Standard 1.04: Never the employer of your supervisor
An RBT can never be the employer of their own supervisor. The code makes one allowance: an RBT who is also a trainee, earning supervised fieldwork toward BCBA or BCaBA certification, may separately contract for that fieldwork supervision.
What it means in practice
A supervisor has to be free to give honest feedback, evaluate your performance and, if necessary, raise concerns about your work. That is hard to do when the RBT controls the supervisor's job or pay, so the code rules the arrangement out completely.
The RBT Handbook goes further: an RBT may not be related to, superior to, an employer of, or in a multiple relationship with their RBT Supervisor or RBT Requirements Coordinator. Owning the company that employs your supervisor, or being promoted into a position above them, creates the same problem as hiring them directly.
The trainee allowance covers fieldwork: an RBT working toward BCBA or BCaBA certification may pay a qualified supervisor for that fieldwork supervision under a separate arrangement. The handbook also states that an RBT who pays for supervision services is not considered the supervisor's employer. Keep such an arrangement clearly defined and documented.
Scenarios
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You co-own a small ABA agency and plan to hire a BCBA who would also serve as your RBT Supervisor. | That BCBA cannot be your supervisor, because you would be their employer. Arrange supervision from a qualified supervisor whom you do not employ and are not above in the organization. |
| You are an RBT in a master's program and want to pay a BCBA outside your agency for fieldwork supervision toward BCBA certification. | That is allowed. Trainees may separately contract for fieldwork supervision. Put the arrangement in writing and keep the fieldwork records it requires. |
| You are promoted to office manager, which puts you in charge of the schedule and timekeeping of the BCBA who supervises you. | Being above your supervisor is not permitted. Because the problem involves your supervisor, raise it with your supervisor's manager or human resources, document the conversation, and work with the organization to get a different supervisor. |
Practice questions
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Question 1Which BCBA could NOT serve as an RBT's supervisor?
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C: A BCBA who is the RBT's cousin. The RBT may not be related to, superior to, an employer of, or in a multiple relationship with their supervisor. Paying for supervision services does not make the RBT the supervisor's employer, and a contract with the client meets the oversight rule.
- A: Working at the same agency is the usual arrangement.
- B: An RBT paying for supervision is not considered the supervisor's employer.
- D: A contractual relationship with the client is allowed.
Task F.3 · RBT Ethics Code 1.04 · RBT Handbook p. 19
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Question 2An RBT owns a small company and wants to hire a BCBA as an employee who would also be the RBT's supervisor. What does the RBT Ethics Code say?
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B: RBTs are never employers of their supervisor. Standard 1.04 says RBTs are never employers of their supervisor. RBTs who are also trainees may contract separately for fieldwork supervision toward BCaBA or BCBA certification.
- A: The code allows no exceptions, with or without BACB approval.
- C: Part-time employment is still employment.
- D: Experience does not change the rule.
Task F.3 · RBT Ethics Code 1.04
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Question 3An RBT plans to pay a BCBA directly to act as their RBT Supervisor so the RBT can provide services on their own. How does the RBT Ethics Code treat this?
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A: Not allowed; RBTs are never employers of their supervisor. RBTs are never employers of their supervisor, because being the boss of the person who oversees your work is a conflict. The only exception is that trainees may separately contract for fieldwork supervision toward BCaBA or BCBA certification.
- B: Training does not change the rule that RBTs never employ their supervisor.
- C: Trainees may contract separately for fieldwork supervision only, not for RBT supervision.
- D: A written contract does not make the arrangement allowed.
Task F.7 · RBT Ethics Code 1.04
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Question 4An RBT's supervisor asks the RBT to work as a paid nanny for the supervisor's children on weekends. Which statement is accurate?
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A: It would create a multiple relationship with the supervisor. Working for the supervisor in a personal job mixes employer and supervisory roles and can make it hard for the RBT to raise concerns or receive objective feedback. The RBT should avoid it and, if needed, raise it with the supervisor's manager or human resources.
- B: The rule against employing a supervisor does not make other mixed roles acceptable.
- C: Multiple relationships can involve supervisors, not only clients.
- D: How the pay is handled does not remove the second role.
Task F.7 · RBT Ethics Code 1.10 · RBT Ethics Code 1.04
Answer every question to see your score.
Where it sits in the code
Standard 1.04 is in section 1, General Responsibilities, of the RBT Ethics Code (2.0). On the exam it relates to task F.3 Ongoing supervision, task F.7 Multiple relationships. Read the official text for the exact wording.
Related standards: 1.10 Multiple relationships, 1.03 Working in a defined role under supervision, 1.12 Romantic and sexual relationships.