Exploring Career Paths for Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs)
- Ashleigh Evans (BCBA)
- Jul 21
- 6 min read
Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) are the backbone of ABA—and for many, becoming an RBT is the start of an exciting career path. RBTs work directly with clients, providing therapeutic care under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). It's a highly rewarding role that involves making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Many RBTs eventually start to think about what's next in their career. Whether they're looking for long-term growth within ABA or considering adjacent roles outside of the ABA field, there are many potential career paths. This blog will highlight several possible options for the next step in an RBT's career.
Career Advancement for RBTs Within ABA
If you're working as a behavior technician and feel that ABA is the right long-term fit for you, now is the perfect time to explore career advancement beyond the RBT role. While the most obvious option is to pursue BCBA certification, that's certainly not the only way to advance your career within ABA. Let's explore a few options.
RBT Leveling
Many companies offer career advancement within the RBT position. This is a perfect opportunity for those who want to advance their career in ABA without going back to school. The names of the positions will vary by company. Some use terms like RBT 1, RBT 2, and RBT 3. You might also see "Lead RBT" or "Advanced RBT." Each of these positions comes with an increased set of responsibilities and benefits. If climbing the career ladder as an RBT is important to you, be sure to ask during interviews if they offer opportunities for advancement.
Not yet RBT certified? Learn more about how to become certified here.
Administrative Roles
If you enjoy the ABA field but are looking for a different kind of challenge away from client-facing work, consider administrative roles.
The list below outlines several potential administrative roles. However, every company has different positions, so opportunities for each of these may not be present in every company.
Scheduler/Scheduling Coordinator
Intake Coordinator
Billing or Insurance Specialist
Recruiter or Talent Acquisition Specialist
Operations Manager/Office Manager
Compliance Officer
Human Resources or Employee Relations Specialist
Administrative Assistant
Client Care Coordinator
Mid-Level Supervisor/BCaBA
If you're dedicated to continuing your career as an ABA clinician, look into opportunities for mid-level supervisors. It's important to note that not all companies have mid-level roles. They're more common in certain states (e.g., Wisconsin, California) than others. A mid-level supervisor is either a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) or a non-certified clinician with substantial experience as a behavior technician. Often, this is a role aspiring behavior analysts take on while they're in the process of accruing supervised fieldwork hours.
Contact companies in your area to see if they offer opportunities for mid-level roles. Some job titles for mid-level clinicians include Senior Staff, Case Manager, Treatment Therapist, and Assistant Clinical Supervisor.
If companies in your area require BCaBA certification for this position, consider completing the requirements for certification, which include:
Bachelor’s degree or higher from an ABAI-accredited program OR an undergrad degree + a behavior-analytic coursework sequence
1,000-1,300 supervised fieldwork hours
Passing the BCaBA exam
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
If you know you want to grow as a clinician in the ABA field, pursue BCBA certification. There is an incredible demand for BCBAs, with a wide range of opportunities available, including working as a clinical supervisor at an ABA clinic, serving as a district BCBA in schools, providing caregiver coaching, supervising fieldwork, and more. Learn more about the options for BCBA careers in this article, BCBA Career Paths: Exploring Diverse Career Options for BCBAs.
To become a BCBA, you'll need to complete the following steps:
Master’s degree or higher from an APBA-accredited program or an ABAI-accredited or recognized behavior analysis degree program OR a Master's degree or higher + a behavior-analytic coursework sequence
1,500-2,000 supervised fieldwork hours
Passing the BCBA exam
RBT Career Paths Outside of ABA
Working in ABA isn't a long-term dream for every behavior technician—and that's okay! As an RBT, you'll gain valuable knowledge and skills that you can use in other career paths. Let's explore a few alternative options that are outside of the ABA field.
Special Needs Nanny/Caregiver
If you enjoy working with children with special needs, transitioning into a nanny or caregiver role may be a good fit for you. You may be able to use your knowledge and experiences to market yourself as a special needs nanny.
If you're open to live-in care options, check out Apex Social. They hire live-in care professionals to work with children of all abilities.
Respite Care Provider
On a similar note, consider pursuing work as a respite care provider. These providers offer short-term care, allowing families a break from caregiving for their child(ren) with special needs.
Education: Paraprofessional or Teacher
If you're looking for a quick and easy career pivot, applying for paraprofessional positions could be a viable option. Your experience as an RBT will be highly valuable when working with students in a school setting.
If you're seeking further career advancement, consider pursuing a degree in education to become a teacher. There is undoubtedly a shortage of qualified, compassionate teachers.
Group Home or Residential Care Staff
Support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in daily living activities, social skills, and more, within residential or group home settings. If you enjoy working with adults and helping them live fulfilling lives, this could be the right path for you.
Speech Language Pathologist or Assistant
If you find it rewarding to assist your clients in developing language and communication skills, pursuing certification as a speech language pathologist (SLP) or a speech language pathology assistant (SLPA) could be right up your alley. Learn more about becoming certified as an SLPA here.
Occupational Therapist or Assistant
Occupational therapists help their learners build functional life skills, from motor coordination to sensory processing and independence in daily routines. Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) provide support for OTs. Learn more about breaking into the occupational therapy field here.
Recreational Program Staff
Organizations that run adaptive sports, after-school programs, or summer camps for children with disabilities often seek staff with experience in behavior management. As an RBT or former RBT, your experience can make you a valuable addition to these teams.
Vocational Coach
Vocational coaches assist teens and adults with disabilities in preparing for and succeeding in the workplace. This role may include job readiness training, on-site job support, and development of soft skills. With experience in teaching skills, RBTs can be an excellent fit for this position.
Ethical Boundaries When Working Outside of ABA
While we've listed several alternative career options for RBTs to pivot to outside of ABA, it's vital to add some ethical clarity. If you're not working within ABA, under the supervision of a BCBA, then you cannot utilize your RBT certification. In other words, you wouldn't operate as a behavior technician. This is an important distinction because you're responsible for ensuring ethical boundaries. Here are a few important considerations.
Don't present yourself as an RBT if you're not certified and/or do not have an active supervisor. For example, if you leave your position as an RBT and begin working as a vocational coach, you would not use your RBT title in that new position, unless that position involves providing behavior-analytic services under the direction of a BCBA.
Clarify your role. Ensure all parties (e.g., families you're working for as a respite care provider, new companies you're working for, etc.) understand that you are not and cannot ethically operate as an RBT. This can become complicated in roles like a special needs nanny or respite care provider, as families may not understand the boundaries and expect you to provide therapeutic services as well.
Find the Career Path That's Right for You
There isn't one "right" path. Some RBTs go on to become BCBAs. Others shift into education or other healthcare roles. What matters is that you find a direction that aligns with your interests and goals. We wish you all the luck as you grow in your career, wherever your path may lead.
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