Best RBT 40-Hour Training Courses in 2025

IMPORTANT NOTE: This article is outdated. You can see the rankings for the best RBT courses in 2026 here.

The Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) field continues to grow, driven by increasing demand for autism and developmental services. In 2024 alone, over 80,000 individuals became certified as Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs)! As of May 2025, there are 206,440 active RBTs—a staggering increase from just 16,000 a decade ago. This explosive growth highlights not only the rising need for ABA services but also the importance of quality training for new technicians.

The goal is not to simply get more people in the door but rather to comprehensively prepare technicians for a meaningful and rewarding career. This all starts with the first step toward RBT certification: The 40-hour RBT training.

Highest-Ranking 40-Hour RBT Training Courses

With so many course options available, how do you know which one is right for you? One of the key factors in identifying a quality RBT training is the exam pass rate. Each year, the BACB publishes exam pass rates per training provider for the previous year. This chart breaks down the courses with the highest pass rates in 2024—80% and above—along with each course's costs to help you make an informed decision.

Training Provider	Pass Rate	Cost
Footprints Behavioral Interventions	100%	N/A
Middle Tennessee State University	100%	$995
Northern Michigan University (BEAR Center)	100%	$150
University of Kansas	93%	$149
AppleTree Connection	91.7%	$148
Mississippi State University	91.7%	$995
Behavior Development Solutions (BDS)	90.6%	$79
ABA Plus®	88.6%	$250
OCALI	87.5%	$75
ATCC	87.2%	$39/week
University of Texas at San Antonio	87.1%	$349
California Unified Service Providers (CUSP)	86.9%	$150
University of South Florida	86.4%	$200
Florida Tech/ABA Technologies	84.2%	$149
Jade Health	82.9%	$150
Positive Behavior Supports Corp (PBS)	82.8%	$99
CentralReach	81.9%	$249
Relias	81.6%	$99
Rethink	80.8%
Institute for Behavioral Training	80.5%	$337.50
Behavior Webinars	79.9%	$30

You can see pass rates for all courses that had 10 or more first-time RBT candidates here.

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Additional Factors When Considering RBT Courses

The pass rate and cost are two major factors to consider when choosing an RBT training course. Some other key factors to explore include:

• The course format—in-person, online, hybrid, self-paced

• Course support and resources—study materials, post-course support

• Instructor experience and qualifications

• Meets current BACB requirements

• Reviews and recommendations

If you don't currently work in the ABA field and organizations in your area require RBT certification prior to employment, you'll also want to look for a training provider that offers the competency assessment. You don't want to find yourself stuck after completing the 40-hour course without a BCBA and a client to conduct the competency assessment with.

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Overall Pick: Best RBT Training Provider in 2025

Our overall pick for the best RBT training provider is AppleTree Connection. Developed by a highly experienced BCBA, AppleTree Connection's RBT course empowers technicians with the training, mentorship, and real-world application to deliver high-quality behavior-analytic care. They also offer career guidance to navigate the field upon obtaining certification, so techs aren't left on their own after completing the course and passing the exam.

AppleTree offers a 6-week live cohort as well as a self-paced training course for flexibility. They also offer the RBT competency assessment for those who don't yet have access to a BCBA at their place of employment. Sign up here.

RBT Pass Rates

The first-time pass rate for RBT exams has been on a steady decline over the last several years. In 2024, the overall pass rate was 73%, down 11% from the 84% pass rate in 2020.

Unfortunately, the stats are even more grim for retakes. For those who don't pass on their first try, the pass rate for subsequent tries is only 36%. This highlights the need for taking a high-quality RBT course and dedication toward studying for the exam. While taking a free course can be tempting, it's important to consider pass rates and other factors to ensure the course will adequately prepare you for the RBT exam.

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Registered Behavior Technician Commonly Asked Questions

How can you become a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)?

The RBT certification requires three main components: The 40-hour course, a competency assessment, and a final exam. Learn more about each of these steps in this article.

Do you have to work in the ABA field to become an RBT, or can you get certified on your own?

It's easiest to begin working as a non-certified Behavior Technician and complete the requirements for RBT certification through your job—but that's not a requirement. It is possible to contract with a training company that offers the full certification package, including the course and competency assessment.

What is the RBT 40-hour training?

The RBT 40-hour training is the first required step toward becoming a Registered Behavior Technician. It includes at least 40 hours of instruction covering key areas of behavior analysis related to the RBT role, including measurement, assessment, skill acquisition, behavior reduction, documentation and reporting, and professional conduct.

How much does the RBT course cost?

The 40-hour RBT course cost varies—anywhere from $0 up to $1,000. The average cost is between $99 and $150.

How long does the RBT training take?

The RBT training contains 40 hours of content, so it will take a minimum of 40 hours. Plan for around 45 total hours when considering time to process information, take notes, complete quizzes, etc.

The training must be completed within 180 days, but cannot take less than 5 days.

Does the RBT training certificate expire?

The course certificate does not expire after a set amount of time. However, to apply for certification, the course you took must have met the current BACB standards. Currently, that means the course must have been based on the 2nd edition RBT Task List. In 2026, the BACB will be implementing a new task list, which is known as the 3rd Edition Test Content Outline (TCO). To apply for RBT certification in 2026 and later, you must have taken a 3rd edition course.

Where can you find a Behavior Technician or RBT job?

ABA providers across the country are actively hiring for Behavior Technicians and RBTs to keep up with increasing demand. Check out job boards, like the ABA Job Board and aba.work for open positions. LinkedIn and ABA Facebook groups are also great options for searching employment opportunities in the ABA field.

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