There are two main types of ABA Therapy professionals: Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). Both play important roles in supporting individuals with autism and work very closely with the families they serve. However, there are significant differences in their responsibilities, education, and scope of practice.
I have practised as both a BCBA and RBT, and in this article, I explain these differences as they pertain both to people considering them as career paths, and parents considering the services for their children.
Understanding the Roles
The Role of a BCBA
Board-Certified Behavior Analysts are highly trained professionals in the field of behavior analysis. They are responsible for assessing behaviors, developing behavior plans, and overseeing treatment. They can work in a variety of settings. BCBAs work in-home, in clinics, in schools, hospitals, and even in fields unrelated to autism spectrum disorder. They work a lot in behind-the-scenes roles and spend a considerable amount of time supervising and training others. As of October 2024, there are approximately 71,660 BCBAs.
The Role of a RBT
RBTs are paraprofessionals that work one-on-one with clients. They are the ones who provide direct care and support. They collect data during sessions, teach skills to clients, and report back to the BCBAs any concerns that they may have. In-home RBTs also typically work closely with caregivers to show them how to teach skills. As of October 2024, there are approximately 187,034 RBTs. Some states allow non-RBTs to work as behavior technicians, although more and more states require certification to practice.
Educational and Certification Requirements
BCBA Certification Requirements
There are a few steps that a person must take to actually become a BCBA. Firstly, they must have their master’s degree in psychology, applied behavior analysis, special education, or another related field.
For those who already have a master’s degree in an unrelated field, there is also an option to complete a specific series of behavior analytic coursework to become qualified. From there, candidates must complete around 2,000 hours of hands-on practice. After all hours and coursework are completed, candidates must pass a national exam. Once certified, they must continue their education and renew their certification every 2 years.
RBT Certification Requirements
The process of becoming an RBT is much shorter in comparison. This certification does not require a college degree, but a high school diploma or equivalent is. Firstly, candidates must complete a 40-hour training on the basics of ABA therapy.
The training covers much of what is done during sessions, such as data collection, reinforcement, and ethical practices. Along with the 40-hour course, RBT candidates must work under the supervision of a BCBA and complete a competency assessment. Once the course is completed, a background check is completed, and the competency assessment is passed, an RBT candidate can complete the last step, which is to pass a national certification exam. Once certified, RBTs must renew their certification yearly.
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Day-to-Day Work
The day-to-day work of BCBAs and RBTs varies greatly. BCBAs are typically involved in higher-level tasks such as assessing behavior, developing treatment plans, analyzing data, overseeing progress of interventions, and supervising RBTs during ABA sessions. RBTs, on the other hand, are more directly involved in the hands-on application of these interventions. Their daily tasks involve working directly with clients, actively implementing the behavior strategies that BCBAs create, collecting data, and carrying out interventions. RBTs may work in similar settings. Regardless of the setting, they focus on providing direct care under the supervision of a BCBA. There are instances in which BCBAs can complete the work of an RBT (i.e., providing direct care), but RBTs cannot complete the tasks of a BCBA.
Working Together: The BCBA and RBT Relationship
BCBAs and RBTs work very closely to ensure that therapy is headed in the right direction. The BCBA designs the treatment plans, and the RBT implements plans while providing feedback through data and check-ins with the BCBA. The BCBA relies on the RBT’s observations and data collection to monitor progress and make changes if needed. Teamwork between the two is essential. It ensures that behavior plans are working, the client is progressing, and that changes are made as soon as possible if needed. A strong working relationship between the BCBA and RBT is one of the most important components of success.
Career Paths and Advancement
BCBA Career Paths
BCBAs have various career advancement opportunities and the ability to specialize in different areas. Most BCBAs work in the special education field, but there are definitely other fields beyond that. In addition, there are many different sub-specializations within special education. Some may choose to focus on specific populations like children with autism, while others may specialize in certain areas like organizational behavior management (behavior in the workplace) or geriatric care. BCBAs may also take roles to manage teams of other BCBAs and RBTs that oversee more large-scale behavior programs. Some may also take on roles in healthcare systems or advocacy organizations.
RBT Career Paths
For RBTs, advancement in the field usually means working towards the BCBA or BCaBA certification. However, becoming an RBT could very well be a stepping stone towards working in a similar field.
Many RBTs pursue higher education in behaviour analysis, but some also work as RBTs for clinical experience. I’ve worked with multiple behavior technicians who used their experience to boost their resumes, which led to their acceptance to med school.
I’ve also worked with RBTs who used their experience to work in occupational and speech therapy. RBTs may be able to advance within their companies to take more of a supervisory or trainer role as an RBT, but working towards becoming a BCBA/BCaBA is a common goal for RBTs seeking to stay in the field.
BCBA vs RBT Salaries
Another big difference between BCBAs and RBTs is pay. BCBAs usually make considerably more money, although it is possible for RBTs to have high hourly pay.
Before I became a BCBA, I made around 18 dollars an hour as a behavior technician with experience and as a BCBA supervisee. RBTs can make upwards of 30 dollars an hour depending on experience and location, although there are states where pay may start around 15 dollars an hour.
Many BCBAs are salaried, and their yearly salary is heavily based on experience and state of practice. Salaried BCBAs typically start around $80,000 for a newly minted BCBA, although some states may be a bit lower than that. For example, in North Carolina, Some BCBAs may opt to work hourly, with some making 50-100 dollars per billable hour.
Choosing Between BCBA and RBT
For Students
For students deciding which path to pursue, I absolutely, unequivocally, wholly implore those interested in the field to first attain their RBT certificate before working towards their BCBA certification. I also highly recommend that those individuals work in the field as an RBT for at least a few months before deciding on whether or not they want to work towards becoming a BCBA.
This field, like many others, suffers from a high burnout rate. It is a stressful field to be in, but it is an incredibly rewarding one. Gaining hands-on experience as an RBT allows individuals to fully understand the demands and challenges of the work. Additionally, this experience provides valuable insights that can shape their approach to treatment planning and help them build the resilience needed to succeed in this field.
For Parents
Thankfully, parents don’t have to choose one or the other — ABA therapy requires both! Parents will often be assigned a BCBA when choosing a company, although they may do research and shop around based on working BCBAs in their area.
Parents who first choose a company and are assigned a BCBA may ask the BCBA about their experience in the field to make sure that it is a good fit. If not, parents are more than welcome to voice their concerns and get reassigned to a new BCBA. This is also true for RBTs. Parents have the option to reassign an RBT if they feel that the person is not a good fit with their child.
Impact on Autism Care
Both BCBAs and RBTs are crucial to the quality of care in ABA therapy. Treatment plans can only be successful if they are well-developed and implemented correctly. As a BCBA, I rely on my RBTs to ask questions, work on treatment programs, keep my clients interested in learning, and take accurate data. They rely on me to track progress, make plans if behaviors start changing, and train them to be the best possible technicians. ABA is widely recognized as one of the most successful treatments for autism, and this professional relationship is at its core.
Personal Perspective
As someone who has worked as both a BCBA and a behavior technician, I can say that both jobs require a high level of patience, creativity, and knowledge.
Whether or not someone decides to become a BCBA should certainly depend on how passionate they are about the field. I knew within the first few months of working as an RBT that I wanted to work my way up in the field as far as I could go.
Other behavior technicians that I have worked with enjoyed being an RBT and had no intentions of working towards the BCBA certification. It can be a very challenging career, but it is also an incredibly rewarding one. I would advise anyone interested in pursuing the BCBA to talk to a few currently certified BCBAs and ask them any questions they may have. If working directly with children sounds more interesting, an RBT certification is ideal. More information on how to become an RBT can be found here.
Conclusión
In short, the two career options are similar in practice but vary greatly in scope. Both roles play a significant part in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. For more information about job responsibilities, ethics, and step-by-step instructions on how to join the field, the BACB website is a great resource.
FAQs
Is being a BCBA better than RBT?
This is a tough question to answer. There are certainly benefits to both. I also may be a bit biased. Being a BCBA means overseeing many more cases, bigger responsibilities, and much more paperwork. I very much enjoy my job, but working as an RBT was incredibly rewarding. It allowed me to work more closely with the children directly, which is something that I certainly miss.
How do I go from RBT to BCBA?
The more specific directions on how to become a BCBA can be found here. The BACB handbook goes over how to obtain the certification step by step. A list of master’s programs can be found here, although there are some universities not listed. Searching for ABA programs in your state is also a great place to start. The short answer to the question, however, is this: Many hours of supervision, dedication, research, and lectures.
