I was once told by a girl that she was super busy and didn ' t have time for me , and always gave me as much priority as possible . It was legit , she had two jobs and was undertaking university at the time . Our contact died off , then would bounce back like a spring . She would invite me over on the odd occasion . Turns out she was sleeping with two other guys . My point is , how much time does someone really need ? It ' s not about time , it ' s about priorities . <| sep |> I think you miss the point of the certification or any certification that ensures minimum competence . The BCBA distinction is not to reward you for completing coursework , its to protect potential clientele from getting involved with unqualified practitioners . While I agree with your point that it doesn ' t actually ensure one is a great BA , it does ensure one at least has met minimally agreed upon prerequisites to practice . It ' s a consumer protection tool . Nothing more .