Verified Course Sequence Program
A Verified Course Sequence (VCS) is a set of courses that has been verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International as meeting specific coursework requirements, content hours, and faculty standards.
Behavior Analyst Certification Board
Completion of 5th Edition VCS coursework meets the BACB's coursework eligibility criteria (Pathway 2) for either BCBA or BCaBA examination applications. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.
If seeking BACB certification, please refer to the BACB's website to review the BCBA and BCaBA eligibility requirements and review the respective handbook prior to beginning coursework, fieldwork, and examination applications. Additional information about upcoming changes to certification eligibility and standards are also available on the BACB's website.
VCS Content Hour Requirements for Fifth Edition BACB Examination Applications (Implementation: 2022)
*For the purpose of establishing instructional requirements that can be applied globally, 1 semester credit hour will represent 15 hours of classroom instruction, and 1 quarter credit hour will represent 10 hours of classroom instruction. This conversion is based on US Federal Rule. Note: The above tables, requirements, and information are based on the BACB's BCBA and BCaBA Handbooks.
Important Information About Accreditation, Recognition, and VCS
ABAI accreditation, recognition, and verification are separate designations. Accreditation is a peer-review process guided by standards in which a program completes a comprehensive review of the overall coursework, faculty, research, curriculum, experiential learning, and outcome measures of the overall program. Recognition approximates accreditation and is also a comprehensive review of the training program. Verification indicates that coursework meets the minimum content-hour requirements for eligibility criteria; it is an administrative review process. Programs currently offering a VCS should review ABAI’s Tiered Model of Education to obtain a quality recognition.
Important VCS Update
ABAI and the BACB will discontinue the BACB VCS system on January 1, 2026. At that time, programs offering behavior analytic coursework may continue to do so and students can still use that coursework to apply for the BCBA and BCaBA examinations via Pathway 2, using the BACB’s coursework attestation process. Applicants will need to meet the BACB’s coursework requirements in place at the time they apply. ABAI will continue to accept new 5th Edition VCS applications through January 1, 2024; and will continue to renew and manage VCSs through December 31, 2025. Neither ABAI nor BACB will verify programs under the BACB’s 2027 coursework requirements, as the coursework attestation process will be in effect at that time. Programs planning to meet ABAI’s Tiered Model of Education requirements should refer to ABAI’s Tiered Model standards and resources.
Please see the new and updates page for further details including the ABAI-BACB Joint Announcement about the VCS system.
VCS Outcomes
- Completion of a VCS may not grant completion of a degree; a university or institution awards the degree after all institutional requirements are met.
- Completion of a VCS does not authorize an individual to become certified, licensed, or credentialed. Specific country, state, or third-party requirements must be met.
- Completion of a BACB VCS does not grant approval of an examination application. Each application is reviewed by the BACB and includes additional requirements.
- Completion of a BACB VCS does not award BACB certification. Certificates of completion provided by a program or university are not to be confused with BACB certification.
- Completion of a CBS concentration does not equal a credential. The CBS certificate of completion indicates ABAI has recognized a student's completion of rigorous coursework and specialized training in Culturo-Behavior Science.