Join Certification Resource Manager Dr. Sarah Jenkins, Director of Certification Services Rachel Ulrich, and Director of Testing Theresa Bartlett as they break down the RBT application process and examination in this episode of Inside the BACB.
You can find all of the BACB’s videos on our YouTube channel.
In this episode of Inside the BACB, Certification Resource Manager Dr. Sarah Jenkins and Director of Certification Services Rachel Ulrich sit down to talk about RBT supervision from A to Z, including the importance of ongoing supervision and tracking. Listen now.
You can find all of the BACB’s videos on our YouTube channel.
In this episode of Inside the BACB, Certification Resource Manager Dr. Sarah Jenkins and Director of Ethics Dr. Holly Seniuk discuss the ethical responsibilities of having an RBT certification. Listen now.
You can find all of the BACB’s videos on our YouTube channel.
In this video, we outline the steps to RBT certification, including meeting eligibility requirements, applying, passing the examination, and more.
You can find all of the BACB’s videos on our YouTube channel.
This video details how to maintain your RBT certification, from meeting the ongoing supervision requirements to renewing on time.
You can find all of the BACB’s videos on our YouTube channel.
In a perfect world, your experience as an RBT would be free of roadblocks and complications—and for the record, we hope that it is! In reality, you might end up in a situation that could negatively impact your certification. But where there’s a problem, there’s a solution. This blog post is here to help you find it.
Solution: There are two ways that you can maintain your RBT certification while on a service-delivery hiatus:
Solution: We know there could be many reasons why you might consider leaving your job, but let’s focus on two:
Either way, the most important thing to consider is the impact this transition will have on your clients. A lack of sufficient notice may negatively impact a client’s service-delivery experience and progress, so please consult the Continuity of Services: Reminders for RBTs document to ensure you get the details right.
Solution: Although this is the last thing you might expect to happen, it’s best to be prepared for anything. So, according to the RBT Ethics Code (2.0) (RBT Code), you must submit a self-report to the BACB within 30 days that explains why you were terminated. Chances are your supervisor will have already removed you from their BACB account, making your certification inactive. What comes after that? If you plan to stay in the field, just make sure that you have another supervisor on record before working with clients again.
Solution: When we say that you must have a supervisor “on record” with the BACB, we mean that all of your RBT Supervisors and RBT Requirements Coordinators must list you as a supervisee in their BACB accounts. When that information is updated, it’s published on the BACB Certificant Registry so that anyone can verify it. So, if you’re unsure, talk to your supervisor(s) to determine who’s responsible for your supervision, and look up your name in the registry to confirm that they’re on record.
Solution: First, there’s no reason to worry. Throughout your journey as an RBT, it won’t be uncommon for your supervisor on record to change. It could happen because your supervisor’s transitioning to a different practice setting—or maybe because you are. Regardless, your supervisor should walk you through the transition process.
Here’s a basic rundown of what to expect:
When your last RBT Supervisor or RBT Requirements Coordinator removes you from their BACB account, your certification status immediately changes to inactive. Remember that you can’t provide services, bill for services, or represent yourself as an RBT until you have another supervisor on record, as their advanced training, education, and expertise are vital to consumer protection.
If your supervisor is transitioning to a different setting, they probably have another supervisor lined up for you already. To be safe, check with one of the supervisors at your organization. If you’re transitioning to a different setting, one of the eligible supervisors there will add you as a supervisee before you start working with clients. In both scenarios, it’s worth checking the BACB Certificant Registry to confirm that your supervisor is listed accurately.
Solution: There are two things we suggest you do in this situation:
If you find that you are consistently unable to meet the supervision requirements and your supervisor isn’t taking your concerns seriously, we encourage you to reach out to the appropriate supports at your organization, like your RBT Requirements Coordinator.
Solution: We understand that things can get hectic in service-delivery settings, making it easy to miss your renewal date. That’s why we have a 30-day reinstatement period, which gives you an extra 30 days after your certification expiration date to submit and pay for your application.
If you’ve already applied for renewal and are waiting to hear back, take a look at the Application Processing Updates web page and the RBT Renewal Steps infographic.
Solution: Your supervisor is there to help shape your professional skills, so having a positive relationship with them is important. If you want to talk to your supervisor about something but don’t know how, ask a trusted colleague for guidance. Consider role-playing the conversation. If you don’t think you can fix the issue with one-on-one communication, you should use the appropriate chain of command at your organization, just as you would for any other workplace problem.
Solution: This is never an easy situation to navigate, but it’s possible. First, try to communicate with your supervisor directly, as some alleged ethics violations can be chalked up to misunderstandings or solved without BACB intervention. We even have a handy resource to help guide you, the Addressing Potential Ethics Violations with Others podcast episode. However, if you don’t feel comfortable talking about it or the issue persists, you should review the Considerations for Reporting an Alleged Violation Against a BCaBA/BCBA document and the Reporting to the Ethics Department web page. These resources will help you decide whether you should submit a Notice of Alleged Violation.
Solution: If you violated the RBT Code, you must self-report it to the BACB within 30 days of the event or of becoming aware (e.g., your supervisor identifies a violation and informs you, you receive a Notice of Alleged Violation). The same applies to investigations that involve you.
If you’ve been named in a Notice of Alleged Violation, a few things will happen: Your supervisor will be notified, but as a professional courtesy, you should inform them as soon as you find out. This also gives them the chance to support you along the way. Later, you’ll be given an opportunity to respond to the alleged violation(s). We’ll give you instructions on what to do and how to provide supporting documentation. See the Code-Enforcement Procedures and Responding to Requests web page for details.
Thank you for taking the time to consider these scenarios that you might encounter as an RBT. We hope this blog post gives you all the tools you need to navigate the more complicated parts of your journey. Until next time.
Nearly half of all recently certified BCBAs and BCaBAs were RBTs when they applied. What does that tell us? For many, becoming an RBT is the first step on a journey toward BCBA or BCaBA certification. Knowing this, we’d like to answer some frequently asked questions about accruing supervised fieldwork for BCBA or BCaBA certification as an RBT.
Before we get started, let’s define supervised fieldwork.
It’s almost (but not quite) self-explanatory. Supervised fieldwork is our term for the time you spend providing applied behavior analysis (ABA) services under a qualified supervisor toward BCBA or BCaBA certification. It’s one of our most important eligibility requirements because it helps trainees develop the skills they need to demonstrate competence in ABA and work effectively with clients, their support systems, and others. Now, we can jump right in.
A. Yes, but only if you meet the maintenance requirements for your RBT certification, including ongoing supervision, as well as the supervised fieldwork requirements for BCBA or BCaBA certification (see the Supervised Fieldwork Requirements section of the BCBA or BCaBA Handbook).
A. No. The minimum requirements per supervisory period differ as shown in the following table:
| Requirements | RBT Supervision | Supervised Fieldwork | Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of hours supervised per month | 5% | 5% | 10% |
| Real-time, face-to-face contacts per month | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Individual supervision per month | 1 meeting | 50% of supervised hours | |
| Observations of trainee/supervisee providing services with client per month | 1 | ||
A. In the right circumstances, yes. The thing to remember is that most of the time, RBTs take part in restricted activities. Here’s a refresher on the supervised fieldwork activities:
To get the most out of supervised fieldwork and properly balance restricted and unrestricted activities, talk to your supervisor about your professional goals. This opens the door for you to discuss the experiences and hours you’ll need, why those experiences are important, and how you’ll manage your responsibilities as an RBT and a BCBA or BCaBA trainee.
An important thing to consider is that some of the hours you accrue as an RBT will not count toward supervised fieldwork, and that’s okay! Fieldwork isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about making strides in your professional development. Your activities as an RBT are designed to help your clients progress toward their goals, and fieldwork is designed to teach you the skills necessary to work as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst in the future.
A. Yes, but probably not all of them. Why? The activities and topics that come up during a supervision meeting about your fieldwork are likely different and more advanced than those that come up during your ongoing supervision as an RBT. This is another great time to collaborate with your supervisor. Together, you can choose activities and topics that will also meet the supervised fieldwork requirements (see also Question 3).
If you take anything away from this answer, let it be that you and your supervisor are a team—and you should make the most of that. When you’re a BCBA or BCaBA, you’ll have more responsibilities and work more independently. So, while you still have a professional safety net, take the time to experience new things and develop your skills. That way, you’ll be fully prepared for whatever lies ahead.
A. No. Although your documents and documentation systems might be similar, they can’t be the same because the requirements differ. For example, you need to keep a summary of each supervision activity for supervised fieldwork, but you don’t need to keep one for ongoing RBT supervision.
Once you’re ready to accrue supervised fieldwork, talk to your supervisor about proper documentation. Then, before each supervision session, identify the topics and activities they’ll cover so that you know which set of documentation requirements to meet.
For details, review the Ongoing Supervision section of the RBT Handbook and the Supervised Fieldwork Requirements section of the BCBA or BCaBA Handbook. The Documenting Fieldwork: Helpful Answers to Your FAQs blog post may also be a valuable tool.
A. Yes, but only if your supervisor meets both sets of requirements. To ensure that all trainees get the instruction and support they need, supervisors must meet specialized requirements as shown in the Additional Requirements by Role table in the BCBA Handbook.
The easiest way to get an answer is to ask your supervisor if they meet the requirements to supervise fieldwork. You can also verify their eligibility by searching their name in the BACB Certificant Registry, but remember—especially as an aspiring BCBA or BCaBA, you want a supervisor who can give you the best information and learning opportunities possible. So, even if they’re qualified on paper, make sure they’re the right fit for your professional-development goals.
Lastly, don’t forget: For supervised fieldwork, you must have a supervision contract in place with each supervisor. The good news is that they’ll help you develop a contract once you agree to work with them. Before then, check out this Sample Supervision Contract for reference.
A. As you already know, RBTs must be familiar with and adhere to the RBT Ethics Code (2.0). You’ll also become familiar with the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts during your coursework, and you must comply with it during supervised fieldwork. Again, we suggest working with your supervisor to best understand what’s expected of you. They’ll help you navigate which code is applicable to the role you’re in at any given time.
Do you feel more prepared to take this next step in your career? We hope so! We can’t overstate how important supervised fieldwork is for gaining the necessary skills you’ll need as a BCBA or BCaBA, so make the most of it. Enjoy this time of guided practice and close supervision before your role changes from behavior technician to behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst.
If you don’t know where to go from here, check out these resources to get started:
| BCBA and BCaBA Handbook | These handbooks detail the ins and outs of how to become certified and stay certified. |
|---|---|
| Fieldwork Checklist and Tip Sheet | This checklist walks you through the steps before, during, and after of fieldwork. |
| Commonly Asked Questions about BACB Supervised Fieldwork Requirements | These resources have additional information about the fieldwork experience and requirements. |
| Documenting Fieldwork Hours | |
| Documenting Fieldwork: Helpful Answers to Your FAQs |
In this episode of Inside the BACB, Chief Certification and Learning Officer Dr. Molli Luke and BACB Board of Directors Vice President Molly Dubuque discuss RBT supervision systems that could help make supervision more effective and efficient.
You can find all of the BACB’s videos on our YouTube channel.
Start the year off right by ensuring that you’re properly representing your BACB certification status. To learn why it’s so important, how to do it, and more, read our latest blog post, How to Represent Your BACB Certification Status.
What’s in a name? When it comes to representing your certification status, the answer is everything.
At some point, you’ve heard us say “Be sure to properly represent your BACB certification status.” But what does that mean? What’s the “proper” way to do it? That’s what we plan to answer in this blog, but here’s the gist of it:
When you refer to your BACB certification, you must refer to its status—whether active, inactive, or somewhere in between—accurately.
It might surprise you how often this comes up in day-to-day life. You refer to your certification status when chatting with friends about your current studies or career. It’s mentioned when you work with peers, clients, parents/guardians, and employers in classrooms and clinical settings. You write it on your resume, job applications, and billing authorizations. It even crops up when you’re training, supervising, or giving lectures.
So, here’s another question for you, one that has echoed through school halls and study rooms for centuries: Why does this matter? The truth is that misrepresentation can have real-life consequences, even if done accidentally. In just a minute, we’ll outline how to accurately represent your certification status, but first, we need to discuss why it’s so important:
In this section, we’ll outline the dos and don’ts of representing your certification status. These guidelines are airtight to avoid any possible confusion, as confused clients and employers are not informed clients and employers. We hope that these examples make your life a little bit easier:
| Status | Guidelines |
|---|---|
| Active Certification |
As a reminder, you don’t need to use the registered trademark symbol when referring to your own certification (e.g., RBT®). |
| Applicant |
|
| Inactive Certification (e.g., on voluntary inactive status, no supervisor) |
As a reminder, those on voluntary inactive status and those who hold an RBT or BCaBA certification but do not have a qualified supervisor on record with the BACB must indicate that their certification is inactive if they need to refer to their certification. For more information, check out the Inactive Policy in the RBT, BCaBA, or BCBA Handbook. |
Now that you know what to do and why, let’s talk about misrepresentation in the real world: What should you do if you see someone misrepresenting their certification status? What if that person is you?
The first step is to gently correct if possible. If the issue persists, the second step is to report it to all relevant entities (e.g., BACB, licensure board).
Let’s say that while reading this blog, you realized that you’ve been misrepresenting your certification status. Don’t panic! If you can, fix the error. Change your social media bio, revise your resume, contact the website’s administrator, shout your true certification status from the mountain tops—whatever you need to do. If you can’t fix the error yourself, tell your supervisor (if you have one), document your attempts to correct it, and self-report to the BACB through the Ethics Self-Reporting Form. Don’t forget to include your documentation in the submission.
If you notice that someone else is misrepresenting their certification status, follow the same procedure. First, give them an opportunity to fix the error. Here’s one way to begin that conversation:
“I hope you’re doing well. I just checked out your social media profile, and I’m so excited to see that you’re in a behavior analysis program. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but you can’t represent yourself as a BCBA (or a BCBA in training) until you’ve passed the exam, as it might be confusing. The BACB has clear guidelines on what’s acceptable. Can I share some resources with you, or could we hop on a call to chat about it?”
You don’t have to repeat this word-for-word, but it’s a good start.
If you aren’t comfortable reaching out to this person, or if they fail to fix the error, please report them to the BACB through the Reporting Infringement or Misuse Form. We’ll take it from there.
In summary, to represent your certification status properly, you should follow our guidelines and be as clear as possible when communicating with others. Taking misrepresentation seriously benefits your clients, your employer, and you. If you see misrepresentation in the wild, please take all appropriate steps to address it.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. Your willingness to learn more about these topics helps uphold the integrity your certification. If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch through the Contact Us Form.
Represent yourself in the following ways:
Do not represent yourself in the following ways: