This is a summary of what the BACB’s BCBA Handbook (updated June 2026) says about the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam. It is written for people planning their study time and budget.
Exam format
| Item | What the BACB says |
|---|---|
| Questions | 175 scored plus 10 unscored |
| Answer choices | 4 per question, 1 correct; all questions equally weighted |
| Time | 4 hours |
| Content outline | BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.): 104 tasks in 9 content areas |
| Scoring | Pass/fail based on overall performance, not performance in each content area |
| Results | On site immediately after you finish; the BACB itself cannot view or download your report, so use your Pearson VUE account |
Content areas and question counts
| Content area | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| A. Behaviorism and Philosophical Foundations | 8 | 5% |
| B. Concepts and Principles | 24 | 14% |
| C. Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation | 21 | 12% |
| D. Experimental Design | 13 | 7% |
| E. Ethical and Professional Issues | 22 | 13% |
| F. Behavior Assessment | 23 | 13% |
| G. Behavior-Change Procedures | 25 | 14% |
| H. Selecting and Implementing Interventions | 20 | 11% |
| I. Personnel Supervision and Management | 19 | 11% |
| Total | 175 | 100% |
Percentages are rounded by the BACB. Because the result is based on your overall score, a weak area can be offset by strength elsewhere. That is a reason to know the heavy areas (B, G, F, E, C) very well, not a reason to skip any.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certification application (BACB) | $245 |
| Exam appointment (Pearson VUE) | $125 |
| Examination retake application (BACB) | $140 |
A first attempt costs $370 in these two fees. Each retake costs $265 ($140 + $125). BACB fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Retake rules
- A retake application appears in your BACB portal within 48 hours of a failed attempt.
- You must wait 30 days between attempts.
- You can attempt the exam a maximum of 8 times within the 2 years after your application is approved. If you use all 8 attempts and still have time, you must wait until the 2-year period ends to reapply.
A note on what the BACB says about study materials
The BACB recommends preparing with the BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.), the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts, and your training materials. It states that it cannot endorse specific study guides and that buying study materials does not guarantee you will pass. Treat any prep product, ours included, as practice for knowledge you build elsewhere.
Compare credentials side by side in exam costs and retake rules.
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Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the BCBA exam?
175 scored questions plus 10 unscored questions. Each has 4 possible answers and only 1 correct answer, and all questions are equally weighted.
How long do I have for the BCBA exam?
4 hours. Results are provided on site immediately on completion, and the exam is pass/fail.
How long must I wait to retake the BCBA exam?
30 days after your previous attempt. You can attempt the exam a maximum of 8 times within the 2 years after your application is approved.
How is the BCBA passing score set?
The BACB says it uses the modified Angoff method: a criterion-referenced standard set by a panel of BACB-certified subject matter experts and approved by the BACB Board of Directors. A new passing score is set when there is a significant change such as a new test content outline.