Standard 3.04: Self-reporting to the BACB
RBTs know which events they must self-report to the BACB and to other required parties such as their employer or supervisor. They report to the BACB within 30 days of the event, or within 30 days of becoming aware of it.
What it means in practice
The code requires self-reporting of any event that might affect your ability to do your work effectively or to comply with BACB requirements, and it names four groups: legal charges and related actions that follow; investigations naming you by employers, government agencies, educational institutions or third-party payers; disciplinary actions by those same bodies, including employer suspensions and terminations for cause; and physical or mental conditions or substance abuse that may impair your ability to provide services safely.
The deadline is 30 days from the event or from when you became aware of it. For investigations, the RBT Handbook says to report within 30 days of becoming aware and not to wait for the investigation to finish.
The handbook adds detail. You must also self-report violations of the RBT Ethics Code, supervision noncompliance, and changes to your personal information (updated in your BACB account within 30 days). Some events don't have to be reported, such as parking tickets, traffic tickets of $750 or less, personal bankruptcy, family court matters and layoffs that don't involve an ethics violation. A health condition with an active, effective care plan that you and your care provider have determined is unlikely to affect your services doesn't have to be reported either. When you're unsure whether something must be reported, the handbook says the best course is to self-report.
Self-reporting goes beyond the BACB: tell your supervisor and employer as their policies require.
Scenarios
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Your employer tells you it has opened an investigation, naming you, after a parent complained about a session. | Self-report the investigation to the BACB within 30 days of learning about it, without waiting for the outcome. Keep your supervisor informed and keep copies of what you submit. |
| You were arrested and charged with shoplifting on Saturday. | Self-report the charge to the BACB within 30 days, tell your employer and supervisor as their policies require, and later report the related actions that follow, such as the outcome of the case. |
| You were fired for cause after an internal review found you had falsified session data. | A termination for cause is a disciplinary action you must self-report to the BACB within 30 days. The falsification itself is also an ethics violation that must be reported. |
| You got a $60 parking ticket near a client's home. | No self-report is needed. The RBT Handbook lists parking tickets among the events that don't have to be reported. |
Practice questions
-
Question 1An RBT has a health condition that now impairs their ability to provide services safely, and they have no effective care plan. Besides telling their supervisor, what does the RBT Ethics Code require?
Show answer
B: Self-report to the BACB within 30 days. Standard 3.04 requires RBTs to self-report to the BACB, within 30 days, physical or mental conditions that may impair their ability to provide services safely. The RBT Handbook explains when a condition with an effective care plan does not need to be reported.
- A: The duty to self-report does not wait for a client to be harmed.
- C: Caregivers do not need the RBT's health details; the BACB does.
- D: The deadline is 30 days, not the next recertification.
Task F.2 · RBT Ethics Code 3.04 · RBT Handbook p. 24
Answer every question to see your score.
Where it sits in the code
Standard 3.04 is in section 3, Responsibilities to the BACB and BACB-Required Supervisor, of the RBT Ethics Code (2.0). On the exam it relates to task F.1 Core ethics principles, task F.3 Ongoing supervision. Read the official text for the exact wording.
Related standards: 1.09 Personal biases and challenges, 3.02 Honesty with the BACB and your supervisor, 3.06 Responding to BACB notices and required actions, 3.07 BACB account and certification status.