BCBA Plan

Ethical and Professional Issues: practice questions

2 original questions · 2 editor-approved · every choice explained.

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Blueprint-mapped questions with full rationales for every choice.

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Ethical and Professional IssuesDifficulty 2/5

A BCBA whose caseload is exclusively early-intervention autism services is asked to treat severe self-injury in an adult with a dual diagnosis. Under the Ethics Code, what is the appropriate response?

  1. AAccept, because board certification covers any behavior in any population
  2. BAccept only after obtaining training, supervision or consultation in that area, or refer to a qualified provider
  3. CAccept and learn from published articles and manuals while treatment is under way
  4. DDecline the case and report the referral source to the certification board
Show answer and rationale

Correct: B. Behavior analysts practise within their scope of competence. Expanding scope requires appropriate study, training, supervision or consultation; otherwise the case should be referred.

  • A — Certification is not a blanket competence claim.
  • C — Self-directed reading during active treatment does not establish competence for a high-risk case.
  • D — Declining may be right, but there is nothing to report and referral is the professional step.
Ethical and Professional IssuesDifficulty 3/5

A client's parent offers a BCBA a part-time paid role managing their family business. What is the primary ethical concern?

  1. AInformed consent, because the family would need to re-consent to services
  2. BConfidentiality, because business discussions would expose client information
  3. CA multiple relationship that could impair objectivity or exploit the client relationship
  4. DBilling accuracy, because the two income streams would be hard to separate
Show answer and rationale

Correct: C. Taking a financial role with a client's family creates a multiple relationship that risks impairing professional judgment and exploiting the existing relationship. The Code directs behavior analysts to avoid such relationships and, where unavoidable, to disclose and mitigate.

  • B — No client information is being disclosed by the offer itself.
  • D — Billing for behavior-analytic services is unchanged by the offer.
  • A — Consent for services is a separate matter.

Primary references

  1. BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.), in effect since 2025 — Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) · primary · retrieved 2026-09-22, verified 2026-09-22
  2. Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts — Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) · primary · retrieved 2026-09-22, verified 2026-09-22