Exam Comparison
BCBA vs RBT
Comparing the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Exam and the Registered Behavior Technician Exam. Both fall under Behavioral Health. Both are covered by the Behavioral Health Exam Prep app.
The Bottom Line
These are opposite ends of the ABA career ladder: the RBT is the 40-hour entry credential for delivering therapy under supervision, and the BCBA is the graduate-level credential for designing it. Nearly everyone starts as an RBT; the question is whether you continue to the BCBA.
BCBA vs RBT: At a Glance
| Detail | BCBA | RBT |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Board Certified Behavior Analyst Exam | Registered Behavior Technician Exam |
| Governing Body | BACB | BACB |
| Number of Questions | 185 | 85 |
| Time Limit | 4 hours | 90 minutes |
| Passing Score | 65% (scaled) | 80% |
| Exam Fee | $245 USD | $45 USD |
| Category | Behavioral Health | Behavioral Health |
| C3RT App | Behavioral Health Exam Prep | Behavioral Health Exam Prep |
Content Areas Compared
BCBA Domains
- Philosophical Underpinnings
- Concepts and Principles
- Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation
- Experimental Design
- Ethics
- Behavior Assessment
- Behavior-Change Procedures
- Selecting and Implementing Interventions
- Personnel Supervision and Management
RBT Domains
- Measurement(10%)
- Assessment(7%)
- Skill Acquisition(28%)
- Behavior Reduction(19%)
- Documentation and Reporting(10%)
- Professional Conduct and Scope of Practice(26%)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between BCBA and RBT?
The RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) requires a high-school diploma, a 40-hour training, a competency assessment, and a relatively short exam, RBTs deliver ABA programs one-on-one under close supervision. The BCBA requires a master’s degree, extensive supervised fieldwork, and a substantially harder exam, BCBAs conduct assessments, write treatment plans, and supervise the RBTs who implement them. Compensation and autonomy differ accordingly.
Can I take both the BCBA and the RBT?
Yes, the standard ABA career arc is RBT → (often BCaBA →) BCBA. Your RBT certification lapses in practical terms once you are a BCBA, since BCBAs supervise rather than hold the technician credential. Think of the RBT as the apprenticeship and the BCBA as the license to run the shop.
Which should I take first, BCBA or RBT?
RBT first, almost always. It gets you paid clinical experience within weeks, tells you quickly whether you actually enjoy ABA work before you commit to graduate school, and the hours you work as an RBT familiarize you with exactly the clinical situations the BCBA exam tests. Going straight to BCBA without RBT-level floor experience is possible but leaves you designing programs you have never personally run.
Does C3RT cover both the BCBA and the RBT?
Yes. Both the BCBA and RBT are covered in the Behavioral Health Exam Prep app for iOS and Mac.
The Board Certified Behavior Analyst Exam (BCBA) is administered by BACB. The Registered Behavior Technician Exam (RBT) is administered by BACB. C3RT is not affiliated with either organisation. Certification names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.