RBT® Exam Prep

A Guide to Free Continuing Education Unit (CEU) for BCBAs in 2025

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by

Adam
in

Greetings, colleagues. As educators and practitioners deeply invested in the principles and application of behavior analysis, we share a fundamental commitment: continuous growth. Staying current isn’t just about meeting the BACB’s recertification requirement of 32 CEUs every two years—though that’s certainly important, especially minding the specific needs for ethics and supervision units. More profoundly, it’s about refining our craft, upholding our ethical obligations, and ensuring we provide the most effective, evidence-based support possible to those we serve. It’s the intellectual vitality that keeps our field dynamic and responsive.

Now, we all recognize that pursuing high-quality professional development can sometimes feel like a significant financial undertaking. Workshops, conferences, and advanced courses offer immense value, but the costs can add up. Fortunately, our field benefits from a strong culture of knowledge sharing. Many excellent organizations understand these constraints and generously offer valuable continuing education opportunities at no cost. Think of these not as “lesser” options, but as accessible pathways to maintain your learning momentum.

This guide is intended to be a helpful companion, pointing you toward some truly worthwhile free CEU resources. Let’s take a calm stroll through some of the avenues available to you.

Exploring the Landscape: Where to Find No-Cost CEU Opportunities

The beauty of today’s learning environment is its diversity. You can find valuable CEUs delivered through various formats, fitting comfortably into different schedules and learning preferences. Let’s delve into some specific providers:

1. Immersive Learning Through Audio and Apps:

  • Full Spectrum ABA (Mobile Application): For those who appreciate the convenience of learning on a mobile device, the Full Spectrum ABA app is quite remarkable. It offers a surprisingly extensive library—we’re talking dozens of topics—available entirely free. Imagine accessing sessions on culturally sensitive practices, autism and puberty, OBM, trauma-informed care, or verbal behavior, all from your phone or tablet during a quiet moment or commute. It represents a significant commitment to accessible professional development. It’s worth downloading just to explore the breadth of content.
  • ABA Inside Track (Podcast): I often recommend podcasts as a superb way to weave learning into the fabric of a busy life. ABA Inside Track, hosted by fellow BCBAs, excels here. While many episodes offer CEUs for purchase, they consistently designate certain episodes as sources for free CEUs. You listen to insightful discussions on pertinent topics – perhaps parent training under stress, or providing services globally – note the keywords mentioned, and follow their link to claim your credit. It’s an engaging way to stay connected to current conversations in the field.
  • Blossom Children’s Center (Podcast and Resources): Here’s another resource leveraging the podcast format. Through their “Blossoming Together” podcast, Blossom Children’s Center provides free CEUs covering practical areas like compassionate parent training or navigating common pitfalls for new BCBAs. Being an ACE provider adds a layer of assurance regarding quality. You typically listen and complete a brief quiz. They also offer other resources on their site.
    • Explore Their Offerings: Check out https://blossomchildrenscenter.com/free-ceus/. (As a practical note, sometimes websites undergo changes or experience temporary issues, so it’s always wise to verify the link is active when you visit).

2. Engaging with Live, Scheduled Learning:

  • Behavior University (Regular Live Webinars): If you thrive on the structure and potential interaction of live events, Behavior University is a provider to keep on your radar. They typically host two free live webinars each month, often scheduled around 9:00 AM Pacific Time. Recent and upcoming topics give you a sense of their relevance: addressing behavior analyst burnout, strategies for reducing staff injuries, exploring the role of AI in ABA. Attending live allows you to absorb the material and often engage with the presenter. You’ll need to create a free account to register and access your CEU certificate afterward.
  • Verbal Beginnings (Monthly Live Opportunities): Consistency can be very helpful in planning your CEU accrual. Verbal Beginnings often provides free live online CEU events monthly, typically awarding 2 CEUs per session. Signing up for their updates or checking their schedule periodically is the best way to catch these valuable sessions.
  • Mellanie Page / BehaviorLive (Monthly Live Events): Similar to Verbal Beginnings, Mellanie Page utilizes the BehaviorLive platform to offer free monthly live CEU events. These sessions often dive into timely issues within behavior analysis. Direct email contact seems to be the encouraged method for getting specifics on upcoming events.
  • Endicott College (Annual Conference CEUs): For those looking to potentially gain several CEUs at once, keep an eye on the annual conferences hosted by Endicott College’s Institute for Applied Behavioral Science. Events focusing on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), and Autism often include opportunities to earn free BACB CEUs, whether attended virtually or, in some cases, in person. These are substantive events covering significant areas of our field.

3. Learning at Your Own Pace: On-Demand Courses and Videos

  • Therapy Brands CEU Library: Flexibility is key for many busy professionals. Therapy Brands offers a selection of free, on-demand video CEUs through their library. You might find useful sessions on assessment tools like the VB-MAPP, essential supervision practices, or navigating the ethics of marketing your ABA services. Access often involves a simple registration form, a common practice for tracking participation and informing users of future offerings.
  • CentralReach (A Focused Course on Cultural Responsiveness): Our field is increasingly recognizing the vital importance of cultural humility and responsiveness. CentralReach has made a commendable contribution by offering a free, 2.5 CEU course specifically on Culturally Responsive Care. This is an excellent opportunity to deepen your understanding in an area critical to ethical and effective practice.
  • Behavior Analyst CE (A Starting Point): This organization provides a small collection of free courses (currently around six) that allow you to sample their content. While they have a larger paid library, these free offerings can be a good way to pick up a CEU or two on varied topics without any financial commitment.
  • Affordable ABA (Focused Topic Course): Affordable ABA provides a specific free course worth 1 CEU focused on “Parent Involvement with Early Intervention Services”—a cornerstone of effective practice for many of us. The process involves viewing the course materials and then passing an associated exam to receive credit.
  • AATBS (Professional Development Topic): The Association for Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences (AATBS) currently offers a free, self-paced 1 CEU course titled “More Than Membership: Participating in Behavior-Analytic Professional Organizations.” This focuses on the value of engaging with our broader professional community, an often overlooked aspect of growth.

4. Sampling and Micro-Learning Opportunities:

  • ABA Wizard (A Free Taste): Sometimes, trying before you buy (even if you don’t intend to buy!) is helpful. ABA Wizard offers one specific free CEU course, “Reducing Opiate and Cocaine Use with ABA,” as a way to introduce you to their platform’s format and style. It’s a no-risk way to gain a CEU and see if their other affordable options might suit you later.
  • AlohaABA (Bite-Sized Learning): If you find yourself needing just a half-unit or prefer very focused, short learning sessions, AlohaABA offers a few pre-recorded courses worth 0.5 CEUs each, free of charge. These can be perfect for filling small gaps or learning in brief intervals.
  • Manhattan Psychology Group (Free Webinar Content): This group provides free webinars on relevant topics, such as one on “Increasing Spontaneous Language.” It’s important to note that while the webinar content itself may be free to view, obtaining the official CEU certificate for some events might require a separate purchase. However, they also seem to offer free CEUs periodically, so exploring their resources is worthwhile. The knowledge gained from the free webinar itself still holds value.

A Gentle Note on Due Diligence

As with any online resource, it’s always good practice to do a quick check. Click the links provided, ensure the offer for free CEUs is still current, and understand any specific requirements (like attending live, completing a quiz, or registering for an account). Websites evolve, and offers can change, so a moment of verification ensures you’re investing your time wisely.

In Closing: Embrace the Journey of Learning

Colleagues, I hope this exploration proves helpful as you navigate your continuing education requirements. The availability of these diverse, high-quality, free resources is truly a benefit to our professional community. It allows us all, regardless of budget constraints, to remain engaged, informed, and continually improving our practice.

I encourage you to bookmark some of these providers, sign up for newsletters where appropriate, and make exploring these free options a regular part of your professional development strategy. Investing in your own learning is not just about checking boxes for recertification; it’s about nurturing your passion for behavior analysis, enhancing your skills, and ultimately, providing the best possible support to those who rely on our expertise.

Continue your excellent work, stay curious, and embrace the ongoing journey of professional growth.

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