The July 1 BACB CE Change: what actually changes for your certification (and the 3-question rule behind it)

What this session covers

On July 1, 2026, the BACB's ACE Provider standards update how asynchronous (self-paced) continuing education must be built: every CE event now has to include participation monitoring — at minimum, three knowledge-check questions per CEU. It sounds alarming. For most BCBAs earning CE from quality providers, almost nothing changes. In this 30-minute session we'll translate the rule into plain language, show you exactly which CE formats still count and which one no longer counts on its own, and give you a 30-second checklist for vetting any course before you spend a CEU on it.

What you'll walk away able to do

• Describe the July 1, 2026 ACE participation-monitoring standard in the BACB's own terms (active responding; at least 3 knowledge questions per CEU).
• Distinguish CE formats that remain valid (monitored online modules, journal clubs, podcasts with 3+ Q/CEU) from the one that no longer counts on its own (standalone read-an-article-then-quiz).
• Apply a 30-second checklist to confirm a self-paced CE course includes the required knowledge checks before purchase.

Note: this change does not alter how many CEUs you owe — a BCBA still needs 32 CEUs per two-year cycle, same as before. It's a build standard for the people who make CE.