Five Questions to Ask a Potential Supervisor

Searching for a supervisor to complete your fieldwork hours with can be a daunting process. As of July 2025, there are over 77,000 BCBAs! So there is a myriad of experience types you may encounter. Therefore, it is really important that you consider what kind of experience you want and what you are looking for in a supervisor. There are so many options, but here are five questions that may guide you when talking to potential supervisors:

1. What is your area of specialty?

This is probably the most important question! Since BCBAs are ethically obligated to practice within the scope of their competency, it is imperative that the individual supervising you has experience in the setting in which you are currently obtaining your hours. In addition, if you plan to branch out into a different setting, it can be helpful to know if that potential supervisor has experience in that area as well. This question can be instrumental in determining if that potential supervisor is a good fit for you.

2. Do you offer group supervision?

Some BCBAs may advertise group supervision, but not all of them do. This does not mean that they don't provide it, though. It's important to ask this question because group supervision can be extremely beneficial. This exposes you to other trainees and offers a way to obtain a well-rounded experience. While group supervision isn't required for fieldwork hours, it's nice to know if it's an option. Just remember, no more than 50% of your supervision contacts per supervision period can be conducted in a group format.

3. What is your supervision style?

There are a few different supervision styles. Some of them are extremely structured with a specific supervision curriculum. However, some supervisors have a less structured supervision style, and supervision meetings are more free-flowing. I like to refer to these styles as either supervisor-led or trainee-led. For some individuals, a structured style led by the supervisor is more beneficial. This may include weekly homework, specific topics preplanned for each week, etc. On the other hand, trainees may want flexibility in the content they are discussing or focus on different topics they select each week. You know your learning style best, so ensure your selected supervisor can accommodate that!

4. How do you conduct the required client observation each month?

There are two reasons that this question is essential. First and foremost, you are required to be observed with a client at least once during each supervision period. There are some supervisors out there who will offer all unrestricted hours and tell potential trainees that they don't need a client, but this is incorrect. So, it is beneficial to know if this potential supervisor is adhering to the requirements.

The second reason this question is important is because you will need to try to plan out how the supervisor will be able to complete an observation. For example, if the supervisor would like you to record sessions, it will be important to figure out how this will be shared in a HIPAA compliant manner. If the supervisor prefers sessions streamed live, then it will be important to figure out on what platform this will occur.

5. Do you provide me with unrestricted activities, or do I need to come up with them on my own?

This may seem like a silly question, but it isn't! The BACB 2022 experience requirements state you need a minimum of 60% of your hours to be unrestricted. Due to this high percentage, there are many trainees out there who have difficulty reaching this goal. Part of the reason is that their supervisor is not providing them with enough unrestricted activities. Yes, you can suggest unrestricted activities to your supervisor to see if they count, but it is equally important that your supervisor guides you and provides you with unrestricted activities. This question helps to prepare you for the level of guidance this potential supervisor might provide.