Verified Course Sequences & CBS Concentration
The VCS system is sunsetting on December 31, 2025. ABAI is no longer accepting NEW BACB VCS applications as of January 1, 2025.
Check the newspage for additional information.
Update: Individuals applying for BCBA and BCaBA credentials via Pathway 2, beginning January 1, 2026, will use the BACB’s newly developed coursework attestation process. Applicants will need to meet the eligibility requirements that are in effect at the time of their application. Please refer to the BACB's website for eligibility requirements and upcoming changes to BACB examination eligibility.
Important Information About Accreditation, Recognition, and VCS
A Verified Course Sequence (VCS) is a set of courses that has been verified by ABAI as meeting specific coursework requirements, content hours, and faculty. The VCS status indicates that a training program offers the minimum coursework required for certification eligibility; it does not indicate any quality measures of the program.
An institution may offer a VCS embedded within a degree program, as a stand-alone sequence (certificate program), or both. A VCS may offer coursework at the undergraduate or graduate level. Some programs may elect to further separate VCS programs by masters- and doctoral-level coursework.
ABAI accreditation (Tier 1), recognition (Tiers 2a-4b), and verification are separate designations. The VCS (verification) status and logo are not "seals of approval" and do not provide indication of a quality training program; only ABAI-accreditation and ABAI-recognition statuses and logos communicate to the public that the programs have undergone a quality review process.
Potential students should consider many factors when choosing a graduate program. Factors such as cost, location, size, and faculty may be provided by the program. Program quality should also be considered; currently, ABAI-accreditation and recognition (i.e. ABAI's Tiered Model of Education) are the only established, peer-review quality designations for behavior analysis training programs. The BACB publishes university examination pass rate data on their website, which may provide one indicator of quality, though it is not always indicative of rigor.
Concentration
A concentration is a set of courses and experiential learning in a specific area of behavior analysis. The concentration has been reviewed and verified by ABAI as meeting a focused area of content area and hours, including rigorous competencies, and a specialized area of faculty standards.
The Culturo-Behavior Science concentration may be offered within a degree program and only at the graduate level. Some programs may elect to separate the concentration by masters- and doctoral-level training. Please note that ABAI will continue to offer the CBS concentration beyond the VCS sunset.
Program Types
ABAI's VCS program indicates the courses satisfy the current BACB's coursework requirements for the BCBA examination applications via Pathway 2. ABAI-accredited (Tier 1) and recognized (Tiers 2a and 2b) programs satisfy the Pathway 1 degree and coursework requirements at the BCBA level. ABAI-accredited (Tier 1) programs satisfy the Pathway 1 degree and coursework requirements at the BCaBA level. New coursework requirements for Pathway 2 applications for BCBA and BCaBA eligibility take effect January 1, 2027. Please refer to the BACB's website for eligibility requirements and upcoming changes to BACB examination eligibility.
ABAI's concentration program indicates completion of the coursework and experiential learning satisfies the requirements for a certificate of completion in Culturo-Behavior Science from ABAI.
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| Verification of the 5th Edition BACB course sequence meets the current eligibility criteria for either BCBA Pathway 2 or BCaBA Pathway 2 coursework requirements as part of the application for BACB examinations. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can apply for examination. |
Verification of the concentration meets eligibility criteria for a certificate of completion in Culturo-Behavior Science studies from the Association for Behavior Analysis International. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they earn the certificate.
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Concentration Outcomes
- Completion of an ABAI CBS Concentration may not grant completion of a degree; a university or institution awards the degree after all institutional requirements are met.
- Completion of a ABAI CBS Concentration does not equal a credential. The CBS certificate of completion indicates ABAI has recognized a student's completion of rigorous coursework and specialized training in Culturo-Behavior Science.