5 Common Questions About A Career in Applied Behavior Analysis, Health, and Fitness

Changing behavior and improving lives is a genuine responsibility once you have it. My clients trust me to help them improve their health and fitness. I give much respect to this coach/client relationship, and do not take it for granted – when someone new – trusts me to make the best decision with them.

I’ve been working with clients via a telehealth model for more than 5 years now. Over this period, I have yet to find another professional or organization going about helping people in the way that I do.

I am not unique or special but learned from a unique set of experiences to apply the science of human behavior to health and fitness behaviors.

Like one’s own fitness, BehaviorFit is a journey and not perfect.

Many people are interested in my work and how I got here.

(None of this happened overnight!)

The goal of this article is to provide some guidance to those with similar interests as mine, share bits of my story, and tell you as I see it.

You will likely find this article valuable if you are:

• Someone starting off in the field in applied behavior analysis
• A BCBA and interested in applications to health and fitness
• A health and fitness professional interested in learning the principles of applied behavior analysis

If this interests you, then please keep reading.

While I cannot cover everything is just one article, here are the 5 most common questions about my work, experience, and journey since BehaviorFit started in 2015.

I will cover these 5 questions:

1. Will a BCBA certification be beneficial to my dream health and fitness career?
2. Why do you – Nick Green – have a BCBA certification if you do not bill to insurance companies?
3. I want to follow a similar path as you, but where should I study?
4. Are you accepting practicum students?
5. How do I start a career in health and fitness using the principles of behavior analysis?

I hope that you find my following insights helpful.

A brief review of the field and its terms…

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) is a credentialing body that certifies master’s level graduates with a certification that designates these test-takers and test-passers as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs).

I, too, am a “BCBA”.

(And what a joy that was…the internet went out twice during my BCBA exam!)

Most BCBAs practice in professional settings which include the traditional paths of helping children and adults in special education settings. To name a few, they practice in early intervention clinics, special-education classrooms, and deliver home consultation. The BACB process is well refined and prepares you for a successful career in these education-based settings.

The demand is high for these professionals and the supply is never low. Learning the science is difficult enough, let alone “repurposing” your experience to another area.

We Need Exemplars

Although a couple of research articles give professional guidance on stepping outside of these high-demand professions, there’s no practical “how-to” guide or exemplar company to follow.

So, I did stuff, learned, and figured it out…and still have things to figure out.

Really, nothing is ever figured out. Ha!

In retrospect, a mentor pointed out that I was doing “entrepreneurial” things. I said, “Oh”, and kept pushing forward.

I am an advocate for needed exemplars no matter the industry.

We can better adjust our behavior when we know what direction to head in.

• What does success look like?
• Who sets the standard that we all can adjust to?
• Am I even close?

Again, when I started BehaviorFit, there were no exemplars that I could really turn to. I wanted to create something, so I went.

BehaviorFit may change tomorrow, that’s ok, and part of the journey.

THE PIVOT

In late 2015, I established BehaviorFit while in the first semester of my PhD program. I likely sacrificed a few research publications along the way (sorry, Jesse), but the decision brought incredible people into my life and provided countless professional opportunities.

I gained new friends and colleagues with similar interests as mine.

That is, applying behavioral principles to health and fitness.

Through these conversations, I put together this list. These are my thoughts, advice, and personal opinions regarding careers in applied behavior analysis, health, fitness, wellness, or any other “health” sounding term….

To the meat and potatoes…

Question #1 Will a BCBA certification be beneficial to my dream health and fitness career?

Immediately? Probably not.

As of this writing (April 2020), the BCBA certification is largely recognized by insurance companies to reimburse for applied behavior analysis (ABA) services and consultation. Long story short, some very passionate parents changed policy, healthcare, and advocated for more awareness leading to significant change. Only today, after decades of work, does the industry thrive.

While starting your own consultatncy may not be in the near future for you, there are opportunities to work on health and fitness targets within these populations. Consider your overweight or physically inactive client that will soon be transitioning into a new environment.

• Did you teach all of the skills necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
• What are the long-term goals?
• Has a health conversation even occurred with caregivers?

If not, there are HUGE opportunities there!

Question #2

Why do you – Nick Green – have a BCBA certification if you do not bill to insurance companies?

Maybe there is a way to bill for health and fitness behavior change services, but I just have not found or figured it out yet. Insurance is messy and I have yet to to enough about it.

I accept private pay.

For me, passing the BCBA certification exam aligned more with timing, experience, and accomplishments. See, I started my career in clinical ABA work, so I had the repetitions under my belt and knew clinical work quite well.

I understood how the principles worked.

I pursued my master’s degree in a sub-discipline of ABA called Organizational Behavior Management (OBM).

OBM is the application of the science of human behavior in the workplace.

Have job? Does a human have to do it? Then OBM can help!!!

Most business and the real-world DO NOT recognize the BCBA certification because they are not driven by insurance dollars, but other metrics.

Think bottom-lines, value-adds, employee performance, and customer satisfaction.

My coursework, interest in business applications, and fitness behaviors lined up with finishing my practicum hours as I began my new career focus: reducing sedentary behavior (too much sitting) in the workplace.

I passed the BCBA exam in 2015, kept up my continuing education credits, and held on to my certification as a marketing tool when working in industries outside of traditional BCBA-land.

The BCBA designation also signals to my BCBA- brethren that I went through grind of the exam process.

Question #3

I want to follow a similar path as you, but where should I study?

It depends. It depends what you are interested in. This is the whole mystique of graduate school. Your topic should interest you and build ever-growing interest. Then, your task is to find a mentor/advisor to study under, but most importantly, get along with.

There are no general health, fitness, and ABA programs per se, but there are handful professors that conduct research in health-related areas:

• Jesse Dallery (my PhD advisor), University of Florida – smoking cessation, physical activity
• David Wilder (my thesis advisor), Florida Institute of Technology – behavioral safety
• Nicole Gravina, University of Florida – behavioral safety, ergonomics
• Matt Normand, University of Pacific – physical activity
• Ray Miltenberger, University of South Florida – physical activity, sports performance
• Julie Slowiak, University of Minnesota – Duluth – organizational psychology, workplace stress, self-care

If you are looking to join on campus programs, the best steps are to:

• Find a topic that you like
• Look at the professor’s research
• Introduce yourself over email
• Start applying

Question #4

Are you accepting practicum students?

Per the BACB guidelines, I am currently NOT an approved practicum supervisor. Thus, I cannot sign-off on any hours.

However, over the years, students and BCBA’s reach out to me for guidance. Only after hundreds of emails, did I learn that there are opportunities to teach and train others.

I have yet to go through the process of becoming an approved practicum supervisor, but would make an exception for a professional that meets ALL of the following conditions:

• You have at least 1 year of experience, or 1000 practicum hours completed to date
• Approval from your current practicum supervisor
• Have you own health and fitness client(s)

If you are that special person that have all of these conditions met, then email me (Nick) directly ([email protected]).

Outside of the BACB practicum guidelines, I do coach and train on a case-by-case basis.

To review, there are two options:

• I would consider becomes an approved practicum supervisor if the right mentee came around.
• I coach and train others as I sees fit, yet, not following any specific rubric or set of guidelines; you would receive coaching based on my expertise

Question #5

How do I start a career in health and fitness using the principles of behavior analysis?

The short answer: a lot of hard work

The long answer: a lot of hard work

Your career success depends on your background knowledge and experience.

• How much training do you have?
• How much of that training is related to your “dream job”?

Over the past several years, I’ve recognized the 4 types of people with a specific type of barrier:

• Registered behavior technicians / front line-therapists new to the field of ABA and interested in health and fitness
  • Barrier: Not fluent in behavioral principles, often lack overall experience
• BCBAs interested health and fitness
  • Barrier: No applied experience or general knowledge of health behavior change.
• BCBA with training in health and fitness certifications
  • Barrier: No clients, not sure how to start, no applied experience
• Personal trainers and health professional looking to cross-over/use ABA principles with their current clients
  • Barrier: No formal training in behavioral principles

 There are solutions for each of the barriers listed above. Each person will need their own road map as we all have a unique set of experiences.

(That is a blog for another day.)

But to touch on possible solutions for each person, here is my general advice for each group:

 Registered behavior technicians / front line-therapists

• • Recommendation: Study hard, master the art of ABA implementation, read related research during your professional journey
• BCBAs interested health and fitness
  • Recommendation: Dig into the research, develop ways to improve health behaviors with your current clients
• BCBA with training in health and fitness certifications
  • Recommendation: Evaluate WHAT your “dream job” looks like. Work backwards. Gain experience, put in work, ask me about my “BV3” coaching program designed specifically for you.
• Personal trainers and health professional looking to cross-over/use ABA principles with their current clients
  • Recommendation: Look into a couple of online introductory ABA courses to get a better grasp on the principles. Reach out to me regarding my “BV3” coaching program

There are always details that I miss, but if you NOT in one of the groups that I mentioned above – and still want some form of support or guidance – then, please email me.

I am always interested in helping others make the best decision possible.

Keep moving and stay safe!

-Nick

 

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