BCBA exam facts
How Many Questions Are on the BCBA Exam? 185 in 2026
The BCBA exam has 185 multiple-choice questions in four hours. Of those, 175 are scored and 10 are unscored pilot questions, according to BACB Examination Information and the 6th Edition TCO effective January 1, 2025.
Try the free 185-question mock
- BACB-sourced figures
- BCBA 6th Edition information
- Free mock with a free account
The short answer: 185 questions in four hours
The 185-question exam includes 175 scored questions and 10 unscored pilot questions. The 6th Edition TCO is effective January 1, 2025.
Unscored pilot questions are mixed into the exam, so candidates should treat every question as a real pacing decision.
BACB-sourced exam facts: 185 total, 175 scored, 10 unscored, four hours.
By domain
How the 175 scored questions are distributed
The 6th Edition TCO lists scored-question counts for each of the nine domains. Use them to decide where a study week is worth the most points.
- Domain A, Behaviorism and Philosophical Foundations: 8 questions (5%)
- Domain B, Concepts and Principles: 24 questions (14%)
- Domain C, Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation: 21 questions (12%)
- Domain D, Experimental Design: 13 questions (7%)
- Domain E, Ethical and Professional Issues: 22 questions (13%)
- Domain F, Behavior Assessment: 23 questions (13%)
- Domain G, Behavior-Change Procedures: 25 questions (14%)
- Domain H, Selecting and Implementing Interventions: 20 questions (11%)
- Domain I, Personnel Supervision and Management: 19 questions (11%)
Pacing math
What 185 questions in four hours means
Four hours is 240 minutes. Across 185 questions that is about 78 seconds per question if you used every minute with no breaks. Practice at that pace before test day and see the free 185-question mock below. The 10 pilot questions are not marked, so treat every item as scored.
- Read the full TCO for domain content: see the 6th Edition Test Content Outline hub on this site.
- Take a full-length timed mock before your exam date to test endurance.
What to practice
Use the same length for a pacing checkpoint
A full mock can help you practice endurance and pacing across all nine domains. Behavior Study Tools offers a free 185-question mock with a free account; it is separate from the no-account 9-question practice check.
BCBA exam question-count questions
How many questions are on the BCBA exam?
There are 185 multiple-choice questions in a four-hour session: 175 scored and 10 unscored pilot questions, according to BACB Examination Information and the 6th Edition TCO effective January 1, 2025.
How many BCBA exam questions are scored?
175 questions are scored. The remaining 10 are unscored pilot questions.
How long is the BCBA exam?
The exam session is four hours.
Sources and verification
Related BCBA study guides
Free BCBA Practice Exam: 185 6th Edition Questions
BCBA 6th Edition Test Content Outline: 9 Domains
BCBA Study Schedule: How to Plan 8, 12, or 16 Weeks of Exam Prep