Behavior Technician Academic InternAt — Advanced Behavioral Specialists

The Behavior Technician Academic Intern will gain supervised experience providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children with developmental and behavioral needs. Under the direction of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and other qualified clinical supervisors, the intern will implement individualized skill-acquisition and behavior-reduction programs, collect objective data, and support clients in developing communication, social, play, adaptive, and daily-living skills.

Responsibilities include implementing approved treatment protocols; using reinforcement, prompting, prompt fading, visual supports, and antecedent strategies; collecting and documenting accurate session data; preparing clinical materials; maintaining a safe and organized treatment environment; completing timely session documentation; participating in supervision and training; communicating relevant observations to clinical supervisors; and following all confidentiality, safety, ethical, and mandated-reporting requirements.

All clinical responsibilities will be performed within the intern’s demonstrated training and competency and under the supervision of qualified clinical staff. Services will prioritize client dignity, assent, safety, and individualized clinical needs.

Tasks:

The student will:

• Review individualized treatment protocols and relevant clinical procedures with a qualified supervisor.
• Implement skill-acquisition programs targeting communication, social, play, adaptive, and daily-living skills.
• Implement approved behavior-support and behavior-reduction procedures under clinical supervision.
• Collect accurate, objective data on client behavior and skill performance.
• Apply reinforcement, prompting, prompt fading, visual supports, and antecedent strategies according to each client’s treatment plan.
• Analyze session data with supervisors to evaluate client progress and identify areas requiring clinical support.
• Prepare treatment materials and arrange the clinical environment to support individualized learning objectives.
• Complete objective and timely clinical documentation.
• Participate in direct observations, supervision meetings, clinical discussions, and performance-feedback sessions.
• Communicate relevant clinical observations and concerns to the supervising clinician.
• Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct by maintaining confidentiality, following mandated-reporting and safety requirements, and protecting client dignity and assent.

More than 80% of the student’s responsibilities will involve professional or pre-professional clinical activities directly related to the application of behavioral principles and the achievement of the identified learning outcomes.

Training:

The intern will complete an initial general employer orientation covering organizational policies and procedures, client confidentiality, mandated reporting, professional boundaries, workplace safety, emergency procedures, documentation requirements, and expectations for delivering behavior-analytic services.

Clinical training will include reviewing assigned treatment protocols, observing experienced staff, modeling, role-play, guided practice, and direct observation during service delivery. Qualified clinical supervisors will provide ongoing behavioral skills training, clinical overlaps, individual supervision, and performance feedback. Feedback will be provided regularly during observed sessions and supervision meetings, with additional training and coaching provided as needed. The intern will also have opportunities to ask questions, debrief clinical situations, review progress, and receive mentorship throughout the placement.

Learning Outcome:

By the end of the academic internship, the student will be able to:

1. Apply foundational principles of behavior analysis during supervised clinical sessions.
2. Implement individualized skill-acquisition and behavior-reduction programs with procedural integrity.
3. Collect and document accurate, objective data on client skills and behavior.
4. Use reinforcement, prompting, prompt fading, and antecedent strategies appropriately.
5. Demonstrate ethical and professional conduct while protecting client dignity, privacy, and safety.