BCAT Ethical and Professional Practices 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a BCAT technician is unsure whether a client's behavior warrants crisis intervention, the best action is to:
- Use their best judgment and implement a restrictive procedure
- Contact the client's parents for guidance
- Consult the behavior intervention plan and contact the supervising BCBA (Correct answer)
- Document the behavior and address it at the next scheduled supervision meeting
Correct answer: Consult the behavior intervention plan and contact the supervising BCBA
Crisis decisions must be guided by the behavior intervention plan and direct communication with the supervising BCBA when uncertainty exists.
Question 2: Which behavior reflects an appropriate professional boundary for a BCAT technician working in a client's home?
- Sharing personal social media profiles with the client's family
- Eating meals with the family during sessions to build rapport
- Keeping interactions focused on the therapeutic goals outlined in the BIP (Correct answer)
- Accepting rides home from the family after sessions
Correct answer: Keeping interactions focused on the therapeutic goals outlined in the BIP
Maintaining therapeutic focus and limiting personal involvement protects the professional relationship and client outcomes.
Question 3: A client's parent insists that the technician implement a home remedy instead of the approved behavior plan. The technician should:
- Follow the parent's request to respect family autonomy
- Implement both approaches simultaneously to satisfy all parties
- Explain that they must follow the approved plan and relay the parent's concerns to the BCBA (Correct answer)
- Document the disagreement but comply to avoid conflict
Correct answer: Explain that they must follow the approved plan and relay the parent's concerns to the BCBA
Technicians must follow the approved behavior intervention plan while ensuring parental concerns are communicated to the supervising BCBA.
Question 4: Social media use is a professional concern for BCAT technicians because:
- Clients may use the same platforms and see personal content
- Employers routinely monitor technicians' social media accounts
- Posting about clients or sharing identifying information violates confidentiality (Correct answer)
- Professional certification boards prohibit the use of social media entirely
Correct answer: Posting about clients or sharing identifying information violates confidentiality
Sharing any details about clients on social media, even without names, can violate confidentiality and professional ethical standards.
Question 5: A BCAT technician experiences burnout and begins skipping session documentation. This is most directly a violation of:
- The principle of beneficence
- The technician's professional duty to maintain accurate records (Correct answer)
- The client's right to receive ABA therapy
- The employer's attendance policy
Correct answer: The technician's professional duty to maintain accurate records
Accurate and timely documentation is a core professional responsibility, and neglecting it compromises client care regardless of the reason.
Question 6: If a BCAT technician suspects that a colleague is impaired by substances during a session, the most appropriate immediate action is to:
- Confront the colleague directly during the session
- Continue working and address the concern at the end of the day
- Remove the client from harm's way and immediately notify a supervisor (Correct answer)
- Document the observations and submit a written complaint later
Correct answer: Remove the client from harm's way and immediately notify a supervisor
Client safety is the immediate priority, requiring the technician to protect the client and alert a supervisor without delay.
Question 7: The concept of 'informed consent' in ABA practice means that:
- Clients must agree to participate in every individual session activity
- Families are provided sufficient information about the treatment plan to make a voluntary decision (Correct answer)
- Technicians must obtain written permission before taking data during sessions
- A legal guardian signs a general release form at the time of admission
Correct answer: Families are provided sufficient information about the treatment plan to make a voluntary decision
Informed consent requires that caregivers receive clear, complete information about treatment goals and procedures so they can make a voluntary, educated decision.
BCAT Ethical and Professional Practices 4
When a BCAT technician is unsure whether a client's behavior warrants crisis intervention, the best action is to: