BCBA: what it costs over three years
With no retakes, the fees listed below add up to $585 over the first three years. Each line shows who sets the fee and the day we read it.
Cost over the first three years
| Fee | Each | Times | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| BACB certification application (once) BACB, read . BACB BCBA Handbook, updated June 2026. BACB fees are nonrefundable. | $245 | 1 | $245 |
| Exam appointment (paid to Pearson VUE) (each attempt) BACB, read . BACB BCBA Handbook, updated June 2026 | $125 | 1 | $125 |
| Recertification application (every 2 years) (when due) BACB, read . BACB BCBA Handbook, updated June 2026. $290 for a BCBA-D. | $215 | 1 | $215 |
| Total | $585 | ||
Your numbers
Type the fee you pay, how many attempts you want to plan for and the date of the first one. The page does the arithmetic with the owner's wait. Nothing you type is saved or sent. This shows what you would pay and wait if every attempt but the last did not pass. It does not say how likely that is.
- Attempt 1, fee $125
- Attempt 2: wait 30 days after the last one, fee $265
2 attempts: fees add up to $390, and the waits add up to 30 days.
BACB: In BACB jurisdiction you have two years from the date your application is approved to pass. In that time you may take the exam up to 8 times, at least 30 days apart. Each retake needs a new $140 retake application and a new $125 Pearson VUE appointment fee. After 8 attempts you wait until the two years end before you can reapply. Read October 18, 2026. Owner page. Confirm BCBA fees and waits on the owner page before you pay.
How the total is built
The total is the sum of the lines above for the first three years after you pass. Fees that repeat for each attempt are paid again for each retake you choose. Fees that fall due on a cycle are counted when they fall due inside the three years. Course and study costs, travel and state fees we do not list are not included. Fees change, so confirm each on the owner page before you pay.
See also exam change dates.
Free BCBA practice is on its practice page, with right or wrong on every answer. The full analysis is $39 once, with a 30-day full refund. Open BCBA practice.
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Verify fees, deadlines and requirements with the issuing authority before you rely on them. Rules change, and this page may be out of date.
Educational information only. It is not professional, legal, financial, medical or licensing advice.