General Description of Practicum

The practicum course is designed to provide students with practical experience, in applied behaviour analysis (ABA). With the approval of your practicum supervisor, these hours may be counted toward the supervised fieldwork hours that are required for certification with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). The primary goal of students during practicum is to acquire new behaviour-analytic skills (e.g., skills related to the BACB Fifth Edition Task List). Activities must be consistent with the dimensions of ABA.

Within the practicum course, students will complete 150-hours of supervised practice in behavioural assessment and intervention with children, adolescents or adults with disabilities. As well, students will complete coursework related to ethics, jurisprudence, and professionalism issues. The details of this practicum are outlined in the ADST 5P73/5P76 course syllabus.

Letter of Agreement

This letter of agreement is intended to provide clarity for the student, Qualified Practicum Supervisor, Practicum Site Supervisor (if a different person than the Qualified Practicum Supervisor), and the Practicum Site Director (or designate) about the roles and responsibilities for each party during this practicum placement.

Qualified Practicum Supervisor:

Students must be supervised by a behaviour analyst who is Registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (as of July 1, 2024), who is also a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) OR Board Certified Behaviour Analyst – Doctoral Level (BCBA-D),who has completed the required 8-hour, competency-based training covering the BACB’s Supervisor Training Curriculum Outline. The Qualified Practicum Supervisor is responsible for supervising and monitoring the students’ practicum-related activities (i.e., assignments, supervision forms, etc) and provides the required supervisory contact during the supervision period.

Practicum Site Supervisor:

An onsite supervisor who is NOT the practicum student’s Qualified Practicum Supervisor. The Practicum Site Supervisor may provide clinical and/or administrative supervision and support to the student and should work in collaboration with the Qualified Practicum Supervisor.

(Please note: Many supervisors will be both the Qualified Practicum Supervisor and the Practicum Site Supervisor, i.e., the Supervisor is registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (as of July 1, 2024), is a BCBA/BCBA-D, and works onsite with the student. However, students who receive supervision from an external Qualified Practicum Supervisor will require a Practicum Site Supervisor, i.e., the Qualified Practicum Supervisor does not work in the same agency or in the same department as the student, so the student has a supervisor at their practicum setting and an external Qualified Practicum Supervisor.)

Practicum Site Director:

Agency or Program Director of the practicum site who has the authority to approve the practicum placement (e.g., Clinical Director, Program Director).

Agreement of Expectations of Practicum Students

Students are expected to work with a range of clients (at least three) during the 150 hours and to attend supervision meetings weekly or bi-weekly to discuss specific client cases, topics related to behavioural assessment and intervention, ethical and professional issues specific to this practicum site, and to update supervisors on their progress on practicum course assignments.

All students, including MADS students (part-time or full-time) and MA students, should gain practical experience working with a minimum of three clients. Work with these clients will involve interventions related to developing skills, including functional replacement skills for interfering behaviour, and behavioural interventions to reduce interfering behaviour (as outlined in the course syllabus). A mediator (someone who actually implements the behaviour change program, e.g., staff, teacher, parent) may also be the focus of the practicum assessment and intervention assignment (e.g., improving mediator skills). For students completing their practicum within their place of employment, clients may be drawn from their current caseload.