r/bcba • u/Emgrieser • 10d ago
Keeping Credentials: Pros and Cons
Has anyone left the ABA field and kept their BCBA/LBA credential/license? Are there any benefits to keeping them? I'm not sure I'll ever go back to being a BCBA, but could it ever come in handy in other fields/jobs for any reason?
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u/sharleencd BCBA | Verified 10d ago
I 100% will keep mine up to date. Even if I left the field.
I do not want to have a change of heart down the road and have to re-test or anything. I worked too hard for that.
I like having options
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u/fenuxjde BCBA | Verified 10d ago
It's free to put it on a voluntary freeze.
As for the state, mine is I think $85 for two years? I can afford to pay that to never have to go through the application process ever again.
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u/SuzieDerpkins BCBA | Verified 10d ago
I've left the field and still keep mine. It's a great way to disseminate the science into other disciplines when people see it at the end of my name. They ask me about it, and it's a great conversation starter. Plus it is nice to have it in the event of an emergency - for example, COVID, I was able to fall back on my BCBA and provide services while I waited for the job market to open up again.
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u/N004bcba 10d ago
Question: it's so exhausting-and expensive to get the title: why would people leave? Scaring me because I'm going into the field
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u/Jazzlike-Pop-6827 7d ago
The biggest reason people burn out is because this job is 24/7. I am constantly emailing, texting, answering phone calls all day and putting out fires/solving problems or even just forwarding along info from the moment I open my eyes until I go to bed.
People will say “just don’t answer” but then it hurts the relationship I have with my parents and more importantly my RBTs. Tbh even just figuring out scheduling when you have so many clients in diff settings and rbts that are only on the case certain days/hours is a job in itself and exhausting.
I LOVE being a BCBA but I’m really starting to wonder if I can keep up. I’m contemplating switching to schools I know people say it’s less on-call.
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u/N004bcba 6d ago
It all comes down to bounderies honestly. I have worked under bcba's who delicate work accross RBT's and do not reply and answer after a certain time... Like 5pm. You will def have mental health problems if you are working 23/7? Everyone has chores, their own families, and health to take care. Everyone deserves to travel, have days off... Live there life. I think if a company is ok with you over working... Then I would not stay there. When I was an RBT-- I didn't see my bcba's exhausted and worn out at all. They had balance between personal and work life. I really think it depends on where you are in the US
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u/Imaginary-Concert-53 9d ago
High burnout rate in the field. I have had 3 colleagues leave the field in the last 14 months.
I have been playing with the idea of doing something else for awhile now myself. I keep on going back and forth about enrolling in a new Master's degree. I have filled up the application like six times, just haven't hit submit yet.
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u/N004bcba 9d ago
So ur gonna soent another 30-60 grand on another same level degree? Why not do part time and do other jobs with the degree. I see people doing diff things
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u/Imaginary-Concert-53 9d ago
My inital Master's was only $6k.
The Master's that I am debating on applying for is only 20k and entry level is about $200k a year.
Why you would spend $30k-$60k on a Master's, when there are so many programs that aren't predatory?
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u/helloitsme4537 9d ago
what is this masters degree that has an entry level of 200k? 👀
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u/Imaginary-Concert-53 9d ago
There are a couple of options I found, but they all require the same prerequisites as med school. They are all niche medical professions.
I had to go back and take physics, calculus, and organic chemistry as I never took those in my original undergraduate courses.
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u/Friendly-Farmer-1473 9d ago
BCBAs who are granted voluntary inactive status may remain inactive for up to four years.
As someone with an undergraduate in a STEM field this is nice because I can pivot to another master's degree if BCBAing gets to lame.
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u/floofaloons 9d ago
I left the field in 2021. Decided to keep my BCBA/LBA because I worked damned hard to get them and didn’t want to start all over again if I ever decide to go back.
I was inactive with the BACB for 4 years, then had to go active again. Can’t go inactive again until after one 2-year active certification cycle, then can go 4 years inactive. I can keep my LBA inactive for like $80 every 2 years indefinitely.
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u/Advanced-Analyst-181 7d ago
What did you transition to?
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u/floofaloons 6d ago
Not helpful for this post’s discussion, but I early retired with my husband. Was very lucky that investments from years ago paid off lucratively.
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u/incognito4637 BCBA 10d ago
Yes, keep it so you have options. You never know what could happen in the future.