Guide to leveling up as RBT

Action Plan Template and Next Steps for RBTs

Why You Need a Personal Action Plan

A written action plan turns career goals into concrete steps with deadlines
It helps you track progress, stay motivated, and communicate your goals to supervisors and employers
Without a plan, advancement happens by chance, with one, you drive your own growth
This template brings together every section of this guide into a single working document you can revisit and revise

How to Use This Template

Copy this template into a document or spreadsheet you can edit
Complete each section honestly, base your answers on where you are right now
Share your completed plan with your supervising BCBA or clinical director
Review and update the plan every three months
Adjust your timeline and goals as your interests and circumstances evolve

### Section 1

Where I Am Now

Current credential: _______________________________
Months or years of RBT experience: _______________________________
Populations I have worked with (age ranges, diagnoses): _______________________________
Settings I have worked in (home, clinic, school, community, telehealth): _______________________________
Clinical skills I am confident in: _______________________________
Clinical skills I am still developing: _______________________________
Current supervision arrangement: _______________________________
Additional certifications or training completed: _______________________________

### Section 2

Where I Want to Be

My 12-month goal: _______________________________
My 3-year goal: _______________________________
My 5-year goal: _______________________________

Roles I am interested in (check all that apply)

Lead RBT / Senior RBT
RBT Trainer
Clinical Coordinator
Early Intervention Specialist
School-Based RBT
Feeding / Sleep / Toileting Specialist
Social Skills Group Facilitator
Telehealth Service Provider
BCaBA
BCBA
Adjacent career (special education, speech-language, occupational therapy, case management)
Populations or settings I want to gain experience with: _______________________________
Specializations I want to pursue: _______________________________

### Section 3

Gap Analysis

Skills I need to build for my next role: _______________________________
Credentials or certifications I need: _______________________________
Education I need to complete: _______________________________
Fieldwork hours I need to accumulate: _______________________________
Experience gaps I need to fill (populations, settings, program types): _______________________________
Training or workshops I need to attend: _______________________________
Portfolio materials I need to create or update: _______________________________

### Section 4

Quarterly Goal Setting

**Quarter 1 Goals**

**Quarter 2 Goals**

**Quarter 3 Goals**

**Quarter 4 Goals**

Choose one or two goals per quarter, do not overload yourself
Make each goal specific and measurable
Share your quarterly goals with your supervisor
Goal 1: _______________________________, Target date: __________
Goal 2: _______________________________, Target date: __________
Action steps: _______________________________
Resources needed: _______________________________
How I will measure success: _______________________________
Goal 1: _______________________________, Target date: __________
Goal 2: _______________________________, Target date: __________
Action steps: _______________________________
Resources needed: _______________________________
How I will measure success: _______________________________
Goal 1: _______________________________, Target date: __________
Goal 2: _______________________________, Target date: __________
Action steps: _______________________________
Resources needed: _______________________________
How I will measure success: _______________________________
Goal 1: _______________________________, Target date: __________
Goal 2: _______________________________, Target date: __________
Action steps: _______________________________
Resources needed: _______________________________
How I will measure success: _______________________________

### Section 5

Milestone Tracker

|-----------|-------------|----------------|-------|

Use this section to record completed milestones and target dates for upcoming ones

### Section 6

Supervision Plan

My supervising BCBA: _______________________________
Supervision frequency: _______________________________
Topics I want to focus on in supervision: _______________________________
Skills I want observed in the next quarter: _______________________________
Feedback I have received and my follow-up actions: _______________________________
Questions I want to bring to my next supervision meeting: _______________________________

### Section 7

Continuing Education Plan

Training or workshops I want to complete in the next 12 months: _______________________________
Conferences I want to attend: _______________________________
Books or journals I want to read: _______________________________
Online courses or webinars I want to take: _______________________________
Budget for continuing education: _______________________________
Employer support available (tuition reimbursement, stipends, paid training): _______________________________

### Section 8

Portfolio Checklist

Professional summary written and current
Credentials and certifications documented
Clinical experience log up to date
Anonymized data and outcomes samples included
Training and continuing education records organized
Professional references confirmed
Resume current and tailored to my target role
Cover letter template ready to customize
Portfolio reviewed within the last six months

### Week 1

Self-Assessment

Complete Section 1 of the action plan template, be honest about where you are
Review the core competency self-assessment checklist from Section 2 of this guide
Identify two or three clinical skills you want to strengthen first
Gather your current credentials, training certificates, and supervision records in one place

### Week 2

Goal Setting

Complete Section 2, write down your 12-month, 3-year, and 5-year goals
Complete Section 3, identify the gaps between where you are and where you want to be
Choose your first quarterly goals using Section 4
Make each goal specific enough that you will know when you have achieved it

### Week 3

Conversation With Your Supervisor

Schedule a conversation with your supervising BCBA or clinical director
Share your completed action plan and goals
Ask for their input on your timeline and target areas
Request their support, observation time, training opportunities, or fieldwork supervision if applicable
Agree on a plan for checking in on your progress

### Week 4

Begin Execution

Start working on your first quarterly goal
Update or begin your professional portfolio using the checklist in Section 8
Begin a professional development log to track training, feedback, and milestones
Set a recurring calendar reminder to review your action plan every three months

Sustaining Momentum Over the Long Term

### Review Your Plan Quarterly

### Revisit Your Goals Annually

### Watch for Signs You Need to Adjust

### Build a Support Network

Schedule a 30-minute review every three months
Assess what you accomplished, what stalled, and what changed
Adjust your goals and timeline based on what you learned
Celebrate milestones, acknowledging progress keeps you motivated
Once a year, review your 12-month, 3-year, and 5-year goals
Ask whether your goals still match your interests and circumstances
Update your plan to reflect new opportunities, challenges, or priorities
Share your updated plan with your supervisor
If you feel chronically exhausted, you may be taking on too much, scale back and reassess
If you are bored or stagnant, you may need a new challenge, add a specialization or leadership goal
If your interests have shifted, update your target role, it is normal for goals to evolve
If your supervision is not supporting your growth, address it directly or seek a new arrangement
Connect with other RBTs who are also working toward advancement
Join state or local ABA chapter groups for networking and encouragement
Find a mentor, a senior RBT, BCaBA, or BCBA who has walked the path you are on
Share your goals with family and friends so they understand and support your commitment

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Setting too many goals at once, focus on one or two per quarter
Waiting for someone else to notice your ambition, tell your supervisor what you want
Letting your action plan sit in a drawer, review it regularly and update it
Comparing your timeline to others, your path is your own
Neglecting your current RBT work while planning for the next step, strong current performance opens doors
Forgetting to document your progress, a development log is your evidence of growth
Underestimating the time and cost of advancement, plan realistically and seek support early

A Closing Note on Career Growth as an RBT

Your RBT credential is a starting point, not a ceiling
Every section of this guide exists because RBTs before you have walked these paths successfully
Advancement in ABA rewards consistency, curiosity, and a willingness to ask for what you need
The clients you serve today benefit from the skills you build for tomorrow
Start with one goal, take one step, and keep going

This guide to leveling up as an RBT includes the following sections

Use this guide as a working reference, return to individual sections as your goals evolve, and use the action plan template to keep yourself on track from where you are now to where you want to be.

Introduction to RBT Role and Career Pathways
Core Competency Development Areas
Supervision and Mentorship Strategies
Continuing Education and Certification Options
Building a Professional Portfolio
Transitioning to BCaBA or BCBA
Leadership and Specialization Opportunities
Action Plan Template and Next Steps