Prep Provider Comparison
C3RT vs AATBS
AATBS is the legacy institution of psychology licensing prep, structured EPPP study packages, live online instruction, and a pass guarantee on its premium tiers, with parallel packages for social work, MFT, and counseling exams. It is also, by a wide margin, the most expensive option in the field. C3RT’s Behavioral Health app covers the same exam family at $99.99/year (plans from $17.99/month). Here is the honest comparison.
The Bottom Line
Across the dimensions that decide these exams (practice volume, included study formats, native apps, and cost), C3RT leads AATBS. AATBS sells structure at a premium: EPPP self-study packages run $849 (3 months) to $1,449 (12 months), live-online instruction $999 to $1,799, all time-boxed by duration, with a pass guarantee limited to qualifying premium packages, as published in July 2026. What that buys is a curriculum: organized study volumes, live instructors, and readiness assessments. C3RT’s Behavioral Health app takes the practice-system approach: 52,750 questions spanning the EPPP and 13 other behavioral exams (LCSW, NCE, NCMHCE, MFT and more, the same exam family AATBS sells as separate packages), plus 8,400 spaced-repetition flashcards, 1,324 audio lessons, concept reels, and a DSM-5-TR lookup, native on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, for a subscription that costs roughly what a single month of an AATBS package does. If your employer reimburses a four-figure course with live instruction, AATBS is the establishment choice. If you are paying for your own EPPP prep, the math is not close.
C3RT vs AATBS: At a Glance
| Detail | C3RT | AATBS |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | EPPP plus 13 other behavioral exams (LCSW, MSW, NCE, NCMHCE, MFT, BCBA…) in one subscription | Per-exam packages: EPPP, social work, MFT, and counseling sold separately |
| Published pricing | $17.99/month, $39.99/3 months, $69.99/6 months, or $99.99/year, everything included | EPPP self-study $849–$1,449 by duration; live online $999–$1,799; TestMASTER readiness plans $149–$199 (as of July 2026) |
| Practice content | 52,750 questions, 8,400 flashcards, 2,100 concept cards, 1,680 reels, 1,324 audio lessons | Structured study packages with practice exams; question-bank size not published |
| Platforms | Native iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps | Web-based study platform |
| Access / guarantee | Subscription runs as long as you need it | Time-boxed by package duration (3–12 months); pass guarantee on qualifying premium packages, full terms in its conditions |
AATBS details based on publicly available information as of July 2026 and may change, verify current offerings on their website.
An Honest Comparison
What AATBS does well
- •The most structured curriculum in psychology licensing prep, organized study volumes refined over decades.
- •Live online instruction options with real instructors, which no self-paced app replicates.
- •A pass guarantee on qualifying premium packages (review the current terms and eligibility before purchase).
- •TestMASTER readiness assessments as a lower-cost standalone check ($149–$199).
- •Covers the whole behavioral licensing family, EPPP, social work, MFT, counseling, under one established brand.
Where C3RT differs
- •Price, by an order of magnitude: an App Store subscription versus $849–$1,799 packages, a year of C3RT costs less than one month of AATBS access.
- •One subscription spans the exam family AATBS sells piecemeal: EPPP plus LCSW, NCE, NCMHCE, MFT, and more.
- •Volume: 52,750 questions plus flashcards, reels, audio lessons, and mnemonics, supplementary formats AATBS does not advertise.
- •Native apps on iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iCloud sync, versus a browser platform.
- •No expiry clock: AATBS access ends with your package duration; C3RT continues as long as you subscribe.
- •DSM-5-TR diagnostic lookup and clinical assessment scales built in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is C3RT or AATBS better for the EPPP?
AATBS if you want a taught curriculum, live instruction, structured volumes, and a premium-tier pass guarantee, at $849–$1,799 depending on format and duration. C3RT if you want a practice system: tens of thousands of questions with flashcards, audio, and reels in a native app, at $99.99/year, roughly a tenth of a package price. Self-funded candidates should try C3RT’s free tier before committing four figures anywhere.
How much does AATBS cost for EPPP prep?
As published in July 2026: self-study packages from $849 (3 months) to $1,449 (12 months), live-online instruction from $999 to $1,799, and standalone TestMASTER readiness plans at $149–$199. All access is time-boxed to the package duration. C3RT is an App Store subscription covering its entire behavioral health catalog.
Does the AATBS pass guarantee apply to every package?
No, per AATBS’s own pages, the guarantee applies to qualifying premium packages (its qualifying list spans EPPP all-inclusive plans and certain social work, MFT, and counseling packages), with full conditions in its terms and conditions. Read those terms before buying on the strength of the guarantee.
What is the best AATBS alternative?
For behavioral health exam prep on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, C3RT is the direct alternative: 52,750 questions across 14 behavioral exams plus 21,415 spaced-repetition flashcards, 2,133 audio lessons, and concept reels, at $17.99/month, $39.99/3 months, $69.99/6 months, or $99.99/year. Its free tier lets you run the comparison against AATBS on the same topics before spending anything.
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Behavioral Health Exam Prep
Master 14 behavioral health licensing exams in one app
C3RT is not affiliated with AATBS. All product names, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners; comparisons are based on each provider's publicly available information as of July 2026. Pricing, question counts, and features change, always verify details with the provider before purchasing. Read how we compare → Exam names and trademarks belong to their respective certification bodies, which do not endorse either product.