Northern Star Behaviour Services

Not All Behaviour Support Is the Same: Here’s Why BCBA-Led ABA Matters

When families begin looking for support for their child with autism or developmental needs, they often see many titles used: behaviour therapist, behaviour aide, behaviour specialist, behaviour consultant*. It can be confusing to know what the difference is.

One credential that truly stands out in the field is the BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst).

A BCBA is an internationally certified professional who has completed:
• A master’s degree in behaviour analysis or a related field
• 2000 supervised clinical hours
• A rigorous board examination
• Ongoing ethics and continuing education requirements

In Alberta, BCBAs are still relatively rare (less than 100 in the province!), which means many programs are led by professionals with varying levels of training. While many individuals work very hard to support children, the BCBA credential represents the highest standard of training in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) one can attain.

So what does this mean for families?

ABA is one of the most researched and evidence-based approaches for supporting children with autism and developmental challenges. When designed and supervised by a BCBA, ABA programs focus on:

• Teaching meaningful communication skills
• Building independence in daily living
• Developing social and play skills
• Reducing behaviours that interfere with learning
• Helping children succeed in home, school, and community environments

BCBAs are trained to carefully assess a child’s strengths and needs, design individualized programs, measure progress through data, and adjust strategies so that children continue moving forward.

At the heart of ABA is something simple but powerful: skills can be taught when learning is structured, individualized, and reinforced in the right ways.

For many families, having a BCBA guiding their child’s program means confidence that decisions are based on science, data, and years of specialized training. At Northern Star, all teams are supervised and guided by a BCBA🌟

As more families in Edmonton and surrounding communities look for effective supports, access to BCBA-led services is becoming increasingly important and we are proud to be part of growing that capacity in our community.

If you’re curious about how ABA may support your child, we’re always happy to answer questions and help families better understand their options.

When life threw us all a scheduling curveball, we practiced catching it with flexibility and grace during the teacher strike.

Proud of our clients (and staff!) for turning the break into success stories 🌟

Examples of social skills using ABA:
- Accepting unpredictability (we see you, Ker-Plunk, IYKYK)
- Social greetings
- Appropriate social talk
- Encouraging our friends
- Acceptance of losing a game
- Understanding when to take breaks
- Tolerating support from alternative adults

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