RBT training for agencies: plan your team’s path

To plan RBT training for a team, start with a 40-hour program built to the BACB’s 2026 curriculum, then schedule each trainee’s competency assessment and next steps. Give every new hire a named onboarding lead, protected training time, and opportunities to practice with feedback as they learn.

A clear plan for every new hire

Track training dates, progress, practice, assessment and the person responsible for each next step. Use the same tracker whether you hire one technician or a cohort.

See the provider checklist

What should an agency check in a 40-hour training program?

The BACB’s 2026 RBT 40-Hour Training Requirements and Curriculum Outline sets out the curriculum, duration, trainers and training documentation. Use the current BACB documents when choosing a program.

Content and time: Ask for a mapping to the 2026 curriculum and its required section durations. The BACB specifies at least 40 training hours completed over no fewer than five days and no more than 180 days.
Training and practice: Ask how the program teaches and checks skills, and how your supervisors can arrange practice and feedback alongside it. The BACB permits in-person and online formats and specifies behavioral skills training components.
Responsible trainer: Ask who designed and oversees the training, and check the qualifications and relationship requirements in the BACB outline.
Documentation: Ask to see the completion documentation your staff will receive and confirm it contains the information the BACB requires.
Team logistics: Compare per-learner cost, access dates, cohort administration, and how a new hire gets help when a lesson or schedule causes trouble.

Turn requirements into a practical onboarding plan

When	Agency action	Keep track of
Before day one	Name an onboarding lead, choose the training, and reserve work time for learning and practice.	Onboarding lead, program, start date and planned training time.
During training	Check in weekly; pair lessons with supervised observation, practice and feedback.	Training hours and progress, questions, practice feedback and next check-in.
After training	Arrange the initial competency assessment and help the trainee prepare the application.	Training documentation, assessment status and next owner.
After certification	Set up ongoing supervision and team check-ins.	Supervisor, supervision records and development goals.

For eligibility, the assessment, application and supervision, use the BACB’s RBT page and RBT Handbook. Your agency’s supervisor can check each person’s progress against those current requirements.

Plan your team's next steps

Tell our organizations team what your staff need and how many people you are onboarding.

Contact our organizations team

For a practical first-week plan, see onboarding new behavior technicians.

Reviewed against the BACB’s 2026 training outline and RBT Handbook on November 13, 2026.