On January 1, 2026, new RBT requirements took effect. This page summarizes the BACB’s own transition guidance (the version dated August 2025). Anything that affects your application or renewal should be confirmed on the BACB site, because details and tools were still being rolled out when that document was written.
What stayed the same
- You must be at least 18, have a high school-level education or equivalent, and complete a criminal background check and an abuse registry check reviewed by an attestor.
- Supervision for maintaining certification: at least 5% of the hours spent providing behavior-analytic services each calendar month, including two face-to-face contacts, at least one of which is an individual meeting.
What changed
| Area | If you apply before Jan 1, 2026 | If you apply on or after Jan 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 40-hour training | Training that meets the previous requirements (based on the RBT Task List, 2nd ed.) | Training that meets the 2026 requirements; the certificate must say it is designed to meet the 2026 training eligibility requirement |
| Trainers | (unchanged in that document) | Active BCBAs or BCaBAs who completed an 8-hour supervision training; they may have assistants who hold RBT certification or higher |
| Competency assessment | RBT Initial Competency Assessment after the 40-hour training | The updated RBT Initial Competency Assessment, completed after training that meets 2026 requirements |
| Exam content | (previous outline) | RBT Test Content Outline (3rd ed.): 43 tasks, 6 domains |
Recertification timeline from the BACB
- 2026: current RBTs recertify with the RBT Recertification Competency Assessment. Your next recertification date is 2 years after your 2026 date. A professional development units (PDU) tab appears in your BACB account.
- 2027: current RBTs do not need to recertify.
- 2028: RBTs who became certified or recertified in 2026 need to have completed 12 PDUs before their recertification date and submit a recertification application, with no competency assessment required.
- New RBTs: when you become certified, you get a 2-year recertification window and a PDU tab in your BACB account.
Common situations the BACB addresses
- Approved before 2026 but did not pass in time: the approval lasts 12 months, with up to 8 exam attempts in that period, and you do not need to meet the new requirements.
- Approval expired before 2026: if your earlier training lacked the updated approval statement, you need a new 40-hour training and the most up-to-date competency assessment. If your earlier training did include the updated statement, you still need the latest competency assessment but not new training.
- Certification lapses on or after 2026 and you want to reapply: you need the new training and then the most up-to-date competency assessment first.
Once you are through those steps, the exam itself follows the 3rd edition outline. See the outline explained and exam format, fees and retakes.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need to redo my 40-hour training if I apply in 2026?
If you apply on or after January 1, 2026, your 40-hour training must meet the 2026 requirements. The BACB says there is no bridge course for training completed under the previous requirements, so you would need to complete the full training again.
What if my application was approved before 2026?
Per the BACB guidance, an application approved before January 1, 2026 lasts for 12 months, and you may take the exam up to 8 times in the 12 months following your initial exam approval. You do not need to meet the new requirements for that approval.
Do current RBTs need to recertify in 2027?
According to the BACB transition guidance, current RBTs do not need to recertify in 2027. In 2026 they recertify with the RBT Recertification Competency Assessment, and the next date is 2 years after the 2026 recertification date.