BCBA: test day and accommodations
BACB sets the rules for this exam and Pearson VUE delivers it. This sheet lists what their pages say, each with the day we read it. If a rule matters to you, open the linked page and confirm it before you book, because owners change rules without notice.
This exam is given in English only.
Owner: Behavior Analyst Certification Board; delivered by Pearson VUE · Read: · Source: BCBA Handbook (BACB)
Asking for an accommodation
This summarizes the process the owner or vendor describes. It is not a legal or medical opinion and it does not say who qualifies. Questions about your own situation go to the owner or vendor.
- How to ask for an accommodation
You complete the BACB Examination Accommodation Request Form and upload it with your documentation when you complete the certification application in your BACB portal. The BACB reviews it. The BACB points to the Americans with Disabilities Act or a comparable law in your country.
Read . Source: BACB BCBA Handbook, updated June 2026. Source: BACB examination information.
- Approval before you book
Yes. The handbook says not to try to schedule the exam until you receive an email with the status of your accommodation request and instructions on how to schedule.
- How long review takes
The BACB says review typically takes 10 to 14 days. Requests for more documentation can take longer.
Read . Source: BACB BCBA Handbook, updated June 2026. Source: BACB examination information.
- Documents the owner asks for
The form plus documentation from a qualified professional such as a physician, school official, licensed psychiatrist or licensed psychologist. The documentation must identify the disability and state the accommodation needed. The BACB lists official letters, test result reports and records of past accommodations such as an IEP as examples.
On the day
- ID
Bring one valid, original government-issued ID with your signature and a recognizable photo, not a photocopy or digital ID. The first and last name must match your BACB portal account exactly; any difference stops admission and the fees are forfeited.
- Arrival and check-in
The handbook advises arriving about 30 minutes before the appointment for check-in, which includes ID verification, agreeing to testing center rules, a palm vein scan and a photo. It also says that arriving later than 30 minutes after the appointment time gets you turned away with the scheduling fee forfeited. Check-in is in English only.
- Not allowed in the room
No personal belongings in the testing room. Not permitted: cameras, phones, recording devices, watches, notes and reference materials, bags, scratch paper, calculators, rulers, food and drink, and visitors. A dry-erase board is provided, and earplugs are available on request.
- Online proctoring
Not offered. The BACB says its exams are delivered in person at authorized Pearson VUE testing sites.
- Changing or cancelling
No fee to cancel or reschedule 30 or more days before the appointment; $59 from 30 to 5 days before; $69 from 5 days to 48 hours before; within 48 hours you cannot cancel or reschedule and no refund is issued. You do it in your Pearson VUE account.
See also exam versions and the cost over three years.
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.
DecipherU is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by BACB and Pearson VUE. Names and marks belong to their owners. This page is a plain-language summary of public pages, not their own text and not advice.
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.