Why CEU Planning Matters
Completing your CEU requirements should not be a last-minute scramble. Behavior analysts who plan their continuing education strategically earn higher-quality CEUs, pay less, and experience far less stress than those who wait until their certification is about to expire.
A well-structured CEU plan lets you take advantage of early-bird conference pricing, spread costs over time, and choose learning opportunities that genuinely advance your clinical skills rather than simply checking a box.
- Save 20-40% on conference registration with early-bird pricing
- Choose topics that align with your professional development goals
- Avoid scrambling for last-minute online courses at full price
- Ensure you meet all category minimums (ethics, supervision, learning)
- Spread costs across your full certification cycle
Understanding Your Certification Cycle
The first step in planning is knowing your exact cycle dates. Different certification levels follow different timelines, and your personal cycle is based on when your certification was issued or last renewed.
BCBA 2-Year Cycle
BCBAs and BCaBAs operate on a 2-year recertification cycle. You must complete 32 CEUs during this period, including minimum requirements for ethics (4 CEUs) and supervision (3 CEUs if you provide supervision).
Log into the BACB Gateway at bacb.com to see your exact certification start and end dates. Your recertification application opens 60 days before your expiration date.
RBT Annual Cycle
RBTs renew annually and must complete their CEU requirements before each renewal date. The current requirement is 20 CEUs per year, decreasing to 12 CEUs starting in 2026.
Because the RBT cycle is shorter, planning is even more important. With 12 months and a fixed CEU target, you need to maintain a steady pace throughout the year.
Creating a CEU Timeline
A CEU timeline breaks your total requirement into manageable milestones. Rather than viewing 32 CEUs as a single goal, divide them across quarters or semesters.
Recommended BCBA Timeline (32 CEUs over 2 Years)
| Period | Target CEUs | Suggested Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Months 1-6 | 8 CEUs | Ethics CEUs (complete 4 minimum early), plus general learning |
| Months 7-12 | 8 CEUs | Supervision CEUs (if applicable), conference attendance |
| Months 13-18 | 8 CEUs | Specialized learning topics, online courses |
| Months 19-24 | 8 CEUs | Fill remaining gaps, complete any outstanding categories |
Recommended RBT Timeline (20 CEUs per Year / 12 Starting 2026)
| Period | Target (2025) | Target (2026+) | Suggested Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 (Months 1-3) | 5 CEUs | 3 CEUs | Foundational topics and skills refresher |
| Q2 (Months 4-6) | 5 CEUs | 3 CEUs | Applied topics relevant to current caseload |
| Q3 (Months 7-9) | 5 CEUs | 3 CEUs | Specialized training or conference attendance |
| Q4 (Months 10-12) | 5 CEUs | 3 CEUs | Complete remaining requirements, buffer time |
Balancing CEU Categories
One of the most common planning mistakes is completing plenty of general learning CEUs but falling short on ethics or supervision. Address your required categories first, then fill in with learning CEUs.
Complete your 4 ethics CEUs in the first half of your cycle. Ethics courses are widely available online at low cost, and finishing early eliminates one source of deadline pressure.
If you provide supervision, plan your 3 supervision CEUs for the first year. Conferences are an excellent source, as many offer dedicated supervision tracks.
With ethics and supervision handled, your remaining 25 learning CEUs can be earned flexibly through a combination of conferences, online courses, webinars, and journal clubs.
Budgeting for CEUs
CEU costs vary widely depending on your approach. Understanding the price range of different options helps you build a realistic budget and identify savings opportunities.
Typical CEU Costs by Source
| CEU Source | Cost per CEU | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free webinars and journal clubs | $0 | Limited availability, 1-2 CEUs per session |
| Online courses (budget providers) | $13-$30 | Self-paced, wide topic selection |
| Online courses (premium providers) | $25-$50 | Live instruction, interactive features |
| State conferences | $15-$40 | Networking opportunities, multiple tracks |
| National conferences | $25-$60 | Highest CEU counts, travel costs additional |
A cost-effective 2-year plan for 32 CEUs might look like this: 6-8 free CEUs from monthly webinars, 10-12 CEUs from online courses ($150-$350), and 12-16 CEUs from one state or regional conference ($150-$425). Total estimated cost: $300-$775 over 2 years.
Reducing Costs
- Join your state ABA organization: Save $100-$200 on conference registration with member pricing
- Register early: Early-bird pricing saves 20-40% on most conferences
- Use free resources: Monthly webinars from organizations like Verbal Beginnings offer 2 free CEUs each month
- Ask about employer reimbursement: Many ABA employers cover part or all of CEU costs
- Buy course bundles: Online providers often discount packages of multiple courses
Tracking Methods and Tools
Consistent tracking prevents surprises at renewal time. Use one primary tracking method and back it up with certificate storage.
BACB Gateway
Your official record. ACE providers report completed CEUs directly to the BACB. Check the Gateway monthly to verify that your CEUs appear correctly.
Personal Spreadsheet
Create a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, provider, topic, CEU count, category (learning, ethics, supervision), and certificate file name. This gives you an at-a-glance view of your progress.
Certificate Storage
Save every completion certificate immediately. Use a cloud folder (Google Drive, Dropbox) organized by certification cycle. Name files consistently: YYYY-MM-DD_Provider_Topic_CEUs.pdf.
Calendar Reminders
Set recurring reminders to check your CEU progress. Recommended check-in points: every 3 months for RBTs, every 6 months for BCBAs.
Tips from Experienced Practitioners
Seasoned behavior analysts have learned through experience what works best for managing CEU requirements. Here are practical strategies that make a real difference.
Complete your ethics and supervision CEUs in the first year of your cycle. This removes uncertainty and gives you flexibility to focus on topics you find most interesting for the remainder.
Instead of choosing the cheapest or most convenient option, select CEU topics that support your professional development. Want to move into supervision? Earn more than the minimum 3 supervision CEUs. Interested in OBM? Seek out specialized courses.
Mix conferences, online courses, free webinars, and journal clubs. Each format offers different benefits: conferences provide networking, online courses offer flexibility, and journal clubs keep you connected to current research.
Attend one free webinar per month and complete one online course per quarter. This steady pace means you will have roughly 30 CEUs by the end of your cycle with minimal effort in any single month.
Sample CEU Plans
Below are example plans for common scenarios. Adapt these to your specific certification dates, budget, and professional goals.
Sample Plan: BCBA (32 CEUs over 2 Years)
Year 1 (16 CEUs Target)
| Source | CEUs | Category | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly free webinars (6 sessions) | 6 | Learning | $0 |
| Online ethics course | 4 | Ethics | $80-$120 |
| State ABA conference | 6 | 3 Supervision + 3 Learning | $150-$285 |
| Year 1 Total | 16 | $230-$405 |
Year 2 (16 CEUs Target)
| Source | CEUs | Category | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly free webinars (6 sessions) | 6 | Learning | $0 |
| Online course bundle (specialized topics) | 6 | Learning | $100-$180 |
| APBA Journal Club (4 sessions) | 4 | Learning | $0 (with membership) |
| Year 2 Total | 16 | $100-$180 |
2-Year Total: 32 CEUs for approximately $330-$585
Sample Plan: RBT (12 CEUs per Year Starting 2026)
| Source | CEUs | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly free webinars (4 sessions) | 4 | $0 |
| Online self-paced courses (2 courses) | 4 | $50-$120 |
| Employer-provided training or state event | 4 | $0-$100 |
| Annual Total | 12 | $50-$220 |
Start Building Your Plan Today
The best time to plan your CEUs is right now. Use the resources below to find opportunities and take control of your continuing education journey.