Full Citation

Slanzi, C., & Sellers, T. (2023). Paying for Supervision: Barriers, Solutions, and Opportunities. Behavior Analysis in Practice.

Episode Overview

• Why paying for BCBA supervision is a huge financial hurdle
• Five common challenges when supervision is paid (or free)
• Practical, research-based solutions and real-world tips
• Key takeaway: Protect your learning quality above all else

Financial Realities of Supervision

BCBA certification requires 1,500–2,000 supervised hours. At $100/hr, that can cost $15,000—on top of tuition and exam fees. Free supervision isn't always free: it can come with reduced variety and quality of training.

Ethics Code Highlights

• Section 1.05: Contractual Relationships, Fees, and Financial Arrangements
• Section 2.06: Promoting Ethical Practices

Charging for supervision is permitted, but conflicts of interest arise when payment influences honest feedback. Contracts and transparency are critical.

Five Key Challenges When Paying for Supervision

1. The Supervisor Works for the Trainee
   Risk: Supervisor avoids tough feedback to retain payment.
   Solution: Include remediation plans and skill checklists in the contract.
2. Payment by Meeting Time Alone
   Risk: Hourly billing without competency focus.
   Solution: Use competency-based modules linked to mastery.
3. Gaps in Supervision Due to Budget Cuts
   Risk: Training continuity breaks.
   Solution: Tiered fee schedules, 45-min sessions, make-up hours.
4. Different Work Sites
   Risk: Confidentiality and implementation conflicts.
   Solution: Secure consent, use role-play/video review for practice.
5. Multiple Supervisors
   Risk: Overlap and missed skills.
   Solution: Shared supervision plan (Google Docs, Trello) with clear goals.

Practical Takeaways

• Conflicts can’t be fully eliminated—but they can be minimized.
• Three essentials: clear contracts, competency-based goals, open communication.
• Be selective: If quality dips, change supervisors or sites quickly.

Key ABA References

• Carr & Durand (1985) – Functional Communication Training
• Fisher et al. (1994) – Functional Analysis Review
• Hanley, Iwata, & McCord (2003) – Functional Analysis
• Slanzi & Sellers (2023) – Paying for Supervision

Free Two-CEU Course

Grab my free course: Solving Clinical Challenges with Research at behavioristbookclub.com/solving.

Call to Action

• Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform
• Leave a review and share with your colleagues
• Join our ABA Café group on Facebook