Standard 3.07: BACB account and certification status
RBTs check their BACB account regularly, for example monthly, to make sure their personal information is accurate. Within 24 hours of learning that their certification status has changed, for example to inactive, expired, suspended or revoked, they tell their supervisor and then follow BACB requirements on practice, billing and use of the RBT title.
What it means in practice
Checking your account regularly catches problems early: an outdated email address that means you miss BACB notices, a name change that hasn't been recorded, or a status change you didn't expect. The RBT Handbook adds that personal information changes should be made within 30 days of the change or of becoming aware of it.
Your status can change for reasons you may not notice right away. The handbook lists several reasons a certification becomes inactive, including having no supervisor or coordinator on record, missing the recertification deadline, sanctions, and voluntary inactive status. A status can also become expired, suspended or revoked.
The 24-hour rule is short on purpose: your supervisor needs to know immediately because services and billing may have to stop. Under the handbook, an RBT who is inactive may not practice, bill or present themselves as an active RBT. Follow the BACB requirements that apply to your new status before doing any more RBT work.
Scenarios
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| During your monthly check you see that your certification shows as inactive, with no supervisor on record, because your supervisor recently left. | Tell your supervisor or organization within 24 hours. Stop providing and billing services as an RBT until a qualified supervisor adds you as a supervisee and your status is active again. |
| You moved to a new apartment last week. | Update your mailing address in your BACB account. The handbook asks for personal information changes within 30 days. |
| You missed your recertification date, and your account now shows your certification as inactive because you are in the reinstatement period. | Report the change to your supervisor within 24 hours and stop practicing, billing and presenting yourself as an RBT. The handbook gives 30 days from the expiration date to reinstate with an approvable application and a $50 late fee; after that the certification expires and you would have to reapply and retake the exam. |
| You switched to a new personal email address and stopped checking the old one. | Update the email address in your BACB account right away so you don't miss notices that need a timely response (see 3.06). |
Practice questions
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Question 1An RBT learns that their certification status has changed to inactive. What does the RBT Ethics Code require?
Show answer
D: Tell the supervisor within 24 hours and follow BACB rules on practice and billing. Standard 3.07 says that within 24 hours of learning of a change in certification status (such as inactive, expired, suspended or revoked), RBTs report it to their supervisor and follow BACB requirements on practice, billing and use of the RBT title.
- A: The deadline is 24 hours, and an inactive RBT may not practice as an RBT.
- B: The RBT must act on the change as soon as they know about it.
- C: The code requires reporting the change to the supervisor.
Task F.3 · RBT Ethics Code 3.07
Answer every question to see your score.
Where it sits in the code
Standard 3.07 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.3 Ongoing supervision. Read the official text for the exact wording.
Related standards: 3.01 Meeting BACB and supervision requirements, 3.06 Responding to BACB notices and required actions, 1.03 Working in a defined role under supervision, 1.05 Accurate claims about qualifications and services.