Career Options for a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)

For individuals who obtain the RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) credential, the most immediate—and often the easiest—career path is to join a team led by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who provides treatment to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The demand for this work is immense.

To put it in perspective, recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 32 children in the United States is diagnosed with ASD. When applied to the population of children between the ages of 2.8 and 21, that translates to approximately 2.34 million children in need of services. That’s a staggering number—and a clear indicator of the urgent need for qualified professionals in this field.

For many years, the U.S. Surgeon General’s website has described Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as the only evidence-based treatment for autism, supported by over 50 years of applied research. Unfortunately, there are still individuals and organizations offering non-evidence-based services that lack long-term effectiveness. In some cases, these providers misrepresent their skills, leading to prosecution—and far worse, wasted time for the child and lost trust from the family.

This is where the RBT role becomes so important.

The RBT credential is grounded in science. ABA is the systematic study of behavior and how it can be shaped through reinforcement and learning. As an RBT, you’ll gain practical, hands-on experience with the foundational tools of ABA. Your work will typically focus on two key goals:

  1. Building adaptive skills, such as communication and social interaction

  2. Reducing problem behaviors, which are often the reason families seek help in the first place

You’ll be supervised by a BCBA or someone with a higher-level credential (such as a BCaBA or BCBA-D), who will design the treatment plan. Your role will be to implement specific components of that plan as part of a collaborative treatment team. The exact nature of your work may vary depending on the child’s age, learning history, and individual needs.

The RBT role requires strong teamwork and a deep sense of responsibility. The work can be challenging—but also incredibly rewarding. Some people pursue RBT certification to work part-time in ABA alongside other jobs. Others are parents or siblings who want to better understand how to support a loved one with autism. Still others view the RBT credential as the first step toward becoming a BCBA themselves.

Whatever your motivation, know that by becoming an RBT, you’re stepping into a field where you can truly make a difference—not only in the lives of children with autism, but also in the lives of their families.

We wish you well on your journey into the world of autism treatment.

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