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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