The RBT Renewal Competency Assessment is a mandatory annual, hands-on evaluation by a BCBA or BCaBA. It tests 10+ core skills, must be completed within 45 days before certification expiry, and requires submitting a signed form plus a $35 renewal fee.

Here you go.

RBT Renewal Competency Assessment Practice Questions

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As a Registered Behavior Technician, maintaining your certification is more than a formality—it’s a commitment to providing safe, effective, and ethical care.

One critical step in this process is the RBT Renewal Competency Assessment.

No Formal Renewal Exam for RBTs

Contrary to popular belief, there is no formal “renewal exam” for Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs).

Instead, to maintain your certification, you must complete the annual RBT Renewal Competency Assessment.

This is a hands-on skills evaluation conducted by a qualified BCBA or BCaBA supervisor, where you demonstrate essential tasks such as data collection, implementing behavior strategies, and responding to client behaviors.

This assessment must be completed within 45 days before your certification expires.

Afterward, you submit the signed assessment form along with a $35 renewal fee through your BACB account.

Throughout the year, you also continue receiving supervision from a qualified professional to support your ongoing development.

It’s important to remember that you only retake the original written RBT exam if your certification expires and you need to reapply from the beginning.

Who Conducts the Test?

The evaluation is administered by a qualified assessor, typically a BCBA or BCaBA who has completed the required supervision training.

While in most cases, assistant assessors may be involved, the primary assessor retains full responsibility for your evaluation and certification.

How Often Do you give the Exam?

You must complete the assessment within 45 days before your certification expires each year.

It can be completed in one session or spread over multiple appointments—using in-person, telehealth, or recorded formats—offering flexibility to fit your schedule.

So, don’t worry in case you are hindered in person.

What Core Tasks are Included in the Test?

The assessment covers essential skills, including:

• Client interaction and communication
• Accurate data collection
• Implementation of behavior intervention plans
• Ethical decision-making and response to problem behavior
• Emergency preparedness and safety protocols

Documentation & Submission

Your assessor completes and signs the Renewal Competency Assessment form, which you then upload through your BACB account alongside your renewal application.

By the way, there is a $35 renewal fee that applies, with late submissions incurring additional charges.

Renewal Process at a Glance

• ~45 days before expiry: Schedule and complete your assessment.
• Obtain a signed competency form.
• Submit a renewal application and pay $35 via the BACB portal.
• Expect approval within approximately two weeks.

Looking Ahead: 2026 Changes

Starting in 2026, certification renewal will shift to a biennial cycle by replacing the annual competency assessment with 12 hours of continuing education and streamlining maintenance.

Apart from that, it will be as usual. Not much change in the test procedure.