BCBA Practice Test

The BCBA exam is for people who have finished an acceptable graduate degree, graduate coursework in behavior analysis and supervised fieldwork, and now need to pass the Behavior Analyst Certification Board exam. This page lists free practice sets for each official content area and walks through worked explanations of sample questions. It also summarizes the exam format and retake rules from the BACB handbook, with links to the source.

BCBA Exam at a Glance

What changed for BCBA in 2026

• Oct 24, 2026: Delivery changed to In person at Pearson VUE test centers (computer-based), English only (previously Computer-based, in person at Pearson VUE test centers; English only).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Eligibility changed to Graduate degree, behavior-analytic coursework, supervised fieldwork (previously Graduate degree, behavior-analytic coursework, supervised fieldwork, passing the exam).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Number of questions changed to 185 questions (175 scored + 10 unscored) (previously 185 multiple-choice questions (175 scored + 10 unscored)).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Score release changed to Immediately on site at the testing center (previously Immediately at the testing center).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Registration deadline changed to Pass within 2 years of application approval (previously Must pass within 2 years of application approval).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Other (update 2026-06-30) changed to Ontario residents can no longer apply for BCBA/BCBA-D certification from June 30, 2026; existing Ontario certificants can keep theirs. (previously From June 30, 2026, Ontario residents can no longer apply for BCBA/BCBA-D certification; existing Ontario certificants can keep theirs.).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Other (update 2027-01-01) changed to Residents of Australia can no longer apply for BACB certification, including the BCBA, from January 1, 2027; existing holders can keep theirs. (previously From January 1, 2027, residents of Australia can no longer apply for BACB certification, including the BCBA.).^[1]
• Jun 30, 2026: Ontario residents can no longer apply for BCBA/BCBA-D certification from June 30, 2026; existing Ontario certificants can keep theirs.^[1]

What the BCBA is and how it works

According to Behavior Analyst Certification Board, “The BCBA examination is 4 hours and consists of 185 multiple-choice questions; 175 scored questions and 10 unscored questions.”^[1]

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) uses the BCBA examination to decide who can be certified as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. To be eligible, you need an acceptable graduate degree from a qualifying institution, acceptable graduate coursework in behavior analysis, and completed supervised fieldwork.

Delivery. Pearson VUE delivers the exam on computer, in person, at authorized testing sites. It is offered only in English. You can test at any time of year, and you get your result on site as soon as you finish.

Format and scoring. You have 4 hours (240 minutes) for 185 multiple-choice questions. 175 are scored and 10 are unscored, and the exam does not tell you which are which. The result is pass or fail. The BACB sets the passing score with the modified Angoff method, so there is no fixed number of correct answers to aim for.

Time limits and retakes. If you are in BACB jurisdiction, you have 2 years from the date your application is approved to pass. You can take the exam up to 8 times within that 2-year period, and you must wait 30 days between attempts. Each retake costs a $140 retake application fee plus a $125 examination appointment fee.

After you pass. BCBAs must earn 32 continuing education units in each 2-year recertification cycle.

Rules can differ by jurisdiction and can change, so check the current BCBA Handbook and the examination information page at bacb.com before you apply or book.

BCBA content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official BCBA content outline published by Behavior Analyst Certification Board, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through BCBA questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which procedure involves the systematic removal of a preferred item or activity contingent on problem behavior?

1. Response cost
2. Time-out from positive reinforcement
3. Overcorrection
4. Extinction

Answer: A. Response cost

Explanation:

Response cost is correct. It removes a specific amount of a reinforcer the person already has, such as a token, a privilege or a preferred item, right after the problem behavior. That is negative punishment by loss of reinforcers.

• Time-out from positive reinforcement removes access to reinforcement for a period of time. The person loses the chance to earn reinforcement rather than losing a set amount of something they hold.
• Overcorrection requires effortful behavior, such as restoring the environment or practicing the correct form repeatedly. Nothing is taken away.
• Extinction stops delivering the reinforcer that maintained the behavior. It is not a removal that follows the behavior as a penalty.

Rule to remember: if something the person already has is taken away, think response cost. If access to reinforcement is paused, think time-out.

Example 2

Question: A BCBA is providing services to a family in a small, rural community. The client's father is the only mechanic in town. The BCBA's car breaks down and requires immediate repair. Which of the following actions is the most appropriate for the BCBA to take to manage this potential multiple relationship?

1. Use the mechanic's services but insist on paying the full, standard rate and document the interaction.
2. Immediately terminate services with the family to avoid any potential conflict of interest.
3. Ask the family for a referral to a mechanic in a different town, even if it is far away.
4. Use the mechanic's services and accept a discount as a professional courtesy.

Answer: A. Use the mechanic's services but insist on paying the full, standard rate and document the interaction.

Explanation:

Using the mechanic, paying the full standard rate and documenting it is correct. The Ethics Code tells behavior analysts to avoid multiple relationships when they can. In a small community some contact may be unavoidable, so the job is to keep it limited, transparent and free of any benefit to the analyst.

• Ending services right away harms the client to solve a problem the analyst can manage. Ending services abruptly is itself an ethical concern.
• Driving to a mechanic far away may be impractical in an urgent repair, and asking the family for a referral still involves them in the analyst's personal affairs.
• Accepting a discount is a gift that creates a conflict of interest.

Rule to remember: when a multiple relationship cannot be avoided, take no special benefit, keep the terms ordinary and document the circumstances.

Example 3

Question: When a problem behavior has been targeted for reduction or elimination, the behavior analyst must always include a(n) ________ in the intervention plan.

1. Replacement behavior
2. Appropriate response
3. Pivotal behavior
4. Performance criterion

Answer: A. Replacement behavior

Explanation:

Replacement behavior is correct. Reducing a behavior without teaching an alternative leaves the person's need unmet, so the problem behavior or a similar one tends to come back. A replacement behavior should serve the same function, for example asking for a break instead of hitting to escape a task, and should be easier to perform and more reliably reinforced.

• Appropriate response is too vague. It does not specify that the new behavior must meet the same function.
• Pivotal behavior is a behavior that produces wide changes in other behaviors. It is useful in skill-building but is not a requirement of every reduction plan.
• Performance criterion is a mastery or goal standard, not something taught in place of the problem behavior.

Rule to remember: every reduction plan should name a functionally equivalent replacement behavior.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Download the current BCBA Handbook and the BACB content outline from bacb.com. Read the outline area by area so you know what each domain covers before you practice it.

Take a baseline. Try a short run from each practice set in the table above without notes. Record your accuracy by content area, not just your overall score. That shows you where your errors are concentrated.

Work your weakest areas in short blocks. For every question you miss, write down why the right answer is right and why your choice was wrong. Concepts and principles, behavior-change procedures and ethics scenarios reward this kind of error review, because similar wording comes back with small changes.

Mix the areas once accuracy improves. The real exam does not group questions by topic, so start mixing sets so you have to identify the topic as well as answer the question.

Practice under exam conditions. Before test day, sit a long mixed session timed against the 4-hour limit, so you learn to pace yourself across 185 questions and recover from hard items without losing time.

Check the logistics. Confirm your Pearson VUE appointment, ID rules and testing-site policies in the handbook ahead of time.

Sources & last verified

1. Behavior Analyst Certification Board — number of questions, time limit, passing score, retake fee (official source). “The BCBA examination is 4 hours and consists of 185 multiple-choice questions; 175 scored questions and 10 unscored questions.” Verified Oct 24, 2026.
2. Behavior Analyst Certification Board — delivery (official source). “The BACB contracts with Pearson VUE to deliver BACB examinations in person at authorized Pearson VUE testing sites.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 25, 2026.
3. Behavior Analyst Certification Board — other (official source). “behaviorism and philosophical foundations 8 5%” Verified Oct 28, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.