Mary Jessup, Behavioral Specialist for Floyd County Schools, recently completed testing requirements for certification as a Behavior Analyst (BCBA) from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.  The certification board, supported by the Association for Behavior Analysis International has specific criteria for accreditation which includes at least a Masters degree, additional coursework and supervision in applied behavior analysis, and successful completion of a credentialing examination.  The Behavior Analyst Certification Board is the only credentialing organization for Behavior Analyst. 

 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a natural science in which strategies derived from the principles of behaviorism and experimental analysis of behavior are applied systematically to improve socially significant behavior.  In a classroom setting, the focus of ABA is discovering variables that reliably influence student behavior and developing appropriate strategies for use by the teacher to improve learning and social development. Applied Behavior Analysis has been recognized as the intervention of choice for early intervention for autism, responding to challenging behavior, classroom management, and effective instructional practices.