Education & Care

How to become a Registered Behavior Technician

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

1–3 months

Typical pay

$38k–$52k

Starting from

No experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   2–6 weeks

   Complete the 40-hour RBT training

   Available online, inexpensive, and often paid for by the employer.

2. 2

   2–4 weeks

   Pass the competency assessment

   Observed by a BCBA — you need an employer or supervisor to do this.

3. 3

   Pass the RBT exam

   Then a background check, and you are on the BACB registry.

   ◆ RBT (BACB)

4. 4

   1–2 years

   Work with clients, then consider BCBA

   The technician role is a floor; BCBA requires a master's and is the real earnings step.

5. ✓

   Destination

   Registered Behavior Technician

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