Choose with purpose.
Plan with confidence.

These are original draft selection rules, not a validated algorithm or publisher-endorsed decision system. No assessment items are reproduced. Confirm fit using the current manual, client and caregiver priorities, clinician competence, and direct assessment.

• Primary assessment purpose drives the candidate. Age alone does not exclude a tool.
• Essential communication needs and substantial support needs prompt consideration of Essential for Living.
• Functional independence priorities suggest AFLS. Foundational language priorities suggest VB-MAPP or ABLLS-R based on the requested scope.
• Relational learning priorities suggest PEAK; it also includes foundational content.
• Early social participation priorities suggest Socially Savvy. Older clients prompt additional review for age-relevant scope.
• Unclear priorities or unknown skills generate a review-needed result.

Professional reference: BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts, section 2.13 (assessment selection). ABA Practice Lab is independent of the BACB.

Scope references, checked October 24, 2026:

• VB-MAPP: author overview
• ABLLS-R: official overview
• AFLS: publisher overview
• Essential for Living: official overview
• PEAK: learning modules
• Socially Savvy: publisher resources