We Built a Free CE Requirements Database for Every Behavior Analyst Credential

If you have ever tried to figure out your CE requirements by checking three different websites, comparing two PDF handbooks, and then asking a colleague whether your state has additional rules on top of the BACB requirements, you already know the problem. CE requirements for behavior analysts are scattered across dozens of credentialing body websites, state licensing board portals, and employer policy documents. No single source puts it all together.

We decided to fix that.

Today we are launching the CE Requirements Database, a free, searchable tool that consolidates CE requirements from every major behavior analyst credentialing body, all 50 US states plus DC, employer training mandates, and upcoming regulatory changes. No login required. No paywall. Just the information you need to stay compliant.

Why We Built This

Special Learning has been a BACB Authorized Continuing Education (ACE) provider (#OP-14-2437). Over 16 years of serving behavior analysts, we have watched the credentialing field grow more complex every year. The BACB is no longer the only game in town. QABA is growing rapidly, especially in Texas. IBAO is building a global credentialing framework. The UK-SBA is replacing BACB requirements in the United Kingdom. And every state has its own licensing rules that may add requirements on top of whatever your credentialing body requires.

We kept hearing the same question from our customers: "I know what the BACB requires, but what does my state require on top of that?" Or the international version: "I am IBAO-certified. What does my renewal actually look like compared to BACB renewal?"

So we built a single place where all of those answers live.

What the Database Covers

The database is organized into four layers, because CE compliance is not just about your credentialing body.

Layer 1: Credentialing Body Requirements

We track requirements from seven credentialing bodies across 13 individual credentials:

For each credential, the database shows total CEU requirements, ethics requirements, supervision requirements (where applicable), renewal deadlines, fees, and any content-area mandates.

Layer 2: State Licensing Requirements

All 50 US states plus the District of Columbia. Many states require behavior analysts to hold a state license in addition to their national credential. These state-level requirements often include additional CE hours, specific topic mandates (such as cultural competency or telehealth training), or different renewal cycles. The database shows you both the credentialing body layer and the state layer side by side, so you can see your total obligation at a glance.

Layer 3: Employer Training Mandates

We have documented 41 common employer training mandates that overlap with CE requirements. Large ABA providers, school districts, and healthcare systems often require specific training (HIPAA, crisis intervention, cultural responsiveness) that may or may not count toward your CE requirements. The database helps you identify where employer mandates and CE requirements overlap, so you can get credit for training you are already doing.

Layer 4: Upcoming Regulatory Changes

The database currently tracks 12 upcoming regulatory changes across credentialing bodies and states. When a credentialing body announces a new requirement (like the BACB shift to Professional Development Units for RBTs, effective January 2026), it appears in the database with the effective date, what changes, and what you need to do. No more finding out about a requirement change from a colleague six months after it was announced.

How It Works

The database is searchable by credentialing body, credential level, and state. You can filter to see only the requirements that apply to you. Every record includes:

• Total CE/CEU requirements per cycle
• Ethics and supervision hours where mandated
• Content-area mandates (topics you must cover)
• Renewal deadlines and cycle length
• Fees for renewal
• Source URL linking directly to the official credentialing body or state board page
• Last verified date so you always know how current the data is

All data is served live from our Supabase database. There are no static PDFs that go stale. When a requirement changes, the database changes.

Automatic Monitoring

The monitored URLs include the BACB CE requirements page, QABA renewal policies, IBAO CPD framework, and the licensing board pages for every US state that regulates behavior analysts. We also monitor professional association announcements (ABAI, APBA) for early signals about upcoming changes.

What Makes Each Credentialing Body Different

If you only know the BACB, here is a quick orientation to the other bodies in the database:

How Special Learning Fits In

We have been a BACB ACE Provider (Provider #OP-14-2437). That is 16 years of delivering continuing education as a BACB-authorized ACE Provider to behavior analysts worldwide. 32,000+ customers in more than 140 countries have used our courses.

We have also submitted applications for QABA and IBAO provider status because our customers hold credentials from multiple bodies, and they should not have to go to different CE providers for each one.

The CE Requirements Database is a standalone free tool. It does not require you to buy anything. But if you search the database and realize you need CEUs, our CE Libraries are built to help:

• CE Library provides 32 CEUs per library (including 4 Ethics and 3.5 Supervision), with 12-month access
• All Access lets you select the specific courses and topics you need

Free Tools That Work With This

The CE Requirements Database is part of a suite of free tools we are building for behavior analysts. Two others that pair directly with it:

Frequently Asked Questions

Related: For Behavior Analysts  |  Compare CE Libraries  |  CE Library  |  All Access