Does The ABAI Approves Requests To Sit For The RBT Exam?
No, ABAI does not approve and process RBT exam applications. Approving RBT exams belongs to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) only.
If this is your first time applying for the exam, don’t waste time trying to go through ABAI, as they’re not the gatekeepers.
So What Does ABAI Actually Do?
ABAI (Association for Behavior Analysis International) basically works on education and accreditation.
They approve university programs, manage Verified Course Sequences (VCS), and publish research.
That’s it.
They don’t handle:
- RBT applications
- Competency assessments
- Exam eligibility
- RBT certification
Basically, there is no connection between RBT and ABAI and you’ll never need to contact ABAI during your RBT process.
Who Actually Approves You for the RBT Exam?
That’s 100% the BACB’s job to approve your RBT Exam.
Here’s how it works:
- You submit your application through the BACB online portal
- Upload your:
- BACB reviews and approves it
- Once approved, you’ll get instructions to schedule your exam at Pearson VUE
That’s how it works, and the only path to the RBT exam.
ABAI is never part of the exam process.
| Organization | What They Handle |
|---|---|
| BACB | RBT applications, eligibility, exam approvals |
| ABAI | Program recognition, university VCS oversight |
