So, you want to learn about becoming a Behavior Technician (BT) or a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). Great! As a BT or RBT, you can help people of all ages with various behavioral health conditions, advance your education, and earn a steady salary in a fulfilling role that is in high demand across the United States.
Read on to find out what the difference is between a BT and an RBT, how to become a BT or RBT, and what you can do as a BT or RBT.
What are BTs and RBTs? What is the difference?
A Behavior Technician (BT) is an entry-level healthcare position focused on applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) is a nationally certified entry-level healthcare position focused on ABA therapy.
BTs and RBTs both complete the same basic 40-hour training (more on this below). BTs and RBTs both typically work directly with clients who have developmental disorders that affect behaviors, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Both BTs and RBTs typically work with and are supervised by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
The difference between a BT and an RBT is that an RBT has met a few additional requirements beyond those that a BT has met. These requirements, including passing a national certification exam and paying a small fee, mean that unlike a BT, an RBT is officially “registered” with the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)
Some states allow anyone who completes the BT 40-hour training to practice as a BT and conduct ABA therapy sessions. Other states require that in order to practice and conduct ABA therapy sessions, you must be registered with the BACB or with a state certification board (i.e., you must be an RBT).
Check your state’s Department of Health website to find out what your state requires to practice behavioral therapy, or contact us at care@fortahealth.com or 415-322-8857.
You can find out more about the training required to become a BT or an RBT in the next sections below, “How to Become a BT” and “How to Become an RBT.”
How to Become a BT
The first step to becoming an BT is to make sure you meet the following basic requirements. You must:
- Be 18-years-old or older
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent (such as a GED)
- Pass a background check
If you meet all of the above requirements, you can move on to the next step: completing a 40-hour training course. We discuss the details of BT training courses and what to expect from them in a separate article here: What to Expect from 40-Hour BT Training. You can complete a BT training course through university coursework, or through online training companies (such as Forta Health).
The final step of your training course will be to complete an “Initial Competency Assessment.” This assessment is a way for you to demonstrate all of the skills you learned in your 40-hour BT Training. Once you successfully complete the Initial Competency Assessment to finish your 40-hour training, you can practice as a BT (provided that the state you live in allows it).
How to Become an RBT
If you’re interested in becoming an RBT, you’ll first need to follow the same process you would to become a BT, and then you’ll need to complete a few additional requirements.
Note that in order to become an RBT, you must first become a BT by completing the Initial Competency Assessment. This demonstrates that you’re ready to take the official national BACB RBT certification exam. Passing the BACB’s RBT certification exam is what differentiates a BT from an RBT.
The majority of people who take the RBT certification exam after completing their 40-hour training and Initial Competency Assessment pass on their first try (83% in 2021). But if you need to retake the exam to get a passing score, you can! We discuss the details of the RBT certification exam and what to expect from it in a separate article here: What to Expect from the RBT Certification Exam. You’ll know whether you passed the exam or not immediately after you finish taking it.
After you pass the certification exam, you’ll receive a digital certificate letter in your email. You can start using your RBT certificate as soon as you receive the email. At that point, your name will also automatically appear in the national BACB Certificant Registry. This allows potential employers to confirm that you’re a certified RBT.
What Can I Do as a BT vs RBT?
As a BT or an RBT, you’ll be putting ABA strategies into practice with clients in ABA therapy sessions. Typically, these clients will be diagnosed with ASD. You’ll have sessions with your clients in which you use ABA strategies to help your clients develop different skills in a variety of ways. These will be based on a behavior plan developed by a team of healthcare professionals, including a BCBA.
As a BT or an RBT, you’ll have a BCBA supervisor to support your work, but you’ll be the one responsible for putting the behavior plan into action during sessions with your clients. You can conduct sessions in a variety of settings. You might work in a school, in an office environment, in a medical practice, or in clients’ homes. If you’re working with clients who are children, you’ll typically be conducting your sessions in home settings.
As a reminder, some states allow BTs to practice, while other states require RBT certification. Check your state’s Department of Health website to find out what your state requires to practice behavioral therapy, or contact us at care@fortahealth.com or 415-322-8857.
If you pursue an RBT, you’ll need to complete a few requirements each year in order to maintain your certification as an RBT. We discuss these requirements and what to expect from renewing your RBT certification in a separate article here: What to Expect from RBT Renewal.
If you find that you really love being a BT or RBT and you’d like to advance your education and responsibility in this field, you might consider becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Becoming a BCBA requires more coursework and has additional requirements. You can find out more here: BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST - Behavior Analyst Certification Board (bacb.com).
Want to Learn More?
Becoming a BT or an RBT can be life-changing. Through the training process, you gain information about evidence-based ABA strategies and learn concrete ways to make a difference in the lives of other people, including those with ASD.
If you’d like to discuss whether becoming an BT or an RBT is right for you, please contact us at: care@fortahealth.com or 415-322-8857