BCBA CE Requirements in Illinois (2026)
BACB Baseline + Illinois-Specific Requirements
Free reference from Special Learning — BACB ACE Provider #OP-14-2437
BACB Certification Requirements (All BCBAs in Illinois)
Regardless of state, your BACB certification renews on a 2-year cycle.
| Credential | Cycle | Total CEUs | Ethics | Supervision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCBA / BCBA-D | 2 years | 32 CEUs | 4 CEUs minimum | 3 CEUs per two-year cycle under the current BACB handbook; the BACB's 2027 requirements raise it to 4 and do not say which cycles that covers (if you supervise) |
| BCaBA | 2 years | 20 CEUs | 4 CEUs minimum | — |
Starting July 1, 2026: BACB requires participation monitoring. The handbook’s example measure is a minimum of 3 knowledge questions per CEU, or another form of required active responding. This is not a video or format mandate: article-and-quiz, journal clubs, and podcasts remain BACB-eligible.
State Licensure: Illinois
State-specific requirements: License renewal cycle: 2 years. State CE: 30 hours every 2 years from the 2027 renewal (assistant: 20); none at a first Illinois renewal. State-specific: 1 hour sexual harassment prevention every renewal; it counts toward the CE hours. 1 hour of cultural competency, once every 6 years, from the first renewal on or after January 1, 2025 at which CE applies; it counts toward the CE hours (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.525) (source: 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1376.50, 1130.400)
Important: CE earned for BACB renewal does not automatically satisfy Illinois LBA renewal unless the state board accepts those hours. Always verify with the Illinois licensing board before submitting CE for state renewal.
What Special Learning Offers Toward Your Illinois BACB Requirements
CE Library ($199 for 12 months) delivers BACB CEUs including:
- 3.5 Supervision CEUs (the BACB asks supervisors for 3 under the current BACB handbook; the BACB's 2027 requirements raise it to 4 and do not say which cycles that covers)
- Remaining hours in behavior analysis content areas
- All video-based, self-paced CE from a BACB ACE Provider (#OP-14-2437)
Sources: BACB BCBA Handbook; Illinois state licensure requirements. State requirements subject to change — verify with your state board before renewal. Special Learning ACE Provider #OP-14-2437.
Authorization as an ACE Provider does not imply endorsement or approval of the ACE event content by the BACB.