RBT Career Roadmap: Your First 90 Days
What This Roadmap Covers
This roadmap breaks your first 90 days as a Registered Behavior Technician into three phases. Each phase builds on the last, moving you from study and certification through job preparation and into long-term advancement planning.
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Week 1: Understand the RBT Role
- Learn what an RBT does: direct implementation of behavior-analytic services under supervision
- Review the BACB RBT Task List (2nd edition)
- Familiarize yourself with key terms: reinforcement, prompting, shaping, chaining, extinction
- Set up a study schedule of 1 to 2 hours per day
Week 2: Complete the 40-Hour Training
- Enroll in a BACB-approved 40-hour RBT training program
- Work through modules in manageable daily blocks
- Take notes on each section of the RBT Task List
- Track your completion percentage daily
Week 3: Prepare for the Competency Assessment
- Review your notes from the 40-hour training
- Practice skill demonstrations: discrete trial teaching, naturalistic teaching, data collection
- Connect with a BCBA or BCaBA who can administer the competency assessment
- Schedule your competency assessment before the end of the week
Week 4: Pass the Competency Assessment and Apply for the Exam
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- Complete the RBT Competency Assessment with your supervising BCBA
- Submit your RBT application through the BACB portal
- Pay the application fee and wait for authorization to test
- Begin light exam review using practice questions
Week 5: Take the RBT Exam
- Schedule your exam through Pearson VUE as soon as you receive authorization
- Continue daily practice questions (20 to 30 per day)
- Focus on areas where you feel least confident
- Take the exam and celebrate passing
Week 6: Build Your Job Search Materials
- Write a resume highlighting your 40-hour training, competency assessment, and RBT credential
- Prepare a brief cover letter explaining your interest in applied behavior analysis
- Gather two professional or academic references
- Create a list of 10 to 15 target employers: clinics, school districts, in-home ABA providers
Week 7: Apply and Interview
- Submit applications to your target employer list
- Prepare answers to common RBT interview questions
- Practice describing how you would handle challenging behaviors
- Ask interviewers about supervision structure, caseload, and training opportunities
Week 8: Accept a Position and Onboard
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- Compare offers based on pay, supervision quality, schedule, and growth potential
- Accept the position that offers the strongest BCBA supervision
- Complete onboarding: background checks, CPR certification, company-specific training
- Begin building rapport with your supervising BCBA and clients
Week 9: Establish Your Supervision Routine
- Confirm your supervision schedule with your BCBA (minimum 5% of hours worked)
- Set monthly supervision goals
- Begin tracking your direct service hours
- Ask for feedback after every supervision session
Week 10: Strengthen Clinical Skills
- Practice precise data collection across sessions
- Learn to implement behavior intervention plans with fidelity
- Study skill acquisition plans for your current clients
- Request to shadow experienced RBTs or BCBAs when possible
Week 11: Explore Advancement Pathways
- **Lead RBT:** Take on mentorship, training, or scheduling responsibilities within your organization
- **BCaBA:** Requires a bachelor's degree, 315 hours of coursework, and 1,000 hours of supervised fieldwork
- **BCBA:** Requires a master's degree, verified coursework sequence, and 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork
- Talk to your BCBA about which path fits your goals and timeline
Week 12: Build a Long-Term Development Plan
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- Choose your target advancement pathway
- Identify degree programs or coursework sequences if pursuing BCaBA or BCBA
- Set a timeline for coursework, fieldwork, and supervision hours
- Create a monthly check-in with your supervisor to review progress
- Document your accomplishments and areas for growth
Key Reminders for Your First 90 Days
- Your RBT credential must be renewed annually
- Supervision is not optional, it is required and valuable
- Data collection is the backbone of everything you do
- Every BCBA started where you are now
- Ask questions early and often
Next Steps After Day 90
- Continue accumulating supervised experience hours
- Begin coursework if pursuing BCaBA or BCBA
- Seek opportunities to present cases or lead team meetings
- Build a professional network through local ABA chapters and conferences
- Revisit and update your development plan every 90 days