Chinese ABA – 2025 Chapter Update – Inside Behavior Analysis

By Karina Miao Miao Cheung

This annual report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the initiatives and achievements made in 2024 towards enhancing the quality of autism rehabilitation services. The efforts have been led by the China Association for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (CARPD) and its affiliated committees, with the goal of establishing standards, empowering institutions, and improving the overall quality of rehabilitation services for children with autism. The report covers key areas such as the establishment of a certification system for behavior analysts, the development of group standards for autism rehabilitation, the creation of training systems, and support for local institutions.

I. Establishment of a Certification System for Behavior Analysts

Background

In 2021, the CARPD was entrusted by the Department of Rehabilitation of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) to prepare for the certification of professional skills of behavior analysis practitioners. A working group was formed, comprising representatives from the Autism Rehabilitation Professional Committee, the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Professional Committee, the Office of the National Autism Rehabilitation Research Center, the China Association for the Mentally Disabled and Their Relatives, and Huaxia Publishing House. The group, chaired by Cao Yuejin, the executive director and secretary-general of the CARPD, held 15 preparatory workshops. In 2024, the preparatory group was officially renamed the “Behavior Analysis Professional Personnel (Professional Skills) Certification Work Committee.”

Key Activities and Achievements

Information Collection: In September 2021, the collection of information on registered behavior analysts in China was initiated, resulting in the collection of data from over 500 valid behavior analysis practitioners (approximately 63%). By November 2024, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) reported 501 BCBA-D and BCBA, and 629 BCaBA in China. Within the CARPD’s ABA Professional Committee, there were over 330 BCBA-D and BCBA, and over 500 BCaBA (approximately 73%).
Development of Group Standards: In 2021 in collaboration with experts from Peking University Sixth Hospital and frontline practitioners, developed two group standards: “Norms for Children’s Applied Behavior Analysis Services” and “Skill Requirements for Applied Behavior Analysis Personnel.” These standards were released on December 14, 2021, and officially implemented on January 1, 2022. Subsequently, multiple conferences, workshops, and online live broadcasts are implemented to provide training and popular science for behavior analysis practitioners, institutions, rehabilitation therapists, and parents, thereby promoting public understanding and awareness of behavior analysis.
Training System Development: Based on the “Skill Requirements for Applied Behavior Analysis Personnel” group standard, the CARPD organized experts to establish a growth path for behavior analysis practitioners from behavior technician to senior behavior analyst. The requirements for registration qualifications, theoretical and practical hours, supervision, and assessment standards for each level were clearly defined. To standardize training qualifications and processes, and to improve training quality, the CARPD also released application and review requirements for training, soliciting excellent courses from member units to cultivate more qualified behavior analysis practitioners for society.
Certification Examination: In October 2024, in accordance with the “Implementation Plan for the Care and Promotion of Autism Children (2024-2028),” the Behavior Analysis Professional Personnel (Professional Skills) Certification Work Committee organized the first certification examination for behavior analysis practitioners. This examination was designed for learners who had completed ABAI (Association for Behavior Analysis International) authorized VCS courses offered by other institutions or universities but had not yet obtained certification.

II. Development of Training Systems and Professional Training for Autism Rehabilitation

Overview

The CARPD has supported and organized experts and outstanding frontline professionals from various fields to develop a training system for autism rehabilitation education, launching a series of excellent courses. The ABAI-China Chapter has been in a mutually supportive relationship with the CARPD’s ABA Professional Committee, contributing to the development and implementation of these training systems.

Key Initiatives

Position Training Courses: Development: Under the guidance of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, the CARPD organized industry experts to develop and record basic courses that position teachers should know and be able to do. The training system includes 2,700 minutes of online training and position practical training. As of October 2024, nearly 40,000 people had participated in the training across the country. Participating in position training has gradually become a consensus in the industry and a criterion for institutions to select and employ personnel. It has also become one of the standards for some provinces and cities to determine the professional personnel configuration of rehabilitation designated institutions.
Dual-Teacher Model for Practical Training: The CARPD uniformly stipulated the practical course syllabus, content, teaching standards, and modes. Lecturers were recruited and assessed based on these standards, and those who passed the examination were hired as position practical lecturers for the association. Lecturers taught online and offline, with the association providing online supervision and review. Since January 2024, 25 practical cooperation units have been selected nationwide, and three training sessions have been completed, with a total of 551 participants.
VB-MAPP Training: The CARPD supported the ABA Professional Committee, Wuhan Linjie, Enqi, and other units to jointly conduct VB-MAPP series training. A total of 2,177 people have passed the examination and obtained certificates. The association also established a cooperation with Beijing Union University to offer VB-MAPP offline training courses for students.
Carolina Curriculum for Preschool Special Education: In 2018, the CARPD introduced the Carolina Curriculum for Preschool Special Education. In 2021, the CARPD and Huaxia Publishing House jointly launched the “Carolina Special Education Online Course.” After the course was launched, a supporting assessment toolbox and online assessment system were developed. In 2024, based on learner feedback, multiple offline practical training sessions were conducted.
Preschool Inclusive Education Teacher Training: In January 2023, Huaxia Publishing House and the Inclusive Education Research Center of Beijing Normal University jointly launched the “Construction of Preschool Inclusive Education Teacher Capacity Building Training Course System” project. A survey was conducted nationwide, covering 702 frontline teachers across 21 provinces, providing empirical evidence for the construction of the course system. The project resulted in two achievements: the “Survey Report on Preschool Inclusive Teachers’ Professional Quality and Training Situations” and the “Preschool Inclusive Support Training Course System.”

III. Future Plans

Certification System: Further refine the behavior analyst certification system to ensure it meets international standards while being adaptable to China’s unique context.
Group Standards: Continue to develop and update group standards to cover more aspects of autism rehabilitation, ensuring comprehensive and consistent service delivery.
Training Systems: Expand the coverage and improve the quality of training systems to reach more practitioners and institutions, enhancing their capabilities and skills.
Local Support: Strengthen support for local institutions to build their capacity and improve the professional skills of their staff, thereby enhancing the overall quality of autism rehabilitation services nationwide.

Conclusion

In 2024, the CARPD and its affiliated committees have made significant progress in enhancing the quality of autism rehabilitation services, with Chinese-ABA providing consistent professional support for CARPD’s ABA-related initiatives. Through the establishment of a certification system for behavior analysts, the development of group standards, the creation of comprehensive training systems, and support for local institutions, the association has contributed to the standardization and professionalization of the autism rehabilitation industry. Looking ahead, Chinese-ABA remains committed to its mission of improving the lives of persons with disabilities and their families through continuous innovation and collaboration. Together with all stakeholders, we look forward to creating a brighter future for children with special needs and their families.