As early as 1978, Sepler and Myers noted in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis that learning to effectively implement behavioral treatment was not easy. Attending a series of lectures or reading books on behavioral treatment does not generalize into an ability to provide quality treatment (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1311286). Again in 2000, Dr. Lovaas emphasized the importance of quality control in behavioral treatment replication research. In fact, both replication research studies – Sallows, 2005 and Howard, 2006 – not only required years of experience from those supervising treatment, they also included checks for accuracy through direct observation of the staff implementing treatment.

Currently at the Lovaas Institute, we train instructors in such a way that emphasis is placed on the evaluation of performance-based objectives, relevant to the implementation of behavioral treatment for children with autism. Our internal certification process requires a demonstration of the skills you have learned. Certification indicates to parents and other professionals that you not only know what to do, but can actually do it.