RBT Initial Competency Assessment Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key terms, procedures, and task items for the RBT Initial Competency Assessment effective January 1, 2026.

Responsible Assessor

A BACB certificant (BCaBA or BCBA) who has completed the 8-hour supervision training and is responsible for overseeing the Initial Competency Assessment, signing the assessment, maintaining records, and ensuring quality standards.

Assistant Assessor

An individual holding an active RBT certification or higher who has demonstrated proficiency in the material through direct observation and is delegated by the responsible assessor to conduct some or all of the assessment.

Assessment Timing Requirement

The requirement that the Initial Competency Assessment must be completed after the 40-hour training is complete and cannot be completed more than 90 days before submitting an RBT certification application.

Document Retention Requirement

The mandate that the responsible assessor must maintain documentation of each Initial Competency Assessment for a minimum of seven years.

With a Client (Assessment Type)

An assessment method in which the assessor observes the applicant performing a task directly with a client who is receiving behavior-analytic services.

Role-Play (Assessment Type)

An assessment method in which the assessor observes the applicant performing a task in a simulated situation with another person acting in the role of the client.

Interview (Assessment Type)

An assessment method in which the assessor conducts a live interview (in person or via internet) during which the applicant accurately describes or discusses relevant concepts and provides examples and nonexamples.

Continuous Measurement (Task 1)

The implementation of continuous measurement procedures, such as frequency, duration, latency, and inter-response time (IRT).

Discontinuous Measurement (Task 2)

The implementation of discontinuous measurement procedures, such as partial interval, whole interval, and momentary time sampling.

Data and Graphs (Task 3)

The process of entering data and updating graphs.

Preference Assessments (Task 4)

The process of conducting preference assessments to identify potential reinforcers.

ABC Data (Task 5)

The process of collecting Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence data.

Skill Acquisition & Behavior Reduction Client Requirement

The requirement that three of Tasks 6 through 14 (Skill Acquisition and Behavior Reduction) must be demonstrated directly with a client.

Discrete-Trial Teaching (Task 6)

The implementation of structured discrete-trial teaching (DTT) procedures.

Naturalistic Teaching (Task 7)

The implementation of naturalistic teaching procedures, such as incidental teaching.

Chaining (Task 8)

The implementation of task-analyzed chaining procedures.

Shaping (Task 9)

The implementation of shaping procedures to teach new behaviors through successive approximations.

Discrimination Training (Task 10)

The implementation of discrimination training procedures.

Prompting (Task 11)

The implementation of prompt and prompt fading procedures.

Token Systems (Task 12)

The implementation of token economy systems.

Crisis/Emergency (Task 13)

The implementation of crisis and emergency procedures according to protocol.

Antecedent Interventions (Task 14 option)

The implementation of interventions based on modification of antecedents, such as motivating/establishing operations and discriminative stimuli.

Differential Reinforcement (Task 14 option)

The implementation of differential reinforcement procedures, such as Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA) and Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO).

Extinction (Task 14 option)

The implementation of extinction procedures.

Session Notes (Task 15)

Generating objective session notes by describing what occurred during sessions.

Client Dignity (Task 16)

Providing concrete examples of how to maintain client dignity.

Professional Boundaries (Task 17)

Providing examples of how to maintain professional boundaries in the role of an RBT.

Supervision Requirements (Task 18)

Describing the BACB Supervision Standards for Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs).

Clinical Direction (Task 19)

Describing at least one situation in which an RBT would seek clinical direction from their supervisor.