You may have heard horror stories about the last BACB transition from the 4th to the 5th edition Task List. Not without good reason, too. The 5th edition brought changes to the supervision requirements, an increase to the number of test questions, and the introduction of the Ethics Code. Luckily, this time around won’t be such a shake up. Candidates caught on the cusp of this transition will be relieved to know that most of the updates are minor. Many find these transitions intimidating and overwhelming because they think they’ll have to learn an entire list of new information. Thankfully, that’s not the case. Think of it as more of a restructuring, rather than a total revamp.
The exam will still follow the same format and still have the same number of questions. Though, it’s important to note, the division of questions will change. In accordance with the 6th edition transition. The exam will be updated with an overall more proportional distribution of questions per section.
From Task List to Test Content Outline (TCO)
While there are no big changes to core concepts, and the exam won’t be all that different, the 6th edition does have one pretty significant update worth-mentioning: the Task List is now called the Test Content Outline (TCO). Another change of note, instead of Task List “sections,” they’ll now be referred to as “domains.”
In their February 2022 newsletter announcing the transition, the BACB provided more insight into their reasons behind the switch. Citing the rapid growth of the field, the BACB noted that the scope of the Task List has grown beyond its intended use; cautioning that it should not serve as an “all-encompassing” list of “critical behavior-analytic content.” With the transition to the TCO model, the BACB hopes to reaffirm its purpose as an exam guideline for BCBA and BCaBA candidates.
Moving to the TCO model also provides the board with improved flexibility, enabling them to adapt the exam to changes within the industry. In the same February 2022 newsletter, the BACB stated the new Test Content Outline approach allows for the TCO to be updated “independent of changes to certification requirements,” allowing exam content to be revised on a more frequent basis. This increased responsiveness is possible, according to the BACB, “due to the relative stabilization of TCO content and certification requirements.”
Diving Deeper: Details on the New TCO
With the new Test Content Outline comes new tasks and new titles. The 6th edition now has 104 tasks (up from 5th edition’s 92) and there are new titles for two of the sections. The BACB reorganized the content for “better flow” and to “eliminate duplications across domains,” as part of their reconsideration of the previous Task List. Here’s a quick breakdown of the most significant changes:
Section A
Previously called Philosophical Underpinnings, it will now be known as “Domain A. Behaviorism and Philosophical Foundations.”
Section B
No change to the name. However, Concepts and Principles, Section B. saw the biggest increase in the number of tasks– 24 in the 6th edition, up from 15 tasks in the 5th edition.
Section D
Not-so-great news: Experimental Design, already a bane to many students, sees an increase in the number of tasks– now 9, up from 6 in the 5th edition.
Section E
Previously titled Ethics (Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts), it will now be known as “Domain E. Ethical and Professional Issues.” Additionally, it now includes 12 specific tasks rather than references to the entire Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.
When– and How– to Prepare
Many universities and ABA programs are already in the process of switching their curriculum over to the 6th edition TCO. While this gives current and future students a clear path to the new 6th edition TCO and the exam, the transition can get confusing for those closer to exam day than graduation day.
If you’re not eligible for the exam until later in 2024, you should consider the possibility that you’ll have to take–or retake– the exam under the 6th edition guidelines. For those on the cusp, with a course sequence that was still under the 5th edition, it can be beneficial to familiarize yourself with the 6th edition changes. As with the previous transition to the 5th Edition, PTB will offer a free Crosswalk to the 6th Edition for students caught in between the old Task List and the new Test Content Outline.
If you’re testing well before January 1, 2025, chances are, you can continue preparing for the exam as you have been. However, don’t think you’re entirely off the hook. Future and current BCBAs have a duty to stay current on the latest industry standards and this includes updates to the BACB’s guidelines. Education should continue beyond certification, so even if you won’t be testing under the 6th edition, it’s still a good idea to familiarize yourself with the updated guidelines– especially if you plan to supervise future BCBA candidates. Make note of any textbook updates, too, in case those have been updated in recent years. While the foundation of Applied Behavior Analysis as a science doesn’t change, any field of science evolves with new discoveries and breakthroughs. The BACB updates the exam and testing content based on the science, so it’s important to have the most recent foundational texts on-hand. Stay up to date by subscribing to the BACB and PTB newsletters.
