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A step-by-step guide to help you prepare and qualify for your RBT certification
Obtaining a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification opens up a range of career opportunities working with individuals who have special needs. This certification is issued by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). While a college degree is not required for certification, you must complete a 40-hour training program. After successfully passing a live assessment, submit your application to the BACB and take a 75-question exam. Once your application is accepted, you can embark on a rewarding career.
Steps to Follow
Determining Your Eligibility
Begin the process when you turn 18 or older. Training cannot begin if you are still a minor. You must be at least 18 years old to start the training and application process.
Graduate from high school or hold an equivalent diploma. A college degree is not required for this certification. All you need is a high school diploma or a comparable certificate, such as a GED. You’ll need to submit a copy of your diploma or certificate with your certification application.
- Taking high school psychology courses could be beneficial for preparing you for the role of an RBT.
Successfully pass a criminal background check. The board will conduct a background check within 180 days of your application. Certain felonies or misdemeanors may result in the rejection of your application.
- The board will determine whether a criminal conviction will disqualify you. Typically, anyone with a felony conviction within the past 3 years will not be certified.
Training Requirements
Register for a 40-hour training program. Most courses are available online. This training will prepare you to pass the RBT certification assessment and exam. You must complete the training within 180 days of starting.
- Online courses are offered by various universities, community colleges, technology institutes, and other educational platforms.
- In-person training may be available at certain universities, community colleges, or through Board-Certified Behavior Analysts.
Familiarize yourself with the BACB task list. Your training will guide you through the BACB task list, which outlines the steps and practices required when working with clients. You will be tested on this list during your assessment and exam.
- Access the BACB task list here: https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/161019-RBT-task-list-english.pdf.
Complete a 3-hour ethics training. As part of your 40-hour program, you'll need to attend an ethics course. This course covers the Professional and Ethical Compliance Code of the BACB. You’ll be required to answer questions based on this code during your certification exam.
- You can access the Professional and Ethical Compliance Code here: https://www.bacb.com/ethics/ethics-code/
Locate a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) to assess you. Your instructor may be able to act as your assessor or refer you to a BCBA who can oversee your evaluation. In other cases, you may need to find your own assessor and reach out to them directly.
- When contacting the assessor, you might write something like, “Dear Dr. Marx, I came across your details on the BACB website. I am currently training to become an RBT and would appreciate if you could conduct my assessment. Thank you, M. Smith.”
- Your assessor can also be the responsible certificate holder when submitting your application.
Complete the assessment after finishing your training. Your assessor will guide you through a series of tasks with a live client. They will observe your ability to apply the task list in practice during your session.
- Most assessments are conducted in person. However, in certain situations, assessments can be carried out over Skype.
- Once the assessment is complete, you’ll receive a copy of the assessment form. Be sure to keep it, as you'll need it when submitting your certification application.
Certification Application Process
Create an account on the BACB online portal. To begin, you'll need to provide your email address and create a password. Access the online portal here: https://gateway.bacb.com/Account/Login.aspx.
Upload your certificate and assessment results. You’ll need three documents to verify your eligibility for certification: your training completion certificate, your completed assessment form, and your high school diploma or equivalent.
Provide the name of your responsible certificant. The responsible certificant is typically your instructor or the person who conducted your assessment. Enter their name and details in the application. They will complete a form to confirm that you’ve passed both the course and the assessment.
- Your responsible certificant may change as your career progresses. It will be the BCBA who supervises you while you’re working.
Submit the $50 USD application fee. Payment can be made via credit or debit card through the online portal. Alternatively, you can send a check by mail. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your payment.
Appeal within 30 days if your application is denied. It typically takes around two weeks to receive a response. If you wish to appeal a denial, use the online appeal form. Include your name and email, select “pursuing RBT” from the drop-down menu, and provide a brief explanation of why you believe your application should be accepted.
- The Administrative Appeal Request Form is available here: https://www.bacb.com/appeals/administrative-appeals/.
Taking the Certification Exam
Register for the exam once you receive approval from BACB. After receiving approval via email, follow the instructions to sign up for the exam. The exam is administered by Pearson VUE. You can find your nearest testing center on Pearson’s website.
- Once approved, sign up for the exam here: http://www.vue.com/bacb/ using your BACB login credentials.
- Expect to hear from the BACB within two weeks of submitting your initial application.
- No official practice exam is available, but mock exams and flashcards may be found through online training platforms.
Pay Pearson VUE a $45 USD exam fee. Upon signing up for the exam with Pearson VUE, you will need to pay the exam appointment fee. This fee covers the cost of taking the exam.
Bring two forms of ID to the exam. Arrive at the exam center 15 minutes early for check-in. You must present two forms of identification. The first and last names on the IDs must exactly match the name on your BACB account.
- The first ID must be a government-issued photo ID with your signature, such as a driver’s license or state-issued ID.
- The second ID does not require a photo but must include both your name and signature. A signed credit or debit card is recommended.
Complete the 90-minute computer-based exam. The exam consists of 75 questions, plus 10 ungraded questions. It covers all sections of the RBT task list and the ethics code. Your training should have addressed all these areas. The questions are divided as follows:
- Measurement: 10 questions
- Assessment: 8 questions
- Skill acquisition: 24 questions
- Behavior reduction: 12 questions
- Documentation and reporting: 10 questions
- Professional conduct and scope of practice: 11 questions
Retake the exam within a year if you didn’t pass. If you fail the exam, you have up to one year to retake it. During this period, you do not need to reapply through BACB. However, after a year, your application will expire, and you will need to complete a new training and application process.
Receive certification approval within one week of your exam results. Your name will be added to the official online registry. Please note, you will not receive a physical certificate. Instead, your inclusion in the registry serves as your official proof of certification.
Renew your certification annually. You will need to complete a competency assessment every year. This assessment can be applied for online via the BACB website, with a fee of $35 USD. Upon passing the assessment, your certification will be renewed.
