Getting Started
How do I become a BACB-authorized ACE provider?
Published April 8, 2026
The number one question I get in CEU Builder workshops is some version of "wait, what does ACE actually require of me?" It's also where the most confusion lives — partly because the BACB ACE Provider Handbook is detailed and partly because BCBAs tend to assume the requirements are stricter than they are. Becoming a BACB-authorized ACE provider is what unlocks your ability to issue CEUs. The application process itself is well-documented on the BACB website. The part I want to talk about is what happens next, because that's the part that trips up almost everyone.
What is a BACB-authorized ACE provider?
An ACE (Authorized Continuing Education) provider is an individual or organization the BACB has approved to issue Type 2 CEUs to BCBAs and BCaBAs. ACE providers receive a unique provider number that has to appear on every CEU certificate they issue.
How do I apply to become an ACE provider?
You apply directly through the BACB website. The application asks about your qualifications, the type of CE you intend to offer, your evaluation methods, and your recordkeeping plan. There's an application fee and an annual renewal fee. The BACB's ACE Provider Handbook is the authoritative source — read it before applying, not after.
Who is eligible to become an ACE provider?
The BACB allows individual BCBAs and organizations to apply. You don't have to be a university or a corporation. Many ACE providers are solo BCBAs running a side business or a small clinic offering training to its own staff and the broader community.
What do I need in place before I apply?
At minimum, a clear plan for: the type of CE content you'll offer, the qualifications of your instructors, your assessment method (how you'll verify learning), your evaluation method (how learners give you feedback), and your recordkeeping system (how you'll store certificates and audit data). Recordkeeping is consistently the weakest part of new applications I've seen — having a defined system in place before you apply, instead of figuring it out after, makes a real difference.
What happens after I'm approved as an ACE provider?
You receive your ACE provider number and you're cleared to start issuing certificates. From that point on, your day-to-day operations are: create courses, deliver content, run assessments, issue certificates, keep records. The faster you get the operational tooling in place, the less time you spend on admin and the more time you spend on the part you actually wanted to do — teaching.
The application is the easy part. The harder part is staying organized after you're approved, especially once you start issuing volume. The providers I see thrive are the ones who put their tooling and workflows in place before the first course goes live, not after — because once the certificates start flowing, retrofitting a system is much harder than building one cleanly from day one.
About CEU Lab Certs
I'm an Org ACE Provider who spent years manually creating CEU certificates and stitching together clunky systems that weren't built for the BACB's changing requirements. I built CEU Lab Certs to be the tool I wished existed — BACB-compliant templates, shareable quiz links, automated certificate delivery, and audit-ready records in one place, so you can spend your time teaching instead of doing certificate admin on a Sunday.
Keep reading
How do small ABA practices become CEU providers without a big team?
You don't need an admin team to be a CEU provider. Solo BCBAs are launching ACE programs every week — here's the lean version.
What is an ACE provider and how do I find one?
ACE providers are how BCBAs get the continuing education they need. Here's what they are and how the system works.
How to create a CEU as a BCBA: a step-by-step guide
You don't need a PhD or a production team to design a great CEU. Here's the actual step-by-step process I use, with the BACB checks I run at each stage.