Free InServices for RBT: Trainings and Checklist for 2025
RBT inservice training includes:
- The Behavior Box
- Jigsaw Training
- AppleTree Connection
- The Tree House International
- The Institute for Behavioral Training (IBT)
- PBS Corporation
- Graham Behavior Services
RBT in‑services can boost your skills, protect your certification, and make your daily work easier.
Before you think of these trainings as just another checkbox, I wanna tell you that it’s not, and if done right, they make you sharper, more confident, and you will feel ready for real challenges.
What Exactly Are RBT In‑Services?
I want you to think of in‑services as short, targeted professional development sessions.
Basically, they’re usually led by a BCBA or BCaBA, designed to help you keep up with skills, ethics, and quality standards beyond your 40-hour initial RBT training.
You’ll see them offered:
- Once a month
- Once per quarter
- Or as needed, like when there’s a new company policy
They are not as broad as other sessions, and they zero in on things you actually use on the job, such as handling aggressive behavior, taking better data, graphing progress, or applying ethical guidelines.
Why Bother With In‑Services?
If you’re thinking, “Is this just another boring meeting?” — hear me out.
In-service matters because they:
- Keep your skills fresh
- Help you meet BACB continuing education expectations (especially once the 2-year renewal hits in 2026)
- Support high-quality, ethical care
- Boost your confidence to handle tough cases
- Reduce burnout and turnover
If you scour the internet and visit forums and Sub-Reddits, there are Plenty of RBTs that have posted about burnout because they never get enough support or ongoing training.
In‑services can fix that by making you feel more prepared.
Here’s what one Redditor said that really hit me:
“The best trainings I ever got were short and hands-on. Those 1-hour refreshers helped me way more than online slides.”
Who Can Run RBT In‑Services?
- Ideally, a BCBA or BCaBA
- A qualified assistant can help deliver parts of the content, as long as the BCBA signs off
- The content must be tied directly to the BACB task list, not just general HR topics
That means you shouldn’t get “trained” by another RBT alone, unless there is another BCBA formally overseeing it.
When & How Should They Happen?
| Topic | Recommended Frequency |
|---|---|
| Ethics & code updates | Quarterly |
| Data collection | Quarterly |
| DTT procedures | At least twice per year |
| Challenging behavior | As needed + annual review |
| Graphing | Every 6 months |
| New protocols | Anytime protocols change |
Common Pitfalls — and How to Fix Them
Here’s what I see (and hear on forums) over and over:
- Passive lecture
→ Fix it: Add role-play, quizzes, Q&A - No follow-through
→ Fix it: Review the same skills in supervision after the in-service - Sloppy records
→ Fix it: Use a shared log (Google Sheet or agency software) - Overloading topics
→ Fix it: One focused topic per session is best
Benefits of Consistent In-Service
If you really go for it and not just as a time thing, you can see a few of these benefits in your work:
- Build confidence
- Prevent burnout
- Stay compliant with BACB rules
- Learn real-world skills that protect clients
- Keep your certification active
- Create a team culture of growth
Quick Reference Checklist
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Monthly or quarterly recommended |
| Duration | 30–60 min |
| Presenter | BCBA/BCaBA or authorized under BCBA supervision |
| Topics | Skills from RBT Task List & ethics code |
| Documentation | Date, time, presenter, attendee list, signatures |
| Records Retention | Minimum 7 years |
| Interactive? | Absolutely — role-play, quizzes, discussion |
