Special Education Opportunities
Certificate Overview
Peabody College's Online Post-Master's Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis features a course sequence verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International. This program is housed within Peabody's top-ranked Department of Special Education, home to groundbreaking research, innovative practices, and state of the art training. The ABA certificate is designed for non-degree-seeking individuals who have already completed a master's degree from an accredited university. Coursework is offered online through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous coursework.
The program is grounded in educational research and technology, and challenges students to conduct evidence-based applied behavior analysis with an emphasis on compassionate and responsive practices. Students who complete the program will be equipped to pursue careers working with individual with disabilities, parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, and others using a dynamic, individualized, and client-centered approach.
Careers
There's a growing need for board certified behavior analysts. According to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, annual demand has grown each year since 2010, with job postings increasing by 190% from 2018 to 2021 alone, with a 14% increase from 2022 to 2023.
Online Information Sessions
Join faculty and staff from Peabody's Department of Special Education to learn more about our new Online Post-Master's Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis. Program specifics and the application process will be covered, along with a short Q&A session.
Future sessions and links will be posted here when they're available.
Discover how a certification in ABA can advance your career
Certificate Details
Certificate Director: Tom Szabo
Admission Coordinator: Kelly Limina
Email Us: ABACertificate@Vanderbilt.edu
Application Deadline: December 1, 2024
This is a post-master's, non-degree, credit-bearing certificate program. Upon completion of the certificate, students will have satisfied all coursework required to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination. Note: Applicants will have to meet additional field work requirements to qualify for the BCBA exam.
Required Hours: 21
Program Length: Approximately 15 months
Course Format: Courses are offered in a synchronous and asynchronous combination
Tuition: $1,000 per credit hour
Funding: Tuition awards are not available for certificate programs since they are offered at a reduced rate.
Home Academic Department: Special Education
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit their application by December 1, 2024.
Our application requirements reflect a thorough vetting process that we take very seriously in selecting students for this certificate program and are in line with our standards for admitting candidates who we think will not only complete the coursework but excel in the program and eventually thrive as Board-certified Behavior Analysts. We encourage you to email us with any questions.
- Completed application
- Undergraduate and graduate transcripts (A master’s degree from an accredited college or university is required.) Please scan and attach your unofficial transcript(s), or a copy of your official transcript(s), to your application. Note: Unofficial transcripts are accepted for the application. We understand that requesting official transcripts can be expensive, so we only require official, sealed transcripts if you are admitted and enroll at Peabody College.
Two letters of recommendation are required, three preferred for our certificate program. Their letter should speak to your academic and/or professional abilities. We recommend choosing recommenders that have taught, supervised, or have worked with you for a period of time as they will have the clearest evaluation of your potential for the program.
A brief purpose statement on why you want to enroll in the Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate Online Program at Vanderbilt University. Be concise with your reasoning but leave no question unanswered for the review committee. Describe your background and experiences relevant to your choice to pursue further training in applied behavior analysis, your career goals, and how training at Vanderbilt will help you achieve those goals. The statement of purpose should not exceed 1 single-spaced page.
- Resume or or curriculum vitae
- This program is open to individuals in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Some courses meet synchronously and therefore the program is best suited for those in United States and Canadian time zones
English Proficiency Testing
TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores are required of all international applicants unless you have received a college degree and completed coursework from an accredited institution in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand.
Students who complete coursework on campuses of U.S.-based institutions not in one of the above listed locations still need to submit English language scores.
An official score report sent directly from the testing agency is required. Our TOEFL institutional code is 1871, and there is no department code. The minimum recommended TOEFL score is 100.
There is no institutional code for the IELTS. A minimum recommended score is 7.0 for the composite score with no individual band score below 6.5.
Duolingo scores are also accepted. Test results must include subscores. If you took the test prior to July 15, 2019
Transcripts
The transcripts you submit must have an English translation.
International students with degrees from non-U.S. institutions are required to have their transcripts evaluated by an approved credentials evaluation agency and to have an official report sent by the agency to the Vanderbilt University Registrar's Office before enrollment.
Approved evaluating agencies include:
- International Education Evaluation (IEE) - Note: students who use the Vanderbilt University Institution Portal will receive their evaluation at a discounted rate in three days with standard processing
- World Education Services (WES)
- Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
when subscores were added, you should retake the test to comply with the subscore requirement. A minimum recommended score is 120.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate consists of 7, 3-credit courses of the ABA verified course sequence (VCS)
- Management Procedures for Academic and Social Behavior
- Experimental Analysis of Behavior
- Theory in Behavior Analysis
- Administering Ethical Behavior Analytic Services
- Instruction and Learning in Early Childhood Special Education
- Introduction to Single Case Research Design
- Personnel Supervision and Management in Applied Behavior Analysis