Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) renewal is moving from a 1-year to a 2-year cycle. If you recertify in 2026 you complete the Recertification Competency Assessment one last time, no more than 45 days before your expiration date. After that the BACB asks for a recertification application every two years, starting in 2027, with 12 hours of professional development units (PDUs) earned in each cycle and a $50 fee per 2-year cycle. Throughout, a practicing RBT keeps monthly supervision and follows the RBT Ethics Code (2.0).
- When can I submit my RBT recertification application?
- It opens in your BACB portal account within 45 days of your recertification date, once your required PDUs are entered, and it must be completed on or before that date. Missing it starts a 30-day reinstatement period from your expiration date, during which you can still reinstate with an approvable application and a $50 late fee.
- What are PDUs and how many do RBTs need?
- Professional development units are hours of learning, and 12 are required in each 2-year recertification cycle. They can come from in-service training at your organization delivered by a BCaBA, BCBA or BCBA-D, from events run by an ACE Provider, or from behavior-analytic university courses passed with a C or better. Ongoing supervision, client-specific training and fieldwork toward BCaBA or BCBA certification do not count, and extra hours cannot be carried into the next cycle.
- What does the Recertification Competency Assessment involve?
- It is a 20-task skills check completed no more than 45 days before your certification expires. RBTs recertifying on or after January 1, 2026 meet this requirement one last time before their 2-year cycle begins, and the BACB transition guidance lists no competency assessment for the 2028 recertification.
- What happens if my RBT certification expires?
- Within 30 days of the expiration date you can still reinstate by submitting an approvable application and paying the late fee. After that window you must meet the eligibility rules in force at the time, reapply, and pass the exam again. If you are stepping away from practice instead, you can request voluntary inactive status for up to two years, which costs $25 to request and $25 to return from.
- Do I need supervision to keep my RBT certification?
- Only while you are practicing. A working RBT needs supervision for at least 5% of service hours each calendar month and must have an RBT Supervisor or RBT Requirements Coordinator on record with the BACB. RBTs who are not currently providing behavior-analytic services do not need monthly supervision to maintain certification.