Scheduling the RBT exam with Pearson VUE
Once the BACB approves your application, you book the exam yourself with Pearson VUE. You have one year from approval to sit for it. Here are the rules for booking, changing and missing an appointment.
Booking
After approval you receive an email with instructions. Book through your Pearson VUE account or by calling Pearson VUE's customer service; the BACB can't book, change or cancel appointments for you. Pearson VUE charges $45 per appointment at the time of booking, plus any sales tax or similar tax where you test. Read the confirmation email carefully to check the date, time and test center, and contact Pearson VUE if it doesn't arrive.
If you've asked for exam accommodations, don't book until the BACB emails you the outcome and scheduling instructions.
Where you can test
The exam is given in person at authorized Pearson VUE test centers and at US military bases that meet the security requirements, in:
- the United States;
- Canada, except Quebec and Ontario;
- Australia, until January 1, 2027.
Use Pearson VUE's test center search to find centers that deliver the RBT exam. Pearson VUE's BACB page also has a demo of the testing software, the candidate rules and a tour of a test center: worth a look before your first exam.
Your deadline
You have one year from the day your application is approved to take the exam, with up to 8 attempts in that time. Check your BACB account for your exact testing deadline.
Rescheduling and cancelling
| When you change or cancel | Fee |
|---|---|
| 31 days or more before the appointment | No fee |
| 30 to 5 days before | $27 |
| 5 days to 48 hours before | $32 |
| Within 48 hours | Not allowed; no refund |
Make changes in your Pearson VUE account or through Pearson VUE's customer service. All fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Arriving late or missing the exam
- If you arrive more than 30 minutes late, you're turned away, can't test, and lose the $45 fee.
- If you don't show up, you lose the fee and have to book again: within 24 hours of the missed appointment you can schedule a new one in your Pearson VUE account, paying the fee again.
- If you can't complete check-in (for example, your ID doesn't match your BACB account name exactly), you're turned away and lose all the fees paid.
Aim to arrive about 30 minutes early to allow for check-in. See exam day for the ID rules.
Plan the date around your study
Booking a date gives your study a deadline, but changing it inside 30 days costs money. A practical approach: take a mock exam first, see which content areas need work, and book a date that leaves time for them. The timeline calculator shows the fee windows for your appointment date.
Sources
Checked October 27, 2026. The BACB updates its requirements from time to time; your BACB portal account and the current RBT Handbook are the final word.