The PTB ABA Exam Study Manual: A Guide to the Other ‘White Book’
March 7, 2024
The PTB ABA Exam Study Manual has become a mainstay of BCBA® exam prep– and with good reason. Expertly written to break down the critical Task List information the BACB® expects candidates to know, it has become an invaluable resource and the perfect complement to the Cooper book (Applied Behavior Analysis by John Cooper, Timothy Heron and William Heward). You know the one. It’s Big, white, and denser than a rutabaga (and like any vegetable, it’s an essential part of your ABA diet). Well, the PTB Exam ABA Study Manual is the other “White Book.” Luckily, this one is designed to focus exclusively on the exam content. Plus, it’s got pictures and weighs a whole lot less. Curious about the most-trusted BCBA® study manual? Here is everything you need to know about using– and loving– the other “White Book.”
The Original and the Best
Developed by Pass the Big ABA Exam (PTB) co-founders Dana Meller and Priya Runyon nearly 12 years ago as a compilation of their own exam prep notes, the PTB ABA Exam Study Manual was the first– and continues to be the only one-of-its-kind study guide for the BCBA® exam. Its signature blend of clinical language and relatable, real-world examples have made the other “White Book” a must-have for ABA students around the world. Yes, the world. If you’re on the path to certification, consider the other “White Book” your trusted travel companion.
As with all of PTB’s pioneering prep tools, the PTB ABA Exam Study Manual is sourced from academic literature and the foundational scientific text (like the Copper book). The other “White Book” distills those essential ABA textbooks, to contextualize Cooper and the science of ABA with situational and relatable examples, salient visuals, and detailed explanations. It provides an organized and simplified breakdown of high-level ABA concepts in one convenient, easy-to-navigate compendium.
The First Step in Prep
As a quick-reference manual, it is organized by Task List Section. Each chapter of the PTB ABA Exam Study Manual thoroughly covers every Section item and its core concepts. Designed for maximum comprehension, it contains helpful tips, acronyms, and AKAs (PTB’s shorthand for connecting terms that sound different but share similar meaning). You’ll also see some familiar faces in behavior analysis, too. Afterall, what study guide would be complete without B.F. Skinner and John B. Watson making an appearance?
For increased visual saliency, the PTB ABA Exam Study Manual is stuffed with colorful charts and graphics, highlighted hints, and color-coded headlines to emphasize key information. At the end of each chapter, there’s a Section review with quiz questions that thoroughly cover each item within the Task List. This active-learning technique, in addition to the other modalities and memorization tools, allow for deeper, long-term comprehension.
PTB always recommends using multiple study methods and strategies, and the other “White Book” makes the perfect sidekick. Use it in tandem with flashcards, SAFMEDS, or whatever approach works best for you. For those who prefer a hands-on learning style, the PTB ABA Exam Study Manual and the PTB Big Exam Prep Workshop are an especially effective pair. The signature workshop combines PTB’s trademark study protocol with the other “White Book”’s fluency-building design, to create a multi-modal approach to exam prep that reinforces essential knowledge.
Certification and Beyond
You won’t want to let this one collect dust on the shelf (but it probably won’t get the chance to). The other “White Book” comes in handy even after certification. Its unique blend of clinical and colloquial language lends itself nicely– and practically– to everyday use. Even PTB co-founder Dana Meller still finds herself reaching for the other “White Book” when she needs to brush up, double check, or find a certain formula. Of course, it’s no replacement for the direct sources (like the almighty Cooper book), but it does come in handy for looking up concepts or definitions. BCBA® supervisors can benefit from the other “White Book”, too. It is an invaluable resource for staying current on the BACB® Task List updates and guidelines. Use it alongside your other supervision activities to ensure your supervisees are meeting their fluency and clinical objectives and are on their way to becoming a successful and certified BCBA®.
Whether you’re new to the world of Cooper and ABA, or a seasoned pro, the PTB ABA Exam Study Manual is an essential part of any behavior analyst’s library. It’s an expert overview of the BCBA® Task List that you’ll reach for before and after exam day. Don’t have your own copy yet? Take a look inside the iconic other “White Book”.
