RBT Exam: Pass Your Registered Behavior Technician Certification

You are just one step away from a successful career in Applied Behavior Analysis with Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification exam.

This is a comprehensive examination administered by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and is known to determine your ability to provide behavior-analytic services under professional supervision.

Knowledge of RBT Certification Exam

The RBT exam has 85 multiple choice items and a time limit of 90 minutes. You only get 75 questions out of the total number of questions that are counted on your final score with 10 unscored pilot questions that will be included in future exams.

Every question will involve four answers of which there will be a single correct answer. The test has a passing criteria of about 80 percent accuracy but the actual score at which the test pass is not publicly published because it applies the criterion-referenced scoring method which entails a modified Angoff method.

Six Core Content Domains

Domain A: Measurement (12 Questions)

This chapter dwells on data gathering methods that are necessary to monitor client progress.

You will have to show an understanding of the continuous measurement techniques such as frequency, rate, duration and latency.

One of the basic skills that are examined in the field is the need to prepare materials before the sessions and know the various data recording methods.

Domain B: Assessment (6 Questions)

BCBAs perform the majority of the duties of diagnosing, yet RBTs are involved in the assessment.

This involves taking curriculum based skills assessments and functional assessment with descriptive analysis. This section is vital in understanding your role as compared to the role of the BCBA.

Domain C: Skill Acquisition (29 Questions)

This area, as the biggest part of the examination, deals with behavior-change interventions and instructional methods. Some of the topics are:

• Discrete trial training (DTT)
• Naturalistic teaching (NET)
• Chaining procedures
• Discrimination training
• Prompting strategies
• Generalization techniques
• Shaping procedures
• Token economy implementation

Domain D: Behavior Reduction (12 Questions)

This part is an assessment of what you have learned about intervention measures of dealing with difficult behaviors.

You should be aware of the four functions of behavior, apply the procedures of differential reinforcement, DRA, DRO, DRI, know the procedures of extinction, and be aware of when to use crisis intervention procedures, and when to use planned intervention procedures.

Domain E: Documentation and Reporting (11 Questions)

It is necessary to have professional communication. This area examines your skills in writing objective session notes, effectively communicating with your supervisors, responding to feedback in a proper manner, and upholding professional documentation standards that are within the legal and regulatory requirements.

Domain F: Professional Conduct and Ethics (15 Questions)

The RBT Ethics Code 2.0 regulates professional behavior. This part determines how knowledgeable you are about ethical guidelines, professional boundaries, scope of practice, dual relationships, gift giving policies, and cultural humility when providing services.

Before Testing Eligibility Requirements

There are a number of prerequisites that should be taken before you can schedule your exam:

• First, get high school diploma or its equivalent
• Second, complete a 40-hour training program on all the necessary curriculum topics approved by BACB
• Third, complete the RBT Initial Competency Assessment by a BCBA or BCaBA, and prove proficiency in 20 specific tasks by way of observation, role-play tasks, and interviews

Process and Costs of Application

It is a practicum where the applicant is required to pay a fee of $50 to BACB to process the certification.

Upon approval, you shall incur an extra fee of $45 examination fee to Pearson VUE during the time you make your test appointment.

Should one need to take the exam again, he or she would be charged a retake fee of $35, and may have up to 8 attempts on the retake in a period of 12 months upon the first approval.

2026 Updates: What's Changing

The major changes will occur as of January 1, 2026, when the Test Content Outline (TCO) 3rd Edition is introduced to replace the existing Task List.

The list of tasks is expanded to 43, and the domain titles are changed and more action-oriented. Four domains undergo name adjustments in order to be more understandable, but the content is not much different.

The 40-hour training curriculum has undergone a change to have systematic coverage of 54 topics in eight content areas with certain minimum hour coverage.

The Ethics field is enlarged to cover 10 particular tasks as opposed to the general allusions to the ethics code. The new tasks are focused on cultural humility, the ability to identify bias, and the high standards of professional behavior.

Proven Study Strategies

The success entails a systematic preparation in all the content areas. Establish some realistic study plan that will last 4-8 weeks prior to the day of your exam.

Split the content into small manageable parts and spend certain time on each area according to the weight of the questions in that area.

Use the RBT exam List as a master reference- it lists all the testable concepts. Add practice tests that mimic the real test environment to develop confidence and determine areas of lack of knowledge. Prepare flashcards on terminology, with simple, brief definitions in categories of content.

Test Day Success Tips

Make time management a tactic in the exam. Allow around one minute per question and leave hard ones out to come back to them later.

Look through every question, and find keywords that indicate what is being requested in each question before judging the answers.

Eliminate the answers that are obviously incorrect instead, and reduce your options. In case of uncertainty, use the concepts in the RBT Ethics Code and best practices as per the BACB standards, which are not always in line with local workplace standards.

Once Passing: Retaining Certification

When you pass, you can start using your RBT credentials the time you complete receiving your certificate and registering with a qualified supervisor or requirements coordinator with the BACB.

Existing certification involves renewal every year by way of competency tests, but this is subject to change to every two years with professional development criteria starting in 2026.

Last Minute Preparation Checklist

A fortnight prior to your examination, do full length practice examinations timed. One week before, go over your lowest points of content found in practice exams.

Check back RBT Ethics Code and scope of practice guidelines 3 days prior. The eve before, pack the identification documents, ensure that you know where to be tested and make sure that you get sleep instead of studying.