This resource page highlights current professional topics that have been identified and shared with the Professional Issues and Development Committee (PIDC). As TxABA members continue to share what matters most to them, we’ll update this page with new information and resources. If you’d like to suggest a topic or area that could use more support, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to the PIDC at pidc@txaba.org.
At our annual TxABA Conference, PIDC members host the Committee and SIG exhibit table to connect with attendees and hear what matters most to them. After the conference, we review and organize the feedback we receive, then use the most common themes to create our annual survey. This process helps us confirm and better understand the key issues that are important to our members. The results of the 2025 survey are attached below—this resource page reflects your input and concerns!
Billing practices emerged as a top concern for TxABA members, especially pressure to prioritize billable hours, observations of questionable billing, and billing taking precedence over service quality. This reflects the quality-of-care worries voiced by our community. Below are trusted resources from leading organizations in our field to help you navigate billing challenges, stay ethically grounded, and advocate for best practices in your workplace.
The foundational ethical standard outlining your responsibilities for accurate billing and reporting.
Real data on the most common ethics violations, including billing-related concerns.
Developed by APBA, BACB, CASP, and Autism Speaks, this resource provides detailed guidance on proper use of ABA billing codes.
If you accept medicaid, this link automatically provides the latest version. Go to Children’s Services, 2.3 for Autism Services.
A free guide to help practitioners and agencies prepare for payor audits and maintain compliance.
Thoroughly read and understand any insurance contracts you or the company accepts. Understand what benefits your individual clients are eligible for, they can all vary but ultimately you are responsible for knowing so you can bill ethically.
Scope of practice issues were also identified as a major concern by TxABA members, including RBTs operating outside of their scope, caseload sizes that hinder quality of care, pressure to practice beyond one's role, and the importance of having access to mentors and professional support. Below are trusted resources from leading organizations in our field to help you understand boundaries, advocate for appropriate caseloads, and strengthen your professional support system.
Section 1.05 (Practicing within Scope of Competence) requires behavior analysts to practice only within their identified scope, and Section 2.04 (Accepting Clients) states that analysts should only accept clients whose services are within their competence and available resources, including time and capacity for supervision.
The RBT Ethics Code clearly states that RBTs only provide services within a defined role under close supervision (1.03) and must immediately inform their supervisor if asked to do something beyond the scope of their certification or competence (1.06).
These guidelines include recommendations on proper caseload sizes, supervision ratios, and staffing models to ensure practitioners can deliver quality services without being stretched too thin.
Published in Behavior Analysis in Practice, this article includes a ready-to-use self-evaluation checklist (Competence and Confidence Checklist) that lets behavior analysts rate themselves across six dimensions: procedures, populations, settings, past experience, literature familiarity, and available resources to determine if they should accept a case, seek additional supervision, or refer out.
Published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, this article by 20 ABA experts examines concerns about RBT training, scope of practice boundaries, and the risks when paraprofessionals operate without adequate oversight or defined competencies.
Supervision emerged as a key concern for TxABA members, with many reporting worries about the consistency and quality of oversight provided to RBTs and supervisees, as well as instances of supervision falling below required levels. Many respondents reported worries about supervision not meeting best-practice standards, including feedback that was infrequent, overly perfunctory, or insufficiently focused on clinical skill development and ethical decision-making. Below are trusted resources from leading organizations in our field to help you strengthen your supervision practices, meet professional standards, and support those you supervise.
Section 4 includes standards on complying with supervision requirements (4.01), supervisory competence (4.02), supervisory volume (4.03), and providing evidence-based, individualized supervision (4.06). These set the ethical floor for quality supervision.
The February 2026 BACB newsletter dedicates an entire section to supervision resources including blogs & podcasts.
This is a checklist that walks supervisors through everything from initial setup (adding RBTs in the BACB system, discussing expectations) to monthly tracking of the 5% supervision hour requirement, quarterly observations, and documentation retention.
This report identifies "improper or inadequate supervision/delegation" as one of the most common substantiated ethics violations among BCBAs and BCaBAs, underscoring the systemic nature of supervision concerns.
Published in Behavior Analysis in Practice, this widely cited article outlines five recommended supervision guidelines: building an effective supervisor-trainee relationship, structured supervision content, evaluating supervision effects, incorporating ethics, and continuing the professional relationship post-certification.
Also published in Behavior Analysis in Practice, this article highlights the most common ethical violation categories, including supervision and delegation failures, and provides practical rubrics and guidance for organizations and practitioners to prevent them.
At times, you may encounter a new or unusual situation that doesn’t clearly meet the criteria for reporting to BACB, QABA, or TDLR. In these situations, you may find the ABA Ethics Hotline to be a helpful resource. This independent service is not affiliated with any professional organization or membership group and is managed by respected ABA experts such as Dr. Jon Bailey, Dr. Thomas Zane, Dr. Mary Jane Weiss, and others.