This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for performing a common channel sensing procedure for transmissions via a mobile termination (MT) role or via a distributed unit (DU) role of an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, or both. In one aspect, the IAB node may obtain channel access for transmissions via the MT role or the DU role, or both, using the same channel sensing procedure. The IAB node may select a timing of a sensing slot for the common channel sensing procedure in accordance with a capability of the IAB node and a timing of the transmissions. The IAB node may initiate a channel occupancy time (COT) for the transmissions via the MT role or the DU role, or both, as a result of determining that a measured energy detection (ED) value satisfies an ED threshold.