 rule focuses on at least one observation per month; the 2027 rule requires 60 minutes for supervised fieldwork or 90 minutes for concentrated fieldwork. Records need duration, not only a checkmark that an observation occurred.
Content quality note
Last content update August 2, 2026Published by Bifang Studio
Bifang Studio's internal editorial workflow maintains this content with automated structure, coverage, and consistency checks. External BCBA review status is not_reviewed; the checks do not certify clinical quality or exam validity.
Source boundary
Checked against the BACB's January 2026 transition guide, 2027 BCBA requirements, April 2026 fieldwork documentation FAQs, and current BCBA resource page.
How to use this page
General educational explanation only. It does not validate fieldwork, calculate countable hours, replace supervision, or determine which records the BACB will accept.