RBT Study Guide: The Best Resources to Become a Registered Behavior Technician

Hopebridge’s ABA Therapy Experts Share a ‘Study Starter Kit’ to Pass the RBT Exam

Maybe you’ve longed for a career working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or maybe you are searching for a new job where you can make an impact. Working in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy) as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)® is a great way to fulfill either of these desires.

We often hear, “how can I get started as an RBT?” Thankfully, the path to become an RBT may be easier than you think. An RBT is a paraprofessional certification in behavior analysis that does not require additional schooling. Aspiring RBTs must meet the eligibility requirements, including the completion of 40 hours of training and an initial competency test, before applying and taking the RBT® Exam.

The RBT® Exam is usually the biggest concern for soon-to-be RBTs, but candidates shouldn’t fret. Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers have more than a decade of experience guiding ABA therapists through training and learning and we are happy to share our team’s knowledge and study tips to grow the ABA community.

To aid in this effort, we consulted some of Hopebridge’s ABA Trainers for advice on how to pass the RBT® Exam on the first attempt. Ryan Napier, Jasmine Payne and Audrey Davis shared their top suggestions for materials to review when studying ABA therapy before taking the RBT Exam.

Top 6 Study Resources for the RBT Exam, as shared by Hopebridge ABA Trainers:

• The RBT Handbook
  While not necessarily for studying, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) official RBT Handbook is a good place to start for future RBTs. It covers how to obtain and maintain the RBT certification, including information on taking the exam.

   

• The RBT Book: A Comprehensive Instructional Manual for Register Behavior Technicians (RBT) Working in ABA, by Yendri Diaz and Pedro Claudio
  The RBT Book often serves as a textbook and includes a majority of the information on the exam. It covers all competencies in the RBT Task List, plus includes concepts, examples and visuals to help understand the application and pass the test. Each chapter also includes summaries and tips to better prepare RBT candidates for their future roles.

   

• ABA.Rocks: A Behavior Analysis Blog
  This blog is an excellent resource for budding ABA therapists interested in learning more about behavior analysis while studying for the RBT exam. It is a popular resource for test preparation, as they offer many free practice quizzes. Other benefits include vocabulary-building exercises and timed fluency tests.

   

• ABA Wizard: BT Exam app
  Prefer on-the-go studying? The ABA Wizard: BT Exam app is great for those moments when you may not have the time or means to for a full-fledged cram session. Centered around the RBT Task List, the short quizzes cover 320 practice exam questions and provide immediate feedback. The app – which is the sister app of the ABA Wizard app we recommend to those studying for the BCBA exam –  is intended to keep your mind moving and master the content on the exam.

   

• “Clutch RBT Exam Review” by the “ABA Made Easy” YouTube Channel
  This six-part “Clutch RBT Exam Review” is a video series from the “ABA Made Easy” channel on YouTube. It offers a “What to Expect” introduction and serves as a quick review of topics that will appear on the RBT exam. The playlist references information from the BACB’s RBT Task List and covers subjects like measurement, assessment, skill acquisition, behavior reduction, documentation and reporting. While not all-inclusive, it serves as a nice supplement to other exam study materials.

   

• Study Starter Kit: Free RBT exam flash cards, mock exam questions and glossary
  Some of the best RBT exam study materials are those our Hopebridge heroes created in house. It may seem biased, but these resources have a proven track record since our team has supported thousands of RBTs as they earned their certification over the years. To offer a sample of some of these effective materials the Hopebridge team offers its RBT candidates, our ABA trainers, Ryan, Jasmine and Audrey, helped us compile a series of flash cards, mock exam questions and a glossary of key terms to download for your own use as you study.

These six materials will set you off on the right foot, but what is the number one resource Hopebridge RBTs say helped them receive their certification? A job in a Hopebridge center. One of the perks about working at Hopebridge is a ton of helping hands to prepare for the exam, with the combined knowledge, experience and support of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), ABA trainers and RBTs who have been in your shoes. In addition, Hopebridge employees who begin as ABA therapists receive paid, on-the-job training towards the RBT certification’s 40-hour requirement. As part of the program, ABA therapists also have access to the materials on this study guide and more, including robust RBT Task List reviews, competency terms, verbal operants charts, teaching techniques and additional mock exams. 

Final pro tip: when sitting for the RBT exam, use the “flag question” option to your advantage. Several RBTs who passed the exam mentioned they found it helpful not to spend too much time responding and instead flagged the questions that may have needed a second look before time ran out.

Does  what Hopebridge has to offer sound like a fit for you? We offer positions and training support for our passionate team members to guide them through success. Visit our Hopebridge job board to review open ABA positions in your area.

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