IBT Training · Cohort 1
Complete your IBT coursework. Get hired faster.
Live or recorded, led by a registered behaviour analyst — the 40-hour credential that gets your application noticed, not lost in the pile.
Special Minds
Therapy · Education · Support
IBT Training
Certification
Certificate of completion
International Behavior Technician Coursework Certification
This is awarded to
Your Name
For successfully completing the 40-hour IBT coursework, delivered online under the supervision of a registered behaviour analyst (BCBA, IBA or QBA).
Cohort 1
Cohort
40 hrs
Training hours
Online
Format
Registered Behaviour Analyst
Responsible Trainer
Sara Omar Michael
Program Director
“It's the first agency where I felt like someone had my back clinically, not just administratively.”
LSA, Priority tier, Abu Dhabi
Why IBT, why now
A credential the UAE market actually asks for.
Built for the UAE market
Unlike RBT, which is a US-specific credential, IBT is built for international, multilingual practice — it's what UAE staffing agencies, schools and centres actually ask for.
Opens more than one door
Homes, schools, nurseries and centres across the UAE all hire against this credential — not just one type of employer.
A step, not a dead end
Most people don't stop at IBT. It's the common on-ramp toward RBT, BCaBA and BCBA certifications later in your career.
Taught by someone who does the work
Your instructor is a practising, registered behaviour analyst (BCBA, IBA or QBA) who teaches the material directly — not a generic, off-the-shelf course with no real teacher behind it.
IBT vs. ABAT
Why we teach IBT, not ABAT.
ABAT (Applied Behavior Analysis Technician, issued by QABA) is another legitimate international entry-level ABA credential — this isn't a case of one being real and the other not. Here's how the two actually compare.
| IBT — what we teach | ABAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing body | IBAO | QABA |
| Coursework | 40 hours | 40 hours |
| Supervised practice before you're exam-ready | 300 hours | 15 hours |
| IBAO / QABA registration + exam fee | $120, one combined fee | $125 exam fee, separate from training cost |
| Next steps up the ladder | RBT → BCaBA → BCBA — the most widely-recognised ABA career ladder globally | QASP-S → QBA |
| Special Minds placement priority | Yes — this is the credential our own placements are built around | Not currently part of our placement network |
Both are legitimate, internationally-recognised entry-level credentials — this isn't a case of one being fake and the other real. We teach IBT specifically because it asks for far deeper supervised practice before you're exam-ready, and because it's the credential our own placement network is built around.
What you'll get
Everything you need to finish the coursework.
Taught by a behaviour analyst
Registered BCBA, IBA or QBA
100% online
Live or recorded, join from anywhere in the UAE
Flexible schedule
Fits around your current job
Certificate included
Recognised proof of your training
Registered behaviour analyst
Every session — live or recorded — is delivered by a currently practising, registered behaviour analyst (BCBA, IBA or QBA).
“I don't place people who've just watched a few videos — I place specialists who've done the real work. This course is how you become one of them, and how you get on our radar for real placements.”
Sara Omar Michael — Program Director, Special Minds
- RBT — Registered Behavior Technician (BACB)
- M.A. Applied Psychology — Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai
- Post-Graduate Certification, Special Education and Teaching — University of Birmingham Dubai
What this certification actually means
Coursework now, certification when you're ready.
Full IBT (International Behavior Therapist) certification from the IBAO requires three things: the 40-hour coursework, 300 hours of supervised practice, and passing the IBAO exam. This program is the 40-hour coursework component, taught by a registered BCBA, IBA or QBA — the piece Special Minds delivers directly. Completing it finishes your coursework requirement and prepares you to pursue full IBT certification.
It's built for new and working LSAs, shadow teachers, SEN educators, psychology students, and parents who want a recognised, internationally-portable credential. From here, many candidates go on toward RBT, BCaBA, or BCBA pathways — and completing your coursework with Special Minds gives you priority consideration for our own placements.
Curriculum outline
What the 40 hours cover.
- ABA fundamentals and foundational principlesThe theory every intervention plan rests on
- Teaching strategies for behaviour changePractical techniques you'll use from week one
- Behaviour intervention plan implementationHow to run a BCBA-designed plan, not just read one
- Ethics and professional conductThe standards IBAO and UAE employers expect
- Hands-on practice scenarios and case studiesReal situations, worked through before you're on the job
What happens after you pay
No waiting to hear back — your seat is instant.
- Step 1
Your seat is confirmed instantly
No waiting to hear if you got in — payment secures your place in Cohort 1.
- Step 2
We reach out to confirm details
On WhatsApp or email, with the schedule, login details and course materials ahead of the start date.
- Step 3
You complete the 40 hours
Join live or work through the recordings — whichever fits your week.
- Step 4
You get your certificate
Proof of your coursework, ready to add to your CV.
What you'll walk away with
Something real to show for it.
- 40 hours of coursework, live or recorded, taught by a registered BCBA, IBA or QBA
- A certificate you can add to your CV and LinkedIn as soon as you finish
- Your 40-hour coursework requirement toward full IBT certification — done
- Priority consideration if you apply to join the Special Minds specialist network afterwards
Special Minds
Therapy · Education · Support
IBT Training
Certification
Certificate of completion
International Behavior Technician Coursework Certification
This is awarded to
Your Name
For successfully completing the 40-hour IBT coursework, delivered online under the supervision of a registered behaviour analyst (BCBA, IBA or QBA).
Cohort 1
Cohort
40 hrs
Training hours
Online
Format
Registered Behaviour Analyst
Responsible Trainer
Sara Omar Michael
Program Director
Pricing
One payment, your seat confirmed.
Course fee: AED 1499 total — 40 hours of coursework plus your certificate. Paid in full via Ziina's secure checkout to reserve your place in Cohort 1.
AED 1499
40 hours + certificate, paid in full
Is Cohort 1 right for you?
Built for some people, honestly not everyone.
This is for you if
- You're already working as an LSA, shadow teacher or SEN support role and want a credential that's recognised UAE-wide.
- You're new to the field and want a structured, clinically-taught way in.
- You're a psychology student or parent who wants to properly understand ABA, not just informally.
This might not be the right fit if
- You already hold full IBT, RBT or BCaBA certification — this covers the 40-hour coursework component specifically.
- You're looking for the 300 supervised practice hours or the IBAO exam itself — this course is the step that comes before those.
Frequently asked
Questions candidates ask us.
- What's the difference between this coursework and full IBT certification?
- This program covers the 40-hour IBT coursework, taught by a registered behaviour analyst (BCBA, IBA or QBA) — one of three requirements for full IBT certification from the IBAO, alongside 300 hours of supervised practice and passing the IBAO exam. Completing this course finishes your coursework requirement and prepares you to pursue full certification; it isn't the certification itself.
- Is this a live or recorded course?
- Both, whichever fits you better. Cohort 1 runs 100% online — join sessions live, or work through the recordings on your own schedule. Either way it's the same analyst-led material, so you can fit it around your existing job from anywhere in the UAE.
- What happens after I register?
- Once your payment is confirmed, our team reaches out on WhatsApp or email to confirm your seat and share the schedule, login details, and course materials ahead of the start date.
- Is my payment refundable if I don't get a confirmed seat?
- No — once payment is complete, your seat in Cohort 1 is confirmed and the AED 1,499 course fee is non-refundable.
- Can I pay in installments?
- Not currently — Cohort 1 registration is a single payment of AED 1,499 via Ziina, paid in full to secure your seat.
- Does completing this guarantee a job?
- No program can guarantee employment. Completing your IBT coursework strengthens your shortlist chances with UAE employers and gives you priority consideration for Special Minds placements — but hiring always depends on the specific role and assessment.
- Do I need experience already to join?
- No — Cohort 1 is built for both new and working LSAs, shadow teachers, SEN educators, psychology students and parents. The coursework starts from foundational principles.
- What if I already hold RBT or another certification?
- This course covers the 40-hour IBT coursework component specifically. If you already hold full IBT, RBT or BCaBA certification, this likely isn't the right fit for you.