RBT requirements in Washington

The rules that affect RBTs

• Credential: Certified Behavior Technician (CBT), issued by the Washington State Department of Health; a person who is not certified may not use the title (RCW 18.380.020(2)).
• Requirements: at least 18 with a high school diploma or equivalent, plus either a current credential from a professional credentialing entity such as the BACB RBT or a state-approved behavior technician training program of at least 40 hours (WAC 246-805-300, 246-805-310).
• You must name your clinical supervisor as proof of ongoing supervision by a licensed behavior analyst, and show good moral character with no unprofessional conduct or pending discipline (RCW 18.380.050).
• Fees: application and initial certification $95, renewal $150, late renewal penalty $75, expired credential reissuance $75 (WAC 246-805-990).
• Certification lasts two years and renews on your birthday; continuing competency is met by keeping your credentialing-entity certification or by a supervisor's assessment within 90 days before renewal.
• Supervision: a written supervision agreement before any behavior-analytic tasks, at least two face-to-face contacts a month, and direct supervision and observation of at least 5% of your hours each month, including observation with each client at least once every three months (WAC 246-805-330).
• Your progress must be documented at least every six months, and before serving a client you must give the client a written disclosure of your supervisor's name and contact information (WAC 246-805-330, 246-805-340).
• School district, charter and approved private school employees acting within their school duties are exempt (RCW 18.380.030).

Certified Behavior Technician (CBT): requirements

• State certification is required to practice as a certified behavior technician; a person not certified may not use the title (RCW 18.380.020(2)).
• At least 18 years of age and a high school diploma or equivalent (WAC 246-805-300).
• Either current behavior technician registration or certification from a professional credentialing entity, verified directly by that entity (DOH states the BACB RBT is accepted), or completion of a state-approved behavior technician training program of at least 40 hours under WAC 246-805-310 (WAC 246-805-300(4); RCW 18.380.050(1)(c)).
• Name of the clinical supervisor as proof of ongoing supervision by a licensed behavior analyst (WAC 246-805-300(5); RCW 18.380.050(2)).
• Good moral character, no unprofessional conduct and no pending discipline (RCW 18.380.050(1)(d)-(g)).
• No state examination is listed: neither WAC 246-805-300 nor the DOH licensing requirements page includes an exam for the CBT credential (the RBT route involves the BACB's own exam).
• Certification is valid for two years and renews on the birthday; renewal requires continuing competency, met by maintaining credentialing-entity certification or by a supervisor's assessment within 90 days before renewal (RCW 18.380.050(4); WAC 246-805-410, 246-805-990).

Apply and check current requirements with the Washington State Department of Health (Secretary of Health, with the Applied Behavior Analysis Advisory Committee).

BACB requirements apply everywhere

Whatever the state adds, RBT certification itself is the same in every state: the 40-hour training, the Initial Competency Assessment, the BACB exam, and ongoing supervision of at least 5% of your service hours each month. In Washington, your supervising BCBA must also hold the state license. Your employer and the programs that pay for services, such as Medicaid or insurers, can have their own requirements too. See how to become an RBT.