If you are already here, chances are you are ready to take a deep dive into the ride to become the perfect RBT.
Don’t worry, it’s a steady ride if you just follow through with what we are going to say to you.
Before you register for the RBT exam, here’s one more thing you have to do – the BACB approval. That is, the BCBA must first confirm that you are eligible to take this exam. This is a straightforward step; you simply need to meet certain physical and academic criteria.
Once you have completed this step, you will use Pearson VUE to schedule and pay for your required in-person testing appointment.
In this guide, you will learn the whole process through a step-by-step guide from verifying your eligibility to receiving your final verification email.
This is What You Need from the BACB
If you are thinking about sitting for the exam, you need to be mentally prepared to be there physically.
No, you cannot take the exam remotely under any circumstances.
You are welcome at Pearson VUE testing centers. But before you can prepare or schedule your exam with Pearson, you need to know if you are fit according to their criteria or the rules set by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).
So what are those rules?
Step 1: Check your eligibility
To get the RBT approval from the BACB, you must:
- Complete the background check and contract rules cited in the recent RBT Handbook.
- Have at least one high school diploma or its equivalent degree.
- Pass the competency assessment.
- Complete the required 40-hour RBT training course.
After you are done confirming these pieces of information—including your 40-hour training certificate, signed papers from your supervisor, and your skills check forms— you can now move on to the next step. If you are struggling with the documents, do not worry; many training schools help students gather the needed papers.
Now that you are eligible and the BACB says “yes,” it is time to book your shot to take the exam through Pearson VUE.
Remember, you only have one year after the BACB acceptance date to pass the RBT exam.
Step 2: Apply for the RBT exam with BACB
Now that you are done fulfilling the required prerequisites, it is time to submit your RBT certification application. You can do that by logging into your BACB account.
What do I have to upload? – This is a common question.
All you have to do is upload proof of your training and competency assessment, and attach complete background attestations. Once you are done, you can pay the BACB application fee (check the current fee program for the exact amount, which is typically around $50 USD).
After you have submitted your application, the BACB will review it and mail you an official decision. It can be via both email and your online account. After you have received your ‘approved’ status, you can proceed forward.
Step 3: Get Your Authorization to Test (ATT)
Once your application is approved, the BACB tells Pearson VUE that you are now eligible to take the test.
You will receive an email called the Authorization to Test (ATT). This email will contain your personal information, like your name, address, and date of the examination, your schedule, and other important pieces of information, etc.
But remember, you must sit for the exam within one year of getting the approval. If you think you need to retake the exam, you have to take the exam within the same year. If you miss the deadline, you’ll have to start all over, which means applying to the BCBA again, paying the exact fees that could’ve been avoided.
Step 4: Get or Make Your Pearson VUE Account
If you are done with step 3, this is where you go to the Pearson VUE website for the RBT exam. This is the only official website that you will use to log in.
If you are new to this, you need to sign up using the same legal name, email, and all other information that you used when setting up your BCBA account. This will help you connect all your records in one place.
But if you are already a known face on the website, welcome back! Check if all your information matches the information with the BCBA details. Make sure your account is linked to the BACB exam.
Make sure that the details on your Pearson VUE Account match your BCBA profile to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Step 5: Schedule your RBT appointment with Pearson
This is the step where you will book your Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) exam.
- You need to first log in to your Pearson VUE account.
- Here, you will pick ‘BCBA’ as the exam company and then select ‘Registered Behavior Technician’ as the exam.
- Now you will have to choose a testing centre, date, and time that is feasible for you. Once you decide on all these categories, you need to pay the Pearson VUE exam fee to complete your booking. The fee is about 45 USD for each test appointment, but it is separate from the application fees for BCBA.
Save your receipt because your booking only only confirmed after you pay. Here’s the BCBA examination page.
Step 6: Understand policies for rescheduling and retakes
Suppose you’re stuck in an event, and no matter how much you’ve tried, there’s no escape from it. Or worse, you’ve met with an accident. What should you do?
No worries! BCBA allows you to reschedule your exam, but that should be done at least 48 hours before your appointment. Rescheduling can be done online through your Pearson account or by contacting Pearson VUE customer service.
If you happen to miss this 48-hour rule, it usually means forfeiting your exam fee.
Also, if you do not pass, you may still retake the exam within the one-year timeline. After that, each attempt is arranged and paid as a Pearson VUE appointment.
Note that there must be a gap of at least 7 days between these attempts.
You’ll get more information on the RBT Handbook.
Step 7: The test day!
Even though it is an offline exam, it is still a computer-based test at Pearson VUE centers. It has 85 multiple-choice questions (75 scored and 10 pilot items) with a 90-minute time limit.
There will be an RBT Task List, which would include measurements, assessments, skill acquisitions, behavioral tests, documentation, reporting, and other professional conduct.
Remember on your exam day: Arrive early with a valid government-issued ID that matches the information that you have provided for Pearson and BCBA registration details. Follows all the guidelines and policies in the RBT Handbook.
After finishing, scores are given in a scaled system, and your preliminary result will be reported according to the BACB procedure as described in the handbook.
This is all you need to know to ace your exams. Best of luck!
Ohita Salam
Ohita Salam is a lead content author at Autivic, where she specializes in curating research-driven, clear, and pragmatic educational resources and blogs to assist aspiring RBTs i.e. Registered Behavior Technicians in learning ABA principles, key RBT concepts, and their practical applications efficiently.
- Ohita Salam
- Ohita Salam
- Ohita Salam
- Ohita Salam
