Supervision Percentage
The ratio of supervised hours to total fieldwork hours, expressed as a percentage. The BACB sets minimum supervision percentages that vary by fieldwork type and standards year.
Definition
Your supervision percentage is the proportion of your total fieldwork hours that were conducted under direct supervision. It is calculated by dividing your total supervised hours by your total fieldwork hours. This metric is one of the most critical compliance indicators because it is measured cumulatively across your entire fieldwork experience, not on a month-by-month basis.
The minimum supervision percentage depends on your fieldwork type. For supervised fieldwork, you need at least 5% of your total hours to be supervised. For concentrated fieldwork under pre-2027 standards, the minimum jumps to 10%. The 2027 standards introduce a 7.5% minimum for BCaBA concentrated fieldwork, while other concentrated pathways remain at 10%. These percentages may sound small, but they represent a meaningful number of hours — 5% of 2,000 hours is 100 supervised hours.
The cumulative nature of this calculation creates a compounding problem if you fall behind. Early in your fieldwork, when your total hours are low, each supervised hour has a large impact on the percentage. As your total grows, each additional supervised hour moves the needle less. Candidates who do not prioritize supervision from the start often discover that catching up requires a disproportionate amount of supervised time later, which can be difficult to schedule and sustain.
Why This Matters
Your supervision percentage is one of the most critical compliance metrics. It is calculated cumulatively, so falling behind early makes it progressively harder to catch up.
Examples
- Supervised Fieldwork (pre-2027): minimum 5% supervision required
- Concentrated Fieldwork (pre-2027): minimum 10% supervision required
- Concentrated Fieldwork (2027 BCaBA): minimum 7.5% supervision required
How ABA Fieldwork Tracker handles this
ABA Fieldwork Tracker tracks every supervision session, observation, and contact automatically. Your supervision dashboard shows compliance status in real time so you and your supervisor always know where you stand.
Track your fieldwork automatically
ABA Fieldwork Tracker validates every hour for your specific pathway in real time. Free for early users.
Register for FreePathway Applicability
Note: Supervised: 5% min. Concentrated: 10% (pre-2027), 7.5% (2027 BCaBA concentrated).
See full requirements:
Know the terms. Now automate the tracking.
Understanding BACB requirements is the first step. ABA Fieldwork Tracker handles the rest, validating every hour, every rule, every pathway, automatically.