Guidance and Recommendations When Developing an Introductory Graduate-Level OBM Course

Recent developments in the field of behavior analysis have resulted in Board Certified Behavior Analysts® who typically deliver services in clinical settings engaging in activities that require training and experience in organizational behavior management (OBM). The Behavior Analyst Certification Board recognizes the need for credentialed professionals to receive OBM-specific training and currently requires 30 hours of graduate coursework in personnel supervision and management. However, the growth of faculty qualified to teach OBM courses does not match the growth in interest in OBM, which could result in instructors teaching topics outside their scope of competence. To provide OBM instructors with guidance on appropriate content when creating and teaching graduate-level OBM courses, the OBM Network Board of Directors created the Research and Education Committee. The committee was tasked with supporting quality education and research in OBM. This paper presents the committee’s initial recommendations for developing a graduate-level OBM course. Specifically, we provide information regarding core and supplemental content, and sourcing the materials needed for teaching these courses. We also outline several other variables that must be considered before finalizing an OBM course.