Aug 27 / Dr. Kristyn Peterson, PhD, BCBA, LBA, LSSMBB

How to Complete Your BACB CEU Renewal with OBM Courses

If you've ever looked at your recertification deadline and felt a mix of mild panic and low-grade guilt about not having started yet — you're in good company. CEU renewal is one of those things that's easy to procrastinate on and stressful to sprint through at the end.

Here's the part most BCBAs don't think about until they're already doing OBM work: your renewal cycle is actually a built-in opportunity to go deeper in the direction your career is already heading. OBM courses are fully BACB-eligible continuing education — and if you're intentional about how you choose them, you can meet all three CEU categories (Learning, Supervision, and Ethics) without touching a single topic that isn't relevant to your actual work.

This guide walks you through exactly how to do that — what the BACB requires, how OBM courses satisfy each requirement, how to verify providers, and a sample renewal plan using Moralis Machina courses. If you want the full breakdown of what OBM CEUs are and what to look for before choosing a provider, that's covered in our standalone guide here [link to /obm-ceus-for-bcbas].

THE BACB CEU REQUIREMENT, BY THE NUMBERS

Every BCBA renews on a 2-year cycle. Within each cycle, you're required to earn 32 continuing education units (CEUs). That breaks down as follows:

CEU TYPE

REQUIREMENT

Ethics CEUs

At least 4 per cycle; Required for all BCBAs

Supervision CEUs

3 per cycle; Only required for BCBAs who supervise

Learning CEUs

Remaining units (typically 25 - 29 after Ethics and Supervision are done) on any BACB-eligible topic

Total Required

32 CEUs per 2-year recertification cycle

The BACB announced upcoming changes to BCBA requirements effective 2027. If you're starting a new renewal cycle now, confirm the current requirements in your BACB certificant portal before planning your CEU strategy.

WHAT COUNTS AS EACH TYPE OF CEU

Learning CEUs

Learning CEUs are your general-purpose bucket; any behavior-analytic content that covers practice, science, methodology, theory, or the profession qualifies. OBM, by definition, is behavior analysis applied to organizations which means the vast majority of OBM course content qualifies as BACB Learning CEUs. Performance management, BSA, systems analysis, leadership, organizational behavior, process improvement... all of it.

Supervision CEUs

Supervision CEUs require content that's specifically about effective supervision, not just any management or leadership content. Behavior-analytic supervision as defined by the BACB's Supervisor Training Curriculum Outline (STCO 2.0). If you supervise RBTs, BCaBAs, or other implementers, you're required to have 3 of your 32 CEUs be Supervision CEUs.

Ethics CEUs

Ethics CEUs require content directly related to the BACB's ethics requirements, cultural/contextual responsiveness, or ethical dimensions of behavior-analytic practice. The content has to be connected to the behavior-analytic literature and practice, so general "professional ethics" content doesn't automatically qualify. In OBM contexts, ethics content might cover client relationships, dual relationships in organizational settings, scope of competence, or culturally responsive practice.

Bonus! Teaching CEUs

If you teach or present a BACB-approved CE event, you can earn Learning CEUs equal to the time you spent presenting, one time per event. If you're doing OBM training, workshops, or presentations for other behavior analysts check with the provider, or if you have an idea what you want to share, inquire about becoming a collaborator here are Moralis.

HOW TO VERIFY BACB ACE PROVIDER STATUS

The BACB's ACE (Authorized Continuing Education) program is the only way to know for sure that a provider's courses will count toward your BCBA renewal. Here's how to verify:
  • Step 1: Go to the BACB's ACE Provider Directory at bacb.com. Search by provider name, topic, or CEU type.
  • Step 2: Confirm the provider has current, active ACE status. ACE approval has to be renewed. A provider that was approved two years ago may have lapsed. Always check before you purchase.
  • Step 3: Look for the ACE Provider Number on the course or provider website. It should be in the format OP-XX-XXXX. Legitimate providers display it prominently.
  • Step 4: Verify the specific CEU type listed for each course (Learning, Supervision, or Ethics). The BACB requires providers to designate the type at the course level. Not all courses from an ACE provider are automatically the same type.

Moralis Machina's ACE Provider Number is OP-23-10336. You can verify our current status directly on the BACB's ACE Provider Directory.

MORALIS MACHINA'S FULL CATALOG

Moralis Machina was built specifically to serve BCBAs who are doing OBM work — or who want to. Every course in our catalog is BACB-approved continuing education, and we offer all three CEU types across 56 courses totaling 239 CEU hours.

LEARNING PATH

WHAT'S COVERED

OBM Essentials

OBM fundamentals, history, philosophy, sub-specialties, visual analysis, career pivot resources

Performance Management

Root cause analysis, PIC/NIC, balanced scorecard, feedback delivery, pay-for-performance

Behavioral Systems Analysis (BSA)

Systems theory + behavior analysis, process mapping, macro-level organizational change, process improvement, LSS integration

Lean Six Sigma for BCBAs

5 levels of certification (staring with White Belt and ending with Master Black Belt); process improvement integrated with behavior analysis

Organizational Change Management (OCM)

Large-scale change frameworks, ADKAR, change readiness assessments, change management plans, leadership buy-in

Company Culture

Psychological safety, employee engagement, people experience, retention, burnout

Leadership

Leader behavior, performance, gaining buy-in, behavioral systems, sustainability

Employee Health & Wellness

Burnout, behavior-based safety, stress management, seasonal challenges, wellness program design

Supervision

Behavior-analytic supervision, feedback delivery, critical friends framework, psychological safety as Supervision CEUs

Ethics

Ethics in OBM and organizational contexts, Ethics CEUs

Learning & Development

Adult learning, training design, instructional design, talent development, SME work

Business Skills

KPIs, gap analyses, business building; foundational business knowledge for BCBAs pivoting to OBM. self-employment or entrepreneurship 

Project Management

Project management for BCBAs, PMP prep course

Marketing & Consumer Behavior Analysis (CBA)

Consumer choice, behavioral economics, choice architecture, UI/UX, social media behavior, misinformation

Product Development

Gamification, instructional design, UI/UX, behavior-driven product design

For Job Seekers

Values articulation, resume writing, interviewing, individual supervision and mentoring, OBM career coaching

Applied Animal Behavior

Behavior analytic concepts applied to animal training and care; ABA in zoos and aquariums

Courses are available individually from $25, or as part of a $29/month subscription that includes the full catalog. Two free courses are available with a free account if you want to preview the content and teaching style before committing.


A SAMPLE RENEWAL PLANS USING MORALIS MACHINA

WITH OUR SUBSCRIPTION

Here's one way a BCBA who supervises could build out a full 32-CEU renewal cycle using only Moralis Machina courses — with room to specialize based on where their work is heading:

CEU CATEGORY

HOURS REQUIRED

EXAMPLE MORALIS COURSES

Ethics CEUs

4 CEUs Required

Why Psychological Safety (Or Lack Thereof) is Contagious in the Workplace (1.5 Ethics) 

The Ethics of Expertise: What SME Work Should Look Like (1.5 Ethics) 

Intro to Employee Engagement (1 Ethics, 1 SUP) 

Supervision CEUs

3 CEUs Required

Leadership 201 (2 SUP) 

Intro to Employee Engagement (1 Ethics, 1 SUP)

Learning CEUs

25 CEUs Required

Intro to OBM Careers (1.5 LRN) 

7 Uncomfy Truths about OBM (1.5 LRN) 

Values Articulation for Job Seekers (1.5 LRN) 

Intro to Consumer Behavior Analysis (1.5 LRN) 

Visual Analysis in OBM (2 LRN) 

Intro to Behavior-Based Safety (1.5 LRN) 

OCM: Low Hanging Fruit for BCBAs Who Want to OBM (2 LRN) 

The Hidden Cost of Burnout for BCBAs: Moral Injury (2 LRN) 

Contingency Analysis in OBM (2 LRN) 

A Behavior Analyst's Guide to Employee Wellness (1.5 LRN) 

Intro to UI/UX (1.5 LRN) 

Total

32 CEUs Required

One subscription, one provider, lots to discover. 
If you don't supervise, you skip the Supervision requirement and shift those 3 hours to Learning CEUs, giving you 29 Learning CEUs to work with. Either way, 32 hours is very achievable within a 2-year cycle at a pace of about 1–2 courses per month.

WITH 2 LSS CERTIFICATIONS INCLUDED

CEU CATEGORY

HOURS REQUIRED

EXAMPLE MORALIS COURSES

Ethics CEUs

4 CEUs Required

7 Uncomfy Truths about OBM (2 Ethics) 

Why Psychological Safety (or Lack Thereof) is Contagious in the Workplace (1.5 Ethics) 

The Ethics of Expertise: What SME Work Should Look Like (1.5 Ethics) 

Supervision CEUs

3 CEUs Required

Task Enjoyment Motivation Protocol: A Supervision Tool for Managing Aversive Tasks (1.5 SUP) 

Conditional Probabilities: Analyzing Learning History in the Workplace (2 SUP) 

Learning CEUs

4 CEUs Required

Intro to BSA (1.5 CEUs)

How BSA can Help BCBAs Make Macro-Levell Changes (1.5 CEUs)

BSA of the Guest Experience (1.5 LRN) 

Lean Six Sigma White Belt (8 CEUs)

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (11 CEUs) 

Total

32 CEUs Required

BCBA Renewal complete with 3 CEUs, + he first two levels of Lean Six Sigma certification under your belt
Important to Know: Moralis Machina's LSS courses earn BACB Learning CEUs and include the belt certification exams, so you walk away from the course with both the CEUs and the credential. The LSS certifications are CSSC-accredited and issued upon passing the integrated exam within the course.

WITH A PMP PREP COURSE INCLUDED

CEU CATEGORY

HOURS REQUIRED

EXAMPLE MORALIS COURSES

Ethics CEUs

4 CEUs Required

The Secret to Delivering Feedback (1 Ethics)

Gaining Buy-in from Leaders (1.5 Ethics) 

An Introduction to the Critical Friend Framework for Behavior Analysts (1.5 Ethics)

Supervision CEUs

3 CEUs Required

Balanced Scorecard Tutorial (1.5 SUP) 

Intro to Learning & Development (1.5 SUP) 

Learning CEUs

25 CEUs Required

Project Management for BCBAs (6 LRN) 

From ABA to Anywhere: PMP Prep Course (10 LRN)

Conducting Gap Analyses (2 LRN) 

KPIs for Behavior Analysts: A Practical Approach (1.5 LRN) 

A Behavior Analyst's Guide to Mapping Experiences (2 LRN) 

Visual Analysis in OBM (2 LRN) 

Intro to BSA (1.5 LRN)

Total

32 CEUs Required

BACB renewal complete; PMP education requirement and exam application are complete! 

Whichever scenario fits your career trajectory, the common thread is this: at $29/month, your renewal cycle and your credential-building aren't competing. They run on the same track.

YOUR CEUS ARE DUE. LET'S MAKE THEM COUNT. 

Your CEUs should help you move your career forward, not just check a box. 

Browse the full course catalog, access two free courses, or start a subscription at $29/month. 


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many CEUs do BCBAs need to renew their certification? 

BCBAs are required to earn 32 CEUs per 2-year recertification cycle. At least 4 of those must be Ethics CEUs. If you supervise RBTs, BCaBAs, or other implementers, you also need 3 Supervision CEUs. The remaining hours are Learning CEUs on any approved behavior-analytic topic.

Do OBM courses count toward BACB CEU renewal?

Yes! OBM is a practice area within applied behavior analysis, and BACB-approved OBM courses count as BACB continuing education.

Learning CEUs, Supervision CEUs, and Ethics CEUs can all be earned through OBM courses, provided the content meets the BACB's requirements for each category and the provider holds current ACE status

How do I know if a CEU provider is BACB-approved?

Check the BACB's ACE Provider Directory at bacb.com. Every authorized provider has an ACE Provider Number (format: OP-XX-XXXX), which should be displayed on the provider's website and on individual course materials.

ACE status must be renewed by the provider so always verify current status before purchasing! 

Can I earn all 32 of my CEUs through OBM courses?

Yes, as long as the OBM provider offers content across all three required CEU categories (Learning, Ethics, and Supervision, if applicable) and holds current BACB ACE status.

Moralis Machina offers all three categories across 239 CEU hours; more than enough to complete multiple full renewal cycles without needing a second provider.

What happens if I take a course and the provider later loses ACE approval?

If you completed the course while the provider held active ACE status, your CEUs should still be valid.

The BACB evaluates CEU eligibility at the time the course was taken, not at the time of renewal. That said, keep your completion certificates because if there's ever a question, your documentation is your protection.

Do I need to report my CEUs to the BACB as I earn them?

You report and submit your CEUs during the recertification process at the end of your cycle, not as you go.

But... it's good practice to upload certificates or log completions in your BACB certificant portal as you finish courses. it's much easier than hunting down certificates at the end of a 2-year window (We know... easier said than done #procrastinationqueen!) 

What if I want both BACB CEUs and credit toward a LSS, PMP or CCMP certification?

Some Moralis Machina prep courses are designed to work toward both simultaneously: BACB Learning CEUs and preparation for PMP (PMI) or CCMP (ACMP) credentialing. We are able to offer approved certification exams for Lean Six Sigma credentialing. The certifications themselves are separate processes with their own requirements, but your learning can overlap.

That overlap is one of the structural advantages of the OBM + change management + LSS combination.