RBT Accreditation & Credentialing

Registered Behavior Technician Credential: BACB Receives NCCA Accreditation!

On January 6, 2017, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) received accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) credential (BACB, 2017)!

The “NCAA is the accreditation body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence . . . .” (BACB, 2017).  The Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) and the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credentials received accreditation from this credentialing body in 2007 and, now the RBT credential joins them in meeting the rigorous credentialing standards (BACB 2017).

Dr. James Carr, BACB CEO, stated, “The RBT is the first behavior technician credential to become accredited based upon NCAA’s current heightened standards, which were enacted in 2016.  This development means that the BACB is now the only organization in behavior analysis to offer professional credentials at every educational level (graduate, undergraduate, high school), all of which are accredited by NCAA” (BACB, 2017, p. 1).

Obtaining the RBT Credential

History

• The BACB created the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) credential to meet the needs of companies and insurance providers employing non-certified Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) service providers.

• The purpose of the credential is to insure that those who are working under the supervision of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Board Certified assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs) have the foundational knowledge to effectively carry out the responsibilities of their positions.

Why?

• Currently, two insurance companies, Magellan and Tricare, are requiring those working under BCBAs and BCaBAs to have the RBT credential.  But, when one or two require it, more will follow.

• Because more and more insurance companies are expected to move toward this requirement, companies with whom you seek employment for your supervised field experience will be requiring this credential, either as a condition of employment or that you obtain the credential after being hired.

• To sit for the BCaBA exam (the Bachelor’s level), you will need 1,300 supervised field experience hours.  To sit for the BCBA exam (the Master’s level), you will need 2,000 supervised field experience hours.  So, the RBT credential will be needed.

What?

• The BACB describes the RBT as a “paraprofessional” who works under the supervision of a BCBA or BCaBA (BACB, Registered Behavior Technician, n.d.).

• The RBT implements behavior plans with clients under the direct supervision of the BCBA and/or BCaBA.

• Due to the 40-hour required training and test, the RBT is considered to be more uniquely qualified to implement behavior analytic programs than those who do not have this training.

How?

• The BACB has designed a RBT Task List that is to guide the 40-hour training program (3-hours of the 40 must be devoted to Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for Behavior Analysts).

• Skill areas include measurement, assessment, skill acquisition, behavior reduction, documentation and reporting, and professional conduct and scope of practice.

• This training may be offered by the company that hires you, or, you can obtain the 40-hour training via companies online.  Prices for this training vary.

Then What?

• Once your 40-hour training is complete, you will take the “competency” assessment.  This must be administered by a BACB certificant.

• This “assessor” must be a BCaBA or BCBA who has completed an 8-hour Supervisor Training program.

• The assessor will base test questions on the RBT Task List.

• The competency assessment includes “direct observation” of some competencies.  However, if the applicant is not currently working in the field, role play situations may also serve to meet this requirement.  You’ll need to check with your assessor for his/her policies regarding this requirement.

• After the competency assessment, it is time for the Criminal Background Check.  The BACB is now considering company background checks (usually done as a condition of hire) to go toward this requirement if the applicant is currently working in the field.

• Until this has been decided, the current guideline states that the background check must have been completed “no earlier than 180 days prior to the date of a complete application” (BACB Newsletter: January 2016).

• All requirements up to this point make the applicant eligible to take the RBT Exam.

The RBT Exam

• The RBT exam is administered through the Pearson Professional Center sites located throughout the world.  

• The RBT exam “will consist of 75 scored items and 10 unscored pilot items” (BACB: RBT Examination).

• Examinees will have 1.5 hours to complete the exam.

• Results will be available immediately.

• RBT TCO3 will appear on the RBT exam beginning January 2026. It can be found here: https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/RBT-3rd-Edition-Test-Content-Outline-240212-a.pdf

  • Moving from an annual recertification cycle to a two-year certification cycle.

  • RBT’s will need 12 hours of professional development during this cycle.  Can be from:

    • An organization’s in-service training related to behavior-analytic service delivery (does not include training on a specific client’s program)

    • Continuing education event (ACE Provider)

    • Didactic behavior-analytic university courses with a passing grade (“C” or higher in a graded course or “pass” in a pass/fail system)

Maintaining Your RBT Credential:

• In all likelihood, to maintain your supervised field experience, you will need to maintain your RBT credential, as more and more insurance companies make this a requirement of covering ABA services.

• Renewal requirements include the annual competency assessment, completion of the renewal application, and payment of fees.

  • Ongoing supervision, with yearly attestations from your supervising BCaBA and/or BCBA is also required.

  • Maintain adherence to the ethical standards and code of conduct of the BACB.