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Registered Behavior Technician Credential

Credit Recommendation

  • Fundamentals of Behavioral Psychology: 3 credits, lower division level

Effective Dates

May 2014 through April 2024

Issuing Agency

Behavior Analyst Certification Board

7950 Shaffer Parkway; Littleton, CO 80127; (720)438-4321

About the Credential

The RBT credential is the entry-level credential for the field. The purpose of the credential is to provide the essential methodological and theoretical background to enable people to implement behavioral strategies in an effective and ethical manner, according to the standards set by the Board.

How to Apply for the Credit 

Credit Recommendation Details / Competencies

  • Prepare and implement data collection and recording of detailed measurements of client progress.

  • Describe behavior and environment in observable and measurable terms.

  • Assist with individualized assessment procedures (e.g., curriculum-based, developmental, social skills).

  • Assist with functional assessment procedures.

  • Identify, prepare and implement the essential components of a written skill acquisition plan.

  • Use contingencies of reinforcement (e.g., conditioned/unconditioned reinforcement, continuous/intermittent schedules).

  • Implement a variety of teaching procedures, including: discrete-trial teaching procedures; naturalistic teaching procedures (e.g., incidental teaching).

  • Implement discrimination training; stimulus control transfer procedures; prompt and prompt fading procedures; generalization and maintenance procedures: shaping procedures; token economy procedures.

Measurement

  • Prepare for data collection.

  • Implement continuous measurement procedures (e.g., frequency, duration).

  • Implement discontinuous measurement procedures (e.g., partial & whole interval, momentary time sampling).

  • Implement permanent-product recording procedures.

  • Enter data and update graphs.

  • Describe behavior and environment in observable and measurable terms.

Assessment

  • Conduct preference assessments.

  • Assist with individualized assessment procedures (e.g., curriculum-based, developmental, social skills).

  • Assist with functional assessment procedures.

Skill Acquisition

  • Identify the essential components of a written skill acquisition plan.

  • Prepare for the session as required by the skill acquisition plan.

  • Use contingencies of reinforcement (e.g., conditioned/unconditioned reinforcement, continuous/intermittent schedules).

  • Implement discrete-trial teaching procedures.

  • Implement naturalistic teaching procedures (e.g., incidental teaching).

  • Implement task analyzed chaining procedures.

  • Implement discrimination training.

  • Implement stimulus control transfer procedures.

  • Implement prompt and prompt fading procedures.

  • Implement generalization and maintenance procedures.

  • Implement shaping procedures.

  • Implement token economy procedures.

Behavior Reduction

  • Identify essential components of a written behavior reduction plan.

  • Describe common functions of behavior.

  • Implement interventions based on modification of antecedents such as motivating operations and discriminative stimuli.

  • Implement differential reinforcement procedures (e.g., DRA, DRO).

  • Implement extinction procedures.

  • Implement crisis/emergency procedures according to protocol.

Documentation and Reporting

  • Effectively communicate with a supervisor in an ongoing manner.

  • Actively seek clinical direction from supervisor in a timely manner.

  • Report other variables that might affect the client in a timely manner.

  • Generate objective session notes for service verification by describing what occurred during the sessions, in accordance with applicable legal, regulatory, and workplace requirements.

  • Comply with applicable legal, regulatory, and workplace data collection, storage, transportation, and documentation requirements.

Professional Conduct and Scope of Practice

  • Describe the BACB’s RBT supervision requirements and the role of RBTs in the service-delivery system.

  • Respond appropriately to feedback and maintain or improve performance accordingly.

  • Communicate with stakeholders (e.g., family, caregivers, other professionals) as authorized.

  • Maintain professional boundaries (e.g., avoid dual relationships, conflicts of interest, social media contacts).

  • Maintain client dignity.