RBT guides
Every step of getting and keeping RBT certification, from the BACB's current documents: who can apply, the training and assessment, the exam itself, and the rules that apply once you're certified.
Becoming an RBT
| How to become an RBT | Every step from the 40-hour training to your first day as an RBT, with costs and timing. |
|---|---|
| RBT requirements: who can apply | Age, education, background and abuse registry checks, training, competency assessment and where you must live. |
| The RBT 40-hour training (2026 requirements) | What the 2026 curriculum covers, the 5-to-180-day rule, who can teach it, and how to choose a course. |
| The RBT Initial Competency Assessment | The 19 tasks, which must be done with a client, who can assess you, and the 90-day window. |
| The RBT certification application | The BACB portal account, the attestation form, the documents you upload, processing time and what happens if it isn't approved. |
| RBT requirements by state | Which states add their own credential for behavior technicians, and which license behavior analysts. |
The exam
| The RBT exam format | 85 questions in 90 minutes, how the 75 scored questions are spread across the six content areas, and how the exam is scored. |
|---|---|
| How much the RBT exam and certification cost | Every BACB and Pearson VUE fee, from the application to rescheduling, recertification and inactive status. |
| Scheduling the RBT exam with Pearson VUE | Booking, test centers, rescheduling and cancellation fees, and what happens if you arrive late or miss it. |
| What to expect on RBT exam day | ID rules, check-in, what you can and can't bring, breaks, and the rules you agree to before the exam starts. |
| The RBT passing score: what is and isn't known | How the BACB sets the passing score, why no percentage is published, and what that means for your practice scores. |
| RBT exam results and retakes | How you get your result, what happens after a pass, and the rules for retaking: 8 attempts, 12 months, 7 days apart. |
| How to study for the RBT exam | A study plan built on the content outline's weights, the topics that trip people up, and how to use practice tests well. |
| RBT exam accommodations | Who qualifies, the documentation you need, when to request them and how long the review takes. |
After you pass
| RBT supervision requirements | The 5% rule, two monthly contacts, observation, small groups, who can supervise, and the records you keep. |
|---|---|
| RBT recertification and professional development (2026 rules) | The new 2-year cycle, the 12 PDUs and what counts, deadlines, fees and the 30-day reinstatement period. |
| What changed for RBTs in 2026 | The new outline, 40-hour curriculum and competency assessment, and the move to 2-year recertification with PDUs. |
| Inactive RBT status | Why a certification becomes inactive, voluntary inactive status, active duty, and how to return. |
| Self-reporting to the BACB | What RBTs must report within 30 days, what they don't need to report, and status changes within 24 hours. |
| RBT, BCaBA and BCBA: how the roles differ | What an RBT does, who supervises whom, and what each certification allows. |
| Can RBTs work as independent contractors? | The BACB's guidance on IRS worker classification for behavior technicians in the US. |
Data and tools
| RBT pass rates by training provider | First-time pass rates for 2025 from the BACB's report, for every listed 40-hour training provider. |
|---|---|
| RBT application timeline | Every deadline that follows from your training, check, assessment and exam dates. |
| Supervision hours calculator | The 5% monthly minimum and the contact rules. |