Completing this graduate certificate provides the knowledge and skills needed to design interventions and develop supports for individuals with challenging behavior. Using the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), graduate students will learn how to conduct behavioral assessments and design interventions that make problem behavior unnecessary and preferred behavior easy. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board ®, Inc. has verified the courses in the PBS Graduate Certificate program as meeting the coursework requirements to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (Option 1) examination. In addition to completing the PBS Graduate Certificate program, the BACB specifies other requirements that must be met before being deemed eligible to take the exam.
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is an approach to improving human behavior by arranging environments and contingencies to make challenging behavior unnecessary and preferred behavior easy and effective. This involves helping people improve the quality of their lives (e.g. personal, health, social, family) and replace challenging behavior with socially acceptable alternative behavior. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the science behind PBS, and the courses in the PBS Certificate comprise an Association for Behavior Analysis International “Verified Course Sequence” or VCS.
PBS employs research-validated behavioral practices of teaching and reinforcing behavior for individual children and adults as well as for groups of people including those in classrooms, families, schools, agencies and so forth. Attention is focused on understanding the conditions in the environment that contribute to challenging behavior and modifying those conditions to strengthen desirable behavior. This online Graduate Certificate in Positive Behavior Support fulfills the course requirement to take the exam to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst®. Graduates help parents, teachers, therapists, School Psychologists, Speech-Language Pathologists, and others who support individuals with maladaptive behavior. This program places a high value on independence, self-determination, and avoidance of restrictive and coercive strategies.
Please be aware that federal financial aid is not available for some certificates if the certificate is pursued and completed as a stand-alone certificate (i.e., not completed concurrently with a degree program). See the “Details” tab for additional information.
In addition to University Requirements:
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 21 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required. |
| Licensure | This program may lead to licensure. |
Purpose Statement
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is an approach to improving human behavior by making challenging behavior unnecessary and preferred behavior easy and effective. PBS emphasizes improving the quality of life for individuals with challenging behavior, and replacing challenging behavior with socially acceptable alternative behavior. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the science behind the approach, and PBS employs research-validated behavioral practices of teaching and reinforcing behavior for individual children and adults as well as for groups of people. Attention is focused on understanding the conditions in the environment that contribute to challenging behavior, and modifying those conditions to strengthen desirable behavior. The graduate certificate in PBS combines the knowledge and skills of ABA with the attitude and research of PBS. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board®, Inc. has verified the courses in the PBS Graduate Certificate program toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (Option 1) examination under the 5th edition Task List. There are 7 courses in the PBS Graduate Certification program, which will require 3 to 7 semesters to complete (depending on how many courses are taken each term). Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination (e.g., have relevant Master’s degree, collect specified number of hours of supervised practice). Although not certified in behavior analysis based on completion of the program, our graduates help parents, teachers, and others who support people with disabilities and challenging behavior, develop interventions that enhance the quality of life for everyone involved, and facilitate meaningful differences in self-determination and daily functioning.
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the PBS certificate program will demonstrate the ability to:
The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.
Admission requirements include the following:
Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
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International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
This certificate may be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program or as a stand-alone certificate. Under both circumstances, federal financial aid can be used for this certificate.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.