RES-NEWSLETTER-RBT-OWNERS — BACB Newsletter: RBTs and BCaBAs as Company Owners (Jul 2023)
What does RES-NEWSLETTER-RBT-OWNERS say?
The BACB clarified ethical considerations for RBTs and BCaBAs who own or co-own ABA service companies. Key points: (1) Neither the Ethics Code nor BACB policies prohibit RBTs or BCaBAs from owning ABA companies. (2) However, the RBT or BCaBA must not practice outside their scope — a BCBA must still oversee all clinical services. (3) The company owner-RBT/BCaBA must not influence the supervising BCBA's clinical decisions through the employer-employee power dynamic. (4) Potential conflicts include: the owner wanting to maintain higher client loads for revenue while the BCBA recommends discharge, disagreements about treatment approaches, and supervision requirements. (5) Clear written agreements between the owner and supervising BCBAs should address clinical autonomy and decision-making authority. (6) Limited Liability Companies do not shield individuals from personal ethical violations.
Official source: read the full text in the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts (2022) (official document).