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Selection, Training, and Supervision of Behavior Technicians

• Behavior Technicians should receive specific, formal training before providing treatment. One
way to ensure such training is through the Registered Behavior Technician credential.

• Case assignment should match the needs of the client with the skill level and experience of the Behavior Technician. Before working with a client, the Behavior Technician must be sufficiently prepared to deliver the treatment protocols. This includes a review by the Behavior Analyst of the client’s history, current treatment programs, behavior reduction protocols, data collection procedures, etc.

• Caseloads for the Behavior Technician are determined by the:
– complexity of the cases
– experience and skills of the Behavior Technician
– number of hours per week the Behavior Technician is employed
– intensity of hours of therapy the client is receiving

• Quality of implementation (treatment integrity checks) should be monitored on an ongoing basis. This should be more frequent for new staff, when a new client is assigned, or when a client has challenging behaviors or complex treatment protocols are involved.

• Behavior Technicians should receive supervision and clinical direction on treatment protocols on a weekly basis for complex cases or monthly for more routine cases. This activity may be in client briefings with other members of the treatment team including the supervising Behavior Analyst, or individually, and with or without the client present. The frequency and format should be dictated by an analysis of the treatment needs of the client to make optimal progress.

• Although hiring qualifications and initial training are important, there must be ongoing observation, training, and direction to maintain