RBT Career Videos: See What the Job Really Looks Like
One of the biggest reasons RBTs leave the field is that they did not fully understand what the job entails before they started. Reading about ABA therapy is different from seeing it. These videos show what a real day looks like for behavior technicians in different settings.
Watch these before you commit to the career. If what you see excites you, this is your field. If it makes you uncomfortable, that is useful information too.
Day in the Life: Center-Based ABA
A Day in the Life as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
Follow an RBT through a full day at a center-based ABA clinic. See how sessions are structured, what interactions with clients look like, and how the team works together. This gives a realistic picture of the clinical environment where many RBTs work.
What to notice: The structure of the environment. The energy level required. The mix of structured teaching and play. The team dynamic. This is what most center-based positions look like. If you prefer a structured schedule with colleagues nearby, center-based work may be your best fit.
Day in the Life: In-Home ABA
In-home RBT videos are commonly shared on TikTok and YouTube by individual RBTs documenting their workday. Search YouTube for "in-home RBT day in my life" to find current vlogs. The content changes frequently as creators post new videos, so we recommend checking these channels regularly:
- Search YouTube: "in home ABA therapist day in the life" for current vlogs from working RBTs
- Search TikTok: #RBTlife, #ABAtherapist, #dayinthelifeRBT for short-form content from the field
What to look for in these videos: The driving between clients. The setup and teardown of materials in someone else's home. The interaction with parents. The note-writing in the car. The cancellation calls. This is the reality of in-home work that job postings do not mention.
School-Based ABA
School-based behavior technician work is less frequently documented on video (schools have stricter media policies), but the role is distinct from clinic and in-home settings. Key differences:
- You work within the school's schedule and classroom structure
- You collaborate with teachers, aides, and other support staff
- You may support multiple students throughout the day
- The focus is often on classroom behavior, social skills, and academic participation
- You follow the academic calendar (summers off, school holidays)
For a written walkthrough of a school-based RBT's day, see What Is an RBT? which includes two full day-in-the-life timelines (in-home and center-based).
Career Advice and Honest Perspectives
Beyond "day in the life" content, these channels offer career guidance, exam prep, and honest conversations about the realities of being an RBT:
How to ABA
Run by Shira and Shayna. Practical content for ABA therapists at every level. Topics include DTT, prompting, data collection, and clinical strategies.
Visit channelBrett DiNovi & Associates
Deep insights into ABA practice, supervision advice, career development, and business of ABA. Features real clinicians discussing their work.
Visit channelDo Better Collective
Run by Megan Deleon. Tips and tricks for clinicians. Focuses on troubleshooting barriers to progress and building better clinical practice.
Visit channelBT Exam Review
YouTube video library for RBT exam preparation. Visual demonstrations of techniques like DTT, prompting, and extinction. Great for new and studying RBTs.
Visit video libraryHighlights Healthcare
Resources from a retired RBT including "Day in the Life" videos and "How to Prepare for Your First Day as an RBT." Practical, experienced perspective.
Visit resourcesI Love ABA!
Long-running ABA blog with career content, day-in-the-life posts, and honest reflections on the field. A trusted voice in the community.
Visit siteWhat Videos Do Not Show You
Day-in-the-life videos are useful but incomplete. Here is what most of them leave out:
- Challenging behavior. For client privacy and safety, most videos do not show aggression, self-injury, or severe tantrums. But these are part of the job. Read the honest section on hard parts.
- Cancellations. The video shows the sessions that happened, not the ones that were cancelled 20 minutes before you arrived. In-home RBTs deal with this regularly.
- The emotional toll. You see the fun moments on camera. You do not see the drive home after a hard session, or the worry about a client's home situation. Read the burnout guide.
- The paperwork. Session notes, data entry, and communication logs are rarely shown on video because they are boring on camera. They are not boring in your daily schedule. They take real time.
- The pay reality. Most career videos are made by people who enjoy the work, not by people who left because of compensation. See the salary guide for real numbers.
Use These Videos as Part of Your Career Decision
If you are considering becoming an RBT, here is the path we recommend:
- Watch the videos above to see the environment and energy of the work
- Read What Is an RBT? for the honest version (hard parts included)
- Take the Readiness Assessment to evaluate your preparation
- Read Find an Ethical Employer so you choose a good agency
- If you decide to proceed: How to Become an RBT has the step-by-step certification guide
Ready to Explore the Career?
Related: What Is an RBT? | Burnout Prevention | Find an Ethical Employer | How to Upskill | RBT FAQ
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