ABA Exam CoachHow many times can you take the BCBA exam?
Short answer: up to 8 attempts within the 2 years after your application is approved, with at least 30 days between attempts. Each retake costs $140 (BACB retake application) plus $125 (Pearson VUE appointment).
The rest of this page sets out each rule as the BACB publishes it, what it costs, and how to use your attempts well. Every rule comes from the BACB's handbook and examination pages, linked at the end. Check your BACB portal account for your own dates.
The attempt limit: 8 in 2 years
The BACB's handbook says you may take the BCBA exam up to 8 times in total, and every attempt must fall within the 2 years after your initial application is approved.
Two details people miss:
- 8 is the total, first attempt included. Your first sitting counts, so you get the first attempt plus up to 7 retakes.
- The 2 years start when your application is approved, not on your first exam date. If you waited months to book your first attempt, that time has already come off your 2 years. Your portal account shows your deadline.
If you use all 8 attempts and still have time left in your 2-year period, you must wait until that period ends before you can reapply for certification.
The waiting period: 30 days
You must wait 30 days after your previous attempt before you can retake. The sequence after a fail:
- Within 48 hours, an Examination Retake Application appears in your BACB portal account.
- You submit it and pay the $140 fee.
- Within 48 hours of submitting, you get an authorization email with instructions for scheduling.
- You book and pay for a new appointment with Pearson VUE, for a date at least 30 days after your last attempt.
Thirty days is the minimum the rules allow. It is not a study plan. If you haven't changed how you prepare, an early date mostly buys another $265 bill and the same result.
What a retake costs
| Item | Paid to | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Examination Retake Application | BACB | $140 |
| Examination appointment | Pearson VUE | $125 |
| Each retake | $265 |
Pearson VUE may also add sales tax, VAT or GST where you test. BACB fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Rescheduling or canceling an appointment:
| When you change it | Fee |
|---|---|
| 31 days or more before | $0 |
| 30 to 5 days before | $59 |
| 5 days to 48 hours before | $69 |
Within 48 hours of the appointment you can't change it. If you arrive more than 30 minutes late or don't show, you lose the appointment fee.
Veterans: the handbook notes that veterans who qualify for the GI Bill can get BACB exam fees reimbursed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, whether or not they pass.
The outline can change under you
You test under whatever edition of the BCBA Test Content Outline is current on the day you sit. If a new edition takes effect during your authorization period, you test under the new one, and the BACB says exceptions won't be granted. Today that's the 6th edition, in use since 2025. If you studied from older 5th-edition materials, check them against the 6th edition content areas.
If your time or attempts run out
Your authorization lasts 2 years from approval. If it ends before you pass, you have to apply again. The BACB's eligibility requirements change on 1 January 2027, so if you're close to your deadline, check the current requirements and your own dates in your portal account well before then.
How to use your attempts well
Having up to 8 attempts doesn't mean you should plan to use them. The BACB's 2025 figures show 51% of first-time candidates passed, against 23% of retake candidates. Retakes pass less often. That's a strong reason to change your preparation before you rebook.
- Book from evidence, not anxiety. Wait until you score well on fresh, timed practice across all nine content areas.
- Weigh your score report by area size. A low percentage in an 8-question area matters less than the same percentage in a 25-question area. Our score report guide shows how.
- Study everything, with extra time on the gaps. The BACB's own advice: if you study only the areas you missed, "you might perform better on those areas but worse on others."
The free retake planner turns your score report and exam date into a day-by-day plan weighted by area size and gap.
FAQ
Is there a limit on how many times you can take the BCBA exam? Yes. 8 total attempts within the 2-year period after your application is approved, first attempt included.
How long do you have to wait to retake the BCBA? At least 30 days after your previous attempt. The retake application appears in your portal within 48 hours of a failed attempt.
How much does it cost to retake the BCBA exam? $265 per retake: $140 to the BACB and $125 to Pearson VUE, plus any local tax. Rescheduling inside 30 days costs $59 or $69.
What happens if I fail 8 times? If you still have time left in your 2-year authorization, you must wait until it ends before you can reapply for certification.
Sources
- BACB, Board Certified Behavior Analyst Handbook (updated 06/2026): https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BCBAHandbook_260529-2-a.pdf (attempt limit, 2-year period, 30-day wait, retake application timing, fees, cancellation fees, late arrival, GI Bill, outline edition rule, 2027 requirements)
- BACB, Examination Information: https://www.bacb.com/examination-information/ (2025 first-time and retake pass rates, advice to study all content)
- BACB, BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.): https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bcba-outline-6thEd