RBT Task List 2nd Edition: What Your PDUs Should Cover
As of 2026 (first deadline January 2028), every Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) needs 12 Professional Development Units (PDUs) to renew. But what should those PDUs cover?
The answer: the RBT Task List 2nd Edition. This is the BACB's official outline of what RBTs are expected to know and do. All PD training must relate to these domains or to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.
The Task List has 6 domains. This guide explains each one, lists the specific skills it covers, shows you what training looks like for each domain, and helps you plan a balanced set of PDUs.
The 6 Domains
This domain covers how you measure behavior. Data collection is one of the most important parts of an RBT's daily work. If you cannot measure it reliably, the treatment plan cannot be adjusted effectively.
Skills in this domain
- Preparing for data collection (materials, environment, timing)
- Implementing continuous measurement procedures (frequency, rate, duration, latency, IRT)
- Implementing discontinuous measurement procedures (partial interval, whole interval, momentary time sampling)
- Implementing permanent product recording
- Entering data and updating graphs
- Describing behavior and environment in observable and measurable terms
What training in this domain looks like
This is the largest domain and the core of what most RBTs do every session. It covers how you teach new skills to clients using ABA principles. From discrete trials to natural environment teaching, this domain defines the teaching toolkit.
Skills in this domain
- Identifying the essential components of a skill acquisition program
- Preparing for the session (materials, environment, reinforcer identification)
- Using contingencies of reinforcement (positive, negative, schedules)
- Implementing discrete trial teaching (DTT), naturalistic teaching, and task analysis procedures
- Implementing discrimination training
- Implementing stimulus control transfer procedures (prompting, fading)
- Implementing stimulus-stimulus pairing
- Implementing prompt and prompt-fading procedures
- Implementing generalization and maintenance procedures
- Assisting with functional assessment procedures (indirect and direct)
What training in this domain looks like
This domain covers how you implement behavior reduction plans written by the supervising BCBA. It includes understanding the functions of behavior, implementing extinction and differential reinforcement procedures, and responding to crisis situations safely.
Skills in this domain
- Identifying the essential components of a behavior reduction program
- Describing common functions of behavior (attention, escape, access, automatic)
- Implementing interventions based on modification of antecedents
- Implementing differential reinforcement procedures (DRA, DRO, DRI, DRL)
- Implementing extinction procedures
- Implementing crisis and emergency procedures
What training in this domain looks like
This domain covers how you document what happened during sessions and communicate with the treatment team. Clear, accurate documentation protects the client, supports billing, and keeps the treatment plan on track.
Skills in this domain
- Effectively communicating with the supervisor
- Actively participating in supervision activities
- Preparing written descriptions of session activities
- Generating objective session notes
- Complying with applicable legal, regulatory, and workplace reporting requirements
What training in this domain looks like
This domain covers the boundaries of your role as an RBT. It includes understanding what you can and cannot do independently, maintaining professional boundaries with clients and families, and working within the scope of practice defined by the BACB.
Skills in this domain
- Describing the role of the RBT in the service delivery system
- Responding appropriately to feedback and maintaining or improving performance
- Communicating with stakeholders (families, teachers, other professionals) as directed
- Maintaining professional boundaries
- Maintaining client dignity
What training in this domain looks like
This domain covers the RBT Ethics Code (2.0), which is separate from the BCBA Ethics Code. It includes responsible conduct, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and how to handle ethical dilemmas. The BACB may audit your PDU records, and ethics training demonstrates ongoing commitment to professional standards.
Skills in this domain
- Describing the BACB's RBT Ethics Code (2.0)
- Behaving in accordance with the RBT Ethics Code
- Identifying ethical violations and reporting them appropriately
- Maintaining confidentiality of client information
- Following mandated reporting requirements
- Identifying and addressing conflicts of interest
What training in this domain looks like
Sample 12-PDU Plan by Domain
Here is one way to distribute your 12 PDUs across the 6 domains over a 2-year cycle. This is not a BACB requirement (the BACB has not mandated a minimum per domain), but it ensures balanced professional development.
| Domain | Suggested PDUs | Hours | Example Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Measurement | 1.5 | 1.25 hrs | Data collection accuracy, graphing, IOA |
| B. Skill Acquisition | 3 | 2.5 hrs | Prompting, reinforcement, DTT, naturalistic teaching |
| C. Behavior Reduction | 2.5 | ~2 hrs | Functions of behavior, differential reinforcement, crisis protocols |
| D. Documentation | 1.5 | 1.25 hrs | Session notes, compliance reporting, supervisor communication |
| E. Professional Conduct | 1.5 | 1.25 hrs | Scope of practice, boundaries, client dignity |
| F. Ethics | 2 | ~1.7 hrs | RBT Ethics Code 2.0, ethical scenarios, mandated reporting |
| Total | 12 | 10 hrs |
How to Choose Your PDU Training
When picking courses or PD activities, ask three questions:
- Which domain does it cover? If you have been doing mostly skill acquisition work, consider training in behavior reduction or ethics to round out your profile.
- Is it at the RBT level? A course designed for BCBAs on advanced assessment design may not be helpful or applicable to your daily work. Look for content that matches what you actually do in sessions.
- Does it meet BACB format requirements? After July 2026, only interactive formats with assessments qualify. Use the Does My Training Count? tool to verify.
Frequently Asked Questions
The BACB has not specified a minimum number of PDUs per domain as of March 2026. However, balanced professional development across multiple domains is strongly recommended. Focusing all 12 PDUs on a single area leaves gaps in your practice.
The RBT Task List 2nd Edition covers implementation skills: data collection, running programs, managing behavior, and professional conduct. The BCBA Task List covers a broader scope including assessment design, treatment planning, supervision, and research. Your PD training must align with the RBT Task List, not the BCBA version.
All 6 matter, but Skill Acquisition (B) and Behavior Reduction (C) tend to be the most clinically relevant for daily RBT work. Ethics (F) is important for professional standards and may be reviewed during BACB audits.
Yes. Many courses span multiple domains. A course on implementing behavior intervention plans might cover Behavior Reduction (C), Documentation (D), and Ethics (F). The PDU credit goes to the primary domain, but the learning applies broadly.
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Related: RBT PDU Requirements | Everything RBTs Need to Know | What Counts as a PDU | Cost Comparison