According to the BACB Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts specifically sections related to competence 102 and discontinuing services 215 a BCBA must only provide services within the boundaries of their competence When a clients needs exceed a practitioners competence and continued service is not yielding progress the BCBA has an ethical obligation to ensure the clients wellbeing Immediately terminating services without a transition plan constitutes abandonment 215 b which is unethical While seeking supervision is generally good practice 205 if the BCBA genuinely lacks the fundamental competence for the case and progress has stalled it may not be sufficient or timely Attending a yearlong training program is not appropriate as time is of the essence for the clients critical behavior and waiting a year would be detrimental The most ethical and appropriate action is to create a detailed transition plan and refer the client to a more competent provider This ensures continuity of care prevents abandonment and prioritizes the clients need for effective intervention