Things to know before you apply...

We seek diversity! We hire all people; regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, religion, disability , political persuasion or relationship orientation. Behavior analysis is a thinking person’s job. No two days are the same, except you will learn something new every day you come to work!

We work with children, adolescents and adults with behavior challenges. Some behaviors are dangerous to the individual and those around him, other behaviors may seem bizarre or embarrassing. We do not judge, we simply assist our individuals in setting and achieving behavior goals.

Our consumers are not objects of pity, we do not work with them because we feel sorry for them. We respect their right to become the best person they can be. We assist them in achieving their life goals by consistently providing opportunities to change the behaviors that prevent them from fully integrating into the community as equals. This starts by treating them as peers.

Your role is not to “be the boss”, but to assist them in being accountable for their own behavior, with all of the joys and pitfalls we, as human beings, experience. As a staff person you must be able to learn to present an animated, positive interaction or a neutral interaction, on demand, regardless of your own feelings in the moment. You must be able to learn how to ignore words and actions intended to elicit a reaction, and continue to implement the task as it is intended to be presented. This is not easy, but the rest of the staff are there assisting and supporting you.

Nice people are, well, nice, but the most effective staff are those who are goal-oriented and who enjoy a challenge. Although nice people are nice too!

Many staff are students, both undergraduate and graduate. We are very supportive of scheduling around classes, however this is a job, and staff are expected to work during summer and school breaks.

Continue reading this page to see other requirements and situations that may exclude some applicants. If you are still interested, come by and drop off your resume, or email a resume to BehaviorBrevard@bellsouth.net. Please put your last name and the word “resume” on the subject line (example: Smith—Resume). Include a cover letter (in the body of the email) with the resume. No resume? Call (321) 639-9800 to see if we have any open positions. If so, you may pick up an application at the office (directions) Monday through Friday, 9am to 5 pm.

Other Requirements

Employees working in eligible positions require a physical exam (at your expense) prior to the onset of training. The physical must be done on our form as it includes the physical requirements the doctor will be asked to evaluate for each position. If you are applying for a direct care position, the job frequently requires active interventions to prevent injury to the consumer, staff, or property, so certain physical requirements must be met.
BSoB is a drug-free workplace and all staff are required to pass a drug screening prior to working with consumers.

All staff are required to pass a level II background screening prior to working with consumers. A level II screening will check fingerprints state-wide, and they will also be sent to the FBI to be compared with national fingerprint databases. By state law, some offenses, such as those relating to domestic violence, abuse or exploitation of a person from a protected population, automatically disqualify even the most motivated and talented applicant. Applicants with an offense that is not immediately disqualifying may be eligible for employment on a case-by-case basis. After all, we know behavior can change! However, any offenses must be reported on the application. The level II screening has even identified “expunged” charges from other states. Failure to disclose past legal entanglements prior to a fingerprint screening report with a “finding” can result in termination of employment.

All staff are trained in “Tools for Positive Behavior Change”, a curriculum created for use with foster families, reunifying families and those at risk. Developed using the principals and practices of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the work of Dr. Glenn Latham was also used extensively. Tools are based on preventing undesired behaviors and reinforcing those that are desired. Tools work with children, adolescents and adults equally well, even those with identified disabilities. This class is a two-day class, and class participation, including role-play, is required.

In addition, staff are trained in Professional Crisis Management (PCM), a system that also focuses on prevention, but provides interventions that can be used when an individual becomes a danger to themselves or others. PCM is a physically demanding, three-day training. It is a mandatory training that involves repeated lowering of classmates to the floor, repeatedly rising from a kneeling position without support, and other physical manipulations. The training is important because you will use these procedures repeatedly on the job. Many of the items on the employment physical are related to this training and the use of these skills on the job.

Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA)

These practitioners have a Master’s degree or a Ph.D., have received 225 hours in graduate classes in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and have completed an approved internship*. In Florida, for practitioners working with individuals through the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, BCBAs are classified as a level I or level II, dependent upon the number of years as a practitioner, not their graduate degree. Years as a BCaBA do not count towards experiential requirements for Level I.

Level I— Fewer than three years as a BCBA
Level II—Three years or more as a BCBA

*Some BCBAs may have been originally certified with less stringent requirements.

Board Certified assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA)

These practitioners are certified at the Bachelor’s level, however, they may have a graduate degree. This certification requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, 135 hours of graduate classes in ABA, and an approved internship**. BCaBAs, as of 1/1/09, are required to receive and document a minimum of one hour per month of supervision from a BCBA in order to maintain certification. BCaBAs may also be CBA Interns if they are actively seeking certification at the higher level.

**Some BCaBAs may have been originally certified with less stringent requirements.

Florida Behavior Analysts (FL-BCBA, FL-CABA, FL-CBA-e)

These practitioners were certified in the Florida Certification program prior to the formation of national certification by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board. Their certification is only recognized in Florida. Although a FL-CBA-e has a graduate degree, and the FL-CABAs have a Bachelor’s degree, the FL-CBA may have a high school diploma or a degree. Many Florida behavior analysts have been certified since the 1980s and have decades of experience. FL-CBAs and FL-CABAs require monthly supervision by a BCBA, a FL-CBA-e does not.

Behavior Aides, Assistants and Specialists

Staff are classified for our internal purposes as Behavior Aides, Behavior Assistants, and Behavior Specialists.

Behavior Assistants work in-home or in community settings with little or no direct supervision. Thus, the Behavior Assistant is required to demonstrate their ability to consistently implement a variety of behavior programs prior to being allowed Behavior Assistant status. Behavior Assistants (not to be confused with Board Certified assistant Behavior Analysts, or BCaBAs), work in conjunction with a BCaBA and/or a BCBA to implement behavior programs and model intervention strategies for caregivers in between BCBA or BCaBA visits, maintaining caregiver behavioral momentum.

Behavior Aides may be new to behavior analysis Adult Day Training (ADT) facilities, but they receive the same extensive training as the other staff. Aides are assigned a mentor who they will shadow, and who will shadow them, until they have learned the basic skills necessary for working in the ADT. After the shadowing phase, the Aide’s mentor continues to provide weekly specific feedback, fading to monthly, as the aide learns the ropes.

Behavior Specialists have two years of experience implementing behavior programming with challenging populations. New Specialists are also assigned a Mentor, and participate in feedback sessions with their Mentor on a weekly, then monthly, schedule. Mentors are typically Specialists, however, it is possible to be an exceptionally talented Aide and be a Mentor.

Interns are staff who are actively seeking certification in behavior analysis at the Bachelor’s or Graduate level. Interns can be Aides, Assistants, Specialists, or BCaBAs. Interns typically have a Bachelor’s degree, but may be an undergraduate who is completing their B.A. or B.S. and is taking ABA classes as a part of, or in addition to, their courses. Actively seeking certification is defined as taking BACB-approved classes in applied behavior analysis (ABA) and adhering to the requirements for internship as defined by the BACB. Experience towards internship requirements is only allowed after starting the first approved class. Hours of experience completed prior to the first class CANNOT be counted, even if the experience was completed at an agency or facility that meets criterion as an internship site. Contact the BACB for more details.