Ethical and Professional Issues
Scope of competence
Provide services only within competence or with appropriate consultation, referral, training, and supervision.
How this shows up in scenario questions
- 1Respond to requests outside training or experience.
- 2Choose collaboration over unsupported intervention.
- 3Identify why behavioral relevance does not equal competence.
Common misconceptions
- All behavior concerns are automatically within scope.
- A familiar procedure can be used for any case.
- Referral means ABA cannot help.
Distractor patterns
- Accept case immediately.
- Use escape extinction without competence or assessment.
- Tell the caregiver ABA is never relevant.
Related terms
competencereferralconsultationsupervision
Related practice prompts
Evaluate treatment integrity before changing a plan.
A BCBA reviews data showing an increase in aggression after a new intervention began. Direct observation shows staff rarely prompt the replacement response and deliver reinforcement inconsistently. What should the BCBA do next?
Respond within scope and seek consultation when competence is limited.
A caregiver asks a BCBA to treat severe feeding refusal. The BCBA has no training or supervised experience with feeding disorders. What is the most appropriate response?
Use behavioral skills training for staff performance deficits.
A technician can describe a discrete-trial teaching procedure but makes errors during live sessions. Which supervision strategy best addresses the performance deficit?