How do I get RBT certified?

Here is a breakdown of the steps.

40-hour training course. Do your research and find a provider that is right for you. You can choose from self-paced or live instructor options. Some are offered through private training companies, others are offered through Universities, These can be purchased on your own and do not require you to be employed. Another option is to get hired by a company that will walk you through all of the steps. This option is less accessible and locks you in to working with that company. Beware of companies that make you sign a non-compete. I strongly recommend you find another employer.

Your next step is to acquire a Behavior Analyst Certification Board supervisor who is willing and able to conduct your Competency Assessment. This is the action step after your training. It proves you can conduct the skills with potential clients that you learned in training. Most BACB registered practitioners are not willing to conduct competency assessments unless you are employed by them.

I must add here that RBTs are required to pass a level 2 background screening: a comprehensive criminal background screening that includes fingerprint-based check for statewide criminal history records through your state’s Department of Law Enforcement and national criminal history records through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This step makes sense once you acquire your supervisor. This person will likely have an avenue to access your results and can walk you through the process. It is the role of your supervisor to conduct your competency assessment and acknowledge that you passed the Level 2, you are at least 18 and you have at lest a High School Diploma.

After everything above is complete you are ready to sit for the board exam. Hopefully you created your BACB account with your training provider, and you are ready to upload your documents and apply to sit for the exam. It is my recommendation to schedule it 2 weeks out.

Great training providers will begin with the end in mind – preparing you for the competency assessment, board exam and your ultimate role as RBT.

A career as a RBT is great for anyone who is pursuing a psychology degree, has family members with autism, pre-school teachers, general education teachers, special education teachers, administrators and more.

At AppleTree Connection, we Train, Mentor and Empower practitioners of all levels to follow their passion to a helping career. Whichever path you follow, we hope you lead with compassion!