Passing the FPE is a graduation requirement for the M.A. in BAP program. It is normal to feel the pressure. The FPE is not required for students enrolled in the certificate programs. However, content provided in the Verified Course Sequence (VCS) prepares students well for the FPE and BCBA® exam.

Students will register for:

• BEH0002 W01 Final Program Exam (FPE) - 1^st attempt
• If you are re-taking the FPE please email abaonline@mikeshiner.com for the correct course section.

Students are required to:

• Pass the FPE with 80% or higher
• Pass the FPE to graduate from the program

The Final Program Exam (FPE):

• Is taken in the final semester of the Master's program.
• Is a 0 credit course, with no meeting times, no assignments, and no instructor.
• Will not appear on the student’s transcript.
• Passing with 80% or higher is required to Graduate.
• Consists of 100 multiple-choice questions.
• Is a proctored, closed-note, closed-book examination.
• Is only offered during week 11 of each semester.
• May only be taken once per semester.
• May be taken for up to three attempts, across three separate semesters, to earn a passing score of 80%
• Failure to pass the FPE after three attempts will result in academic dismissal.
• Office of Graduate Program policies can be reviewed at the link.
• Students are subject to a Final Program/Doctoral Comprehensive Exam fee if a student is not registered for, at least, a 1 credit class during the same semester as the FPE.
• Is not required for students enrolled in the certificate programs.
• Opens at 9am EST on the Monday of exam week.
• Closes at 4pm EST on the following Monday.
• It is strongly recommended the student take BEH 5040 concurrent with the FPE.

The best thing to do to prepare for the FPE is to spend sufficient time to master the content during each week of each course. Do not be satisfied with earning an 80% on a unit test. That score is good enough to pass the course, but it also shows weakness across one or more topics covered in that unit. Continue to study the content, ask questions and seek clarification (e.g., via the discussion boards) until the concepts and principles are thoroughly understood. Don’t practice until you get it right. Practice until you don’t get it wrong.

For registration purposes, the FPE is considered a 0-credit graduate course and will not show up on your transcripts. There is no instructor, no meeting times, and no assignments, it only includes the exam. There are no other assignments to offset a low examination score with regard to the final grade. Although the FPE is graded as pass/fail, in order to pass a graduate-level course, a grade of B or better (80% or higher) is required. *Note that this is different from the 70% or higher requirement found in other courses.

Florida Tech’s BCBA VCS courses (BEH5041 through BEH5051) are designed to build competence in behavior analytic concepts and principles. Mastering course content should prepare students to do well on the FPE. Numerous tools and learning opportunities are provided in each course to help students understand the material and master behavior analytic content. Take advantage of the available resources and be sure to save copies of course materials so that you have them after the course closes. Students find course materials very helpful in preparing for the FPE.

The course BEH5040: Personalized System of Professional Improvement is offered during the first 10 weeks in the final semester of the program. The goal of this course is to identify weaknesses in the mastery of content areas and to focus on improvement. BEH5040 is intended to help students with their overall understanding of foundational knowledge and the application of behavior analytic principles and procedures.

Not Passing the FPE:

Students who score below 80% on the FPE will receive feedback on areas to improve. Students will have the opportunity to retake it up to two additional times (maximum three total attempts).

After your final semester, you will have less academic competing contingencies and will have three to four months to study and strengthen the areas in which you scored low.

The FPE:

• Is only offered during week 11 of each semester.
• May only be taken once per semester.
• May be taken for up to three attempts, across three separate semesters, to earn a passing score of 80%

Passing the FPE is a graduation requirement. A student who scored below 80% on the FPE after three attempts did not demonstrate maintenance of knowledge sufficient to earn the M.A. in BAP degree and will be academically dismissed.