Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) provide medically necessary Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to individuals with developmental disabilities or behavioral disorders, under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

RBTs implement evidence-based teaching strategies to increase skill acquisition and decrease maladaptive behaviors.

RBTs work directly with disabled children and adults; these individuals become the RBT’s clients.

RBTs also work with BCBAs, who serve as their supervisor.

The BCBA supervisor writes goals for the clients. These goals often involve learning about the contingencies that underlie human interaction and the contingencies that maintain the client’s culture and role within society. The goals typically center around learning new skills (such as communication and social skills) and decreasing problematic behavior (such as aggression or inappropriate behaviors).

The BCBA supervisor turns the goals into programs, which break down larger goals into teachable segments. For example, the BCBA may want to increase the client’s language skills by increasing the client’s ability to make requests or label items in the environment.

The RBT works directly with the client to implement the programs and takes data on the client’s performance. For this reason, RBTs are the most important part of ABA service provision.

To conceptualize the relationship between RBTs, BCBAs, and clients it can be helpful to think of the relationship between nurses, doctors, and patients:

• Patients (clients) go to the doctor (BCBA) for help with a medical issue

• The doctor (BCBA) does an evaluation and determines a treatment plan (goals)

• The treatment plan (goals) require the patient (client) recieves certain care (programs)

• Under the doctor’s (BCBA’s) guidance, a nurse (RBT) provides the medically-necessary care by implementing the care plan (programs) with the patient (client)

To become a Registered Behavior Technician, you must go through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s credentialing process.

1. Take an approved 40-hour course, and learn the fundamentals of ABA

2. Create an account with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board

3. Pass the RBT Initial Competency Assessment by demonstrating behavior analytic skills with a client and answering questions about being an RBT

4. Submit an application to Behavior Analyst Certification Board

5. Wait for your application to be approved and schedule your RBT exam

6. Pass the credentialing examination for Registered Behavior Technicians

The following links will direct you to different documents and websites published by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board:

• The Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s RBT page

• RBT 40-Hour Training Fact Sheet

• RBT 40-Hour Training Packet

• The RBT Task List

• Initial Competency Assessment Fact Sheet

• Initial Competency Assessment

• Application Tips

• RBT Exam Information

• The RBT Handbook

• The RBT Ethics Code

• RBT Renewal Graphic

• Steps to Renew Your RBT Certification

• Renewal Competency Assessment

Congratulations on passing the RBT exam! You are now able to represent yourself as a Registered Behavior Technician and provide ABA services to clients.

Achieving the RBT credential is a momentous accomplishment. However, it is also the minimum credential required to practice.

As you begin your journey within Applied Behavior Analysis and start working directly with clients, The Behavior Spectrum invites and encourages you to participate in ongoing education.

To pursue ongoing education opportunities, connect with your state’s Applied Behavior Analysis organization, attend behavior analytic conferences, read behavior analytic content in books or online, and consider listening to behavior analytic podcasts. Additional online resources for ongoing education can be found on The Behavior Spectrum’s website.