BCAT CERTIFICATION EXAM STUDY
SHEET 2026 ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS,
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, AND RATIONALES
Stimulus Control - CORRECT ANSWER-When the phone rings you
answer it. When the class bell rings, the students change classes. When you
ask "what is your favorite color?" the child says " red".
Response - CORRECT ANSWER-the specific instance of a particular
behavior, (Correct, Incorrect, No Response)
Discrete Trial Training - CORRECT ANSWER-(DTT) an intervention
method based on the science of ABA a highly structures method of teaching
skills by breaking them down
Discrete Trial Training - CORRECT ANSWER-TX tells child to "touch
cup" Child touches cup, the TX gives the child a piece of apple
Discrimination Training - CORRECT ANSWER-The process of
reinforcing a target response only when the target antecedent or SD is
present, the child is learning to tell the difference between two or more SD's
Discrete Trial Training - CORRECT ANSWER-A specific method of
teaching in which a task is isolated and taught across multiple trials. A
specific opportunity is presented and a specific response from the learner is
expected. A consequence follows the learners response
,Natural Environment Training - CORRECT ANSWER-(NET) teaching in
the natural environment
Fluency-Based Instruction - CORRECT ANSWER-a teaching model that
encourages educators to teach specific elements of behavior over and over
again until the behavior becomes fluent
Generalization - CORRECT ANSWER-the process of taking a skill
learned in one setting and applying it in other settings, the process of taking
one skill and applying it in different ways
Maintenance - CORRECT ANSWER-the continuation of a behavior
change after all or a part of the intervention responsible for the behavior
change has been faded or terminated
Caregiver Training - CORRECT ANSWER-training for the parents
and/or family members or caregivers, given by the BCBA so they can
support learning and skill practice throughout the day
Premack Principle - CORRECT ANSWER-a principle that states that
contingent access to high-frequency behaviors (preferred activities) serves
as a reinforcer for the performance of low-frequency behavior
Preference Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER-a collection of methods
used to predict the extent to which stimuli will function as reinforcers for a
given individual
, Prompt - CORRECT ANSWER-a cue or hint meant to induce a person to
perform a desired behavior, an antecedent that induces a person to perform
a behavior that otherwise does not occur
Errorless Learning - CORRECT ANSWER-a therapy strategy that
ensures children always respond correctly, as each skill is taught children
are provided with a prompt or cue immediately following an instruction,
the immediate prompt prevents any chance for incorrect responses
Most-to-Least Prompting - CORRECT ANSWER-Fading from one type
of prompt to another less intrusive prompt, using the most intrusive (full
physical) to the least intensive (stimulus manipulation) used when teaching
a new skill
Least-to-Most Prompting - CORRECT ANSWER-a hierarchy of prompts
is used and this hierarchy has a minimum of three levels, 1st is independent
(no prompt) the remaining levels are sequenced to form the least amount of
help to the most amount of help, the last level should be a controlling
prompt that results in the learner doing the behavior correctly
Prompt Fading - CORRECT ANSWER-decreasing the level of assistance
needed to complete a task or activity, the overall goal is for the student to
eventually engage in the skill independently
Time Delay Prompt - CORRECT ANSWER-The transfer of stimulus
control from the prompt to the target SD by increasing the elapsed time
between the presentation of the target SD and the prompts across trials
SHEET 2026 ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS,
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, AND RATIONALES
Stimulus Control - CORRECT ANSWER-When the phone rings you
answer it. When the class bell rings, the students change classes. When you
ask "what is your favorite color?" the child says " red".
Response - CORRECT ANSWER-the specific instance of a particular
behavior, (Correct, Incorrect, No Response)
Discrete Trial Training - CORRECT ANSWER-(DTT) an intervention
method based on the science of ABA a highly structures method of teaching
skills by breaking them down
Discrete Trial Training - CORRECT ANSWER-TX tells child to "touch
cup" Child touches cup, the TX gives the child a piece of apple
Discrimination Training - CORRECT ANSWER-The process of
reinforcing a target response only when the target antecedent or SD is
present, the child is learning to tell the difference between two or more SD's
Discrete Trial Training - CORRECT ANSWER-A specific method of
teaching in which a task is isolated and taught across multiple trials. A
specific opportunity is presented and a specific response from the learner is
expected. A consequence follows the learners response
,Natural Environment Training - CORRECT ANSWER-(NET) teaching in
the natural environment
Fluency-Based Instruction - CORRECT ANSWER-a teaching model that
encourages educators to teach specific elements of behavior over and over
again until the behavior becomes fluent
Generalization - CORRECT ANSWER-the process of taking a skill
learned in one setting and applying it in other settings, the process of taking
one skill and applying it in different ways
Maintenance - CORRECT ANSWER-the continuation of a behavior
change after all or a part of the intervention responsible for the behavior
change has been faded or terminated
Caregiver Training - CORRECT ANSWER-training for the parents
and/or family members or caregivers, given by the BCBA so they can
support learning and skill practice throughout the day
Premack Principle - CORRECT ANSWER-a principle that states that
contingent access to high-frequency behaviors (preferred activities) serves
as a reinforcer for the performance of low-frequency behavior
Preference Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER-a collection of methods
used to predict the extent to which stimuli will function as reinforcers for a
given individual
, Prompt - CORRECT ANSWER-a cue or hint meant to induce a person to
perform a desired behavior, an antecedent that induces a person to perform
a behavior that otherwise does not occur
Errorless Learning - CORRECT ANSWER-a therapy strategy that
ensures children always respond correctly, as each skill is taught children
are provided with a prompt or cue immediately following an instruction,
the immediate prompt prevents any chance for incorrect responses
Most-to-Least Prompting - CORRECT ANSWER-Fading from one type
of prompt to another less intrusive prompt, using the most intrusive (full
physical) to the least intensive (stimulus manipulation) used when teaching
a new skill
Least-to-Most Prompting - CORRECT ANSWER-a hierarchy of prompts
is used and this hierarchy has a minimum of three levels, 1st is independent
(no prompt) the remaining levels are sequenced to form the least amount of
help to the most amount of help, the last level should be a controlling
prompt that results in the learner doing the behavior correctly
Prompt Fading - CORRECT ANSWER-decreasing the level of assistance
needed to complete a task or activity, the overall goal is for the student to
eventually engage in the skill independently
Time Delay Prompt - CORRECT ANSWER-The transfer of stimulus
control from the prompt to the target SD by increasing the elapsed time
between the presentation of the target SD and the prompts across trials
