Once you have completed your 40-hour BT training course and passed your Initial Competency Assessment, you can apply to become a certified RBT (i.e., certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)) by taking and passing the BACB’s RBT Certification Exam.
Read on to learn more about what to expect from the RBT Certification Exam, how to prepare for it, and what to do if you don’t pass the first time.
What is the RBT Certification Exam?
The RBT Certification Exam (i.e., certification by BACB) tests whether you are prepared to practice as an RBT. Passing the exam means that you are officially a BACB-certified RBT.
There are 85 multiple choice questions on the RBT Certification Exam, but only 75 of these multiple choice questions make up your score. The remaining ten multiple choice questions have no impact on your overall score; these ten questions are unscored pilot questions to help with improvements on future exams.
The content of the RBT Certification Exam is based primarily on the BACB’s RBT Task List (2nd ed). This is a list of the tasks that are likely to be performed by behavior technicians with most clients.
These tasks include:
- Measurement: RBTs must collect data from sessions and describe behaviors and the environment in measurable terms.
- Assessment: RBTs must conduct assessments and assist with individualized procedures.
- Skill acquisition: RBTs must identify the essential components of a written skill acquisition plan and implement various teaching procedures based on what works for each individual client.
- Behavior reduction: RBTs must describe common functions of behavior and implement interventions for that behavior.
- Documentation and reporting: RBTs must effectively communicate with a supervisor, seek clinical direction in a timely manner, and comply with all legal, regulatory, ethical, and other appropriate guidelines.
- Professional conduct and scope of practice: RBTs must maintain client dignity, respond to feedback, and communicate with caregivers or parents as authorized.
The 85 questions on the exam are divided into short sections that correspond with the tasks above. There are:
- 10 unscored pilot questions to help with improvements on future exams.
- 10 questions on measurement
- 8 questions on assessment
- 24 questions on skill acquisition
- 12 questions on behavior reduction
- 10 questions on documentation and reporting
- 11 questions on professional conduct and scope of practice
Next, let’s discuss what you can expect from the experience of taking the exam.
What to Expect when Taking the Exam
The RBT Certification Exam is administered by an independent testing organization, Pearson VUE.
When you’re ready to schedule your exam, go to the BACB page on the Pearson VUE website and select a testing appointment that works for your schedule and location.
Depending on where you live, Pearson VUE offers both in person and remote options for taking the RBT Certification Exam. Check the Pearson VUE website to see what options are available in your state.
Depending on whether you’re taking the Certification Exam in person or remotely online, you can expect slightly different experiences from the day of the exam. Whether you take the exam in person or remotely online, there are three key things to keep in mind to make the day of your exam run smoothly: (1) timing; (2) identification; and (3) personal items. Read on to find out more.
Timing
If you’re taking the exam in person, plan to arrive at your assigned testing location 30 minutes before the exam is scheduled to begin. If you’re taking the exam remotely online, plan to log into the testing platform 30 minutes before the exam is scheduled to begin.
No matter whether you complete the exam in person or remotely online, you have 90 minutes (one and a half hours) to complete the entire exam. Once you have completed the exam, you will receive your score right away and know whether you have passed or not.
Identification
If you’re taking the exam in person, you must provide two forms of valid identification to be admitted into the examination area. Both pieces of identification must show your first and last name exactly as they appear in your BACB account.
If you’re taking the exam in person and providing two forms of identification, the primary piece of identification must be government issued and include both a photo and signature (e.g., a driver’s license or state/national ID). The secondary piece of identification must include a signature but does not need to include a photo (e.g., a signed credit card that matches the government-issued identification).
If you’re taking the exam remotely online, you must provide one form of valid identification to be admitted into the examination. It must be government issued and include both a high-quality, clear photo and signature (e.g., a driver’s license or state/national ID). It must show your first and last name exactly as they appear in your BACB account.
No matter whether you complete the exam in person or remotely online, the identification you provide must be current (i.e., not expired).
Personal Items
If you’re taking the exam in person you may bring personal items (i.e., a purse or backpack, car keys, etc.) with you to the testing location but they cannot be brought into the examination room. Instead, you can store them safely in a locker outside the examination room.
If you’re taking the exam remotely online, you’ll need to limit the personal items you have in the room you’ll be using to take your exam. Pearson VUE provides the following guidelines:
- No cameras, phones, recording devices, beepers or electronic-transmitting devices may be in your testing room.
- No notes or reference materials, textbooks, briefcases, backpacks, portfolios, or purses may be in your testing room.
- No scratch paper, calculators, or rulers may be in your testing room.
- No other people besides yourself are allowed in the testing room during the exam.
If you’re taking the exam remotely online, you may need to use the camera on your laptop or desktop computer to show that the room you’re using to take your exam does not contain any of the above items. Pearson VUE offers some tips on how to get your at-home space ready for taking a remote online exam: Tips on taking an OnVUE exam // Pearson VUE
Now that you know what to expect from the day of the exam, let’s talk about some strategies for preparing to take your RBT Certification Exam.
How to Prepare for the Exam
Below are some strategies to help you prepare for the RBT Certification Exam.
Review the Content of the Exam
By the time you’re scheduling your RBT Certification Exam, you’ve already completed your 40-Hour BT Training Course and passed your Initial Competency Assessment. The content of the training course and the Initial Competency Assessment is very similar to the content of the BACB’s RBT Certification Exam. You can review any content from your training course to help prepare you for the RBT Certification Exam.
It’s also a good idea to review the BACB’s RBT Task List (2nd ed). This is a list of tasks that are likely to be performed by RBTs with most clients. The training course, the competency assessment, and the Certification Exam are all based on this task list.
If you’re unsure of any of the tasks on the RBT Task List (2nd ed) or you feel there are some tasks and skills that you could improve on, take some time to do so in preparation for taking the RBT Certification Exam. Consider doing some additional reading on those tasks, or watching some YouTube videos demonstrating and explaining those tasks.
It can also be helpful to review the BACB’s RBT Handbook and other resources here: REGISTERED BEHAVIOR TECHNICIAN - Behavior Analyst Certification Board (bacb.com)
Get Comfortable with the Testing System
Regardless of whether you take your exam in person or remotely online, you’ll be taking your exam via a computer. If you’ve never taken a computer-based test or it’s been a while since you’ve taken a computer-based test, it’s a good idea to practice taking a test via a computer so you feel comfortable doing so on the day of your exam.
Pearson VUE offers two different demo versions of their online testing systems: one for their in-person testing system and one for their remote online testing system.
- If you’re taking your exam in person, practice using the Pearson VUE testing system here: Pearson VUE demo test
- If you’re taking your exam remotely online, get to know Pearson VUE’s online proctored testing system, OnVUE, here: Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) OnVUE exam information // Pearson VUE
Note that the questions asked on the Pearson VUE demo exams will not be related to the RBT Certification Exam, and they will have no impact on your RBT Certification Exam score.
Double Check Your Identification
Remember, you must show identification to take the exam whether you’re taking the exam in person or remotely online. Whatever pieces of identification you use must show your first and last name exactly as they appear in your BACB account.
Before the day of your exam, log into your BACB account and double check that your first and last names in your account match your identification exactly. If you need to update the names in your BACB account, do so before the day of the exam.
Prepare for the Day of the Exam
If you’re taking your Certification Exam in person, it’s a good idea to plan out your schedule for the day of the exam, including how long it will take you to drive to the testing location and what time you’ll need to leave to get there on time (preferably 30 minutes before the test is scheduled to begin).
If you’re taking your Certification Exam remotely online, be sure to prepare the room you’ll be taking the exam in according to the Pearson VUE guidelines.
Remember:
- No cameras, phones, recording devices, beepers or electronic-transmitting devices may be in your testing room.
- No notes or reference materials, textbooks, briefcases, backpacks, portfolios, or purses may be in your testing room.
- No scratch paper, calculators, or rulers may be in your testing room.
- No other people besides yourself are allowed in the testing room during the exam.
Try your best to get a good night’s sleep the night before the exam. The morning of the exam, try to do anything that will help you get into a good mental space in preparation for the exam (go for a walk, have a healthy breakfast, listen to your favorite music, etc.).
Once you have completed the exam, you will receive your score right away and know whether you have passed or not. If you don’t pass the first time, that’s okay. Read on to find out what the next steps are if you don’t pass your Certification Exam the first time.
What if I Don’t Pass the First Time?
The majority of people who take the RBT Certification Exam after successfully completing the preliminary requirements (i.e., the 40-hour training and the 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!
If you don’t pass your Certification Exam the first time, here’s what will happen:
- Within 48 hours, an Examination Retake Application will be available online via your BACB account. You will need to fill out and submit this application via your BACB account.
- Within 48 hours of submitting the Examination Retake Application, you will receive an examination authorization email which will provide further instructions on how to schedule a new examination appointment.
- You must wait one week before you retake the Certification Exam.
- You do not need to pay any fees to retake the exam.
You have one year from registering for your RBT Certification Exam to retake and pass this exam if you do not pass it the first time. Within that year, you can retake the RBT Certification Exam up to 8 times. If you do not pass the Certification Exam after 8 attempts during that year, you will need to wait until that 12-month period is over to reapply for RBT certification.
If you don’t pass the exam after the first couple of attempts, it’s a good idea to reconsider how you’re preparing for the exam and reach out to your supervising BCBA or other friends and colleagues in the field for help and support. For example:
- See if you can identify particular areas of the exam that have been challenging for you, and focus on improving your understanding of those areas.
- Consider how you best retain information (Reading? Flashcards? Talking through content outloud? Role-play? etc.) and use a variety of strategies to review content.
Preparing for and passing your BACB RBT Certification Exam can take some time, but understanding the content of the exam and what to expect from the examination experience can help make passing your RBT Certification Exam manageable.
Passing your RBT Certification Exam is an important step in your journey of becoming an RBT because it allows you to officially practice as a BACB certified RBT and be recognized nationally as a certified healthcare provider by colleagues and clients alike.