If you’re planning to take the RBT certification exam, knowing what to expect is crucial for your preparation. The RBT exam contains 85 multiple-choice questions, with 75 questions that count toward your score and 10 unscored pilot questions.
You’ll have 90 minutes to complete the test, which covers six main areas of applied behavior analysis. The exam evaluates your knowledge across measurement, assessment, skill acquisition, behavior reduction, documentation, and professional conduct.
Understanding the exam’s structure, scoring system, and content breakdown will help you focus your study efforts effectively. This guide covers everything you need to know about the question format, passing requirements, and strategies to succeed on your certification journey.
Total Number of Questions on the RBT Exam
The RBT exam contains exactly 85 multiple-choice questions that you must complete within 90 minutes. Only 75 of these questions count toward your final score, while 10 serve as unscored pilot questions for future test development.
Overview of 85 Questions
The RBT exam consists of 85 multiple-choice questions administered by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). Each question presents four answer choices for you to select from.
This standardized format ensures all Registered Behavior Technician candidates face the same testing conditions. The questions cover six core areas from the RBT Task List.
You cannot identify which questions are scored versus unscored during the exam. This means you must treat every question with equal importance and answer all 85 questions.
The exam uses a computer-based format at authorized testing locations. You will see one question at a time on your screen with the four multiple-choice options clearly displayed.
Scored vs. Unscored (Pilot) Questions
Your final RBT score comes from 75 scored questions only. The remaining 10 questions are unscored pilot questions that the BACB tests for future exams.
These pilot questions help the Behavior Analyst Certification Board evaluate new test items. They analyze how candidates perform on these questions before adding them to future scored exams.
You cannot tell which questions are pilots during your test. The scored and unscored questions appear mixed throughout the exam in random order.
The BACB does not reveal which specific questions were pilots after you complete the exam. This policy ensures all candidates answer every question seriously.
Since 10 questions don’t affect your score, you theoretically face 75 questions that determine your pass or fail result.
Time Limits and Exam Logistics
You have 90 minutes to complete all 85 questions at a Pearson VUE testing center. This gives you approximately one minute per question on average.
The exam operates on a strict time limit with no extensions allowed. You must manage your pace carefully to avoid rushing through the final questions.
Pearson VUE administers the RBT exam at their authorized testing locations only. Online testing is not available for the Registered Behavior Technician certification.
You can take breaks during the exam, but the clock continues running. Most candidates complete the test without breaks to maximize their available time.
The testing center provides a computer, basic calculator, and scratch paper. You cannot bring personal materials or electronic devices into the testing room.
Structure and Breakdown of Exam Content
The RBT exam content divides 75 scored questions across six areas from the RBT task list. Skill Acquisition contains the most questions at 24, while Measurement includes 12 questions and both Behavior Reduction and Documentation carry significant weight in your overall score.
Skill Acquisition
This section makes up 32% of your exam with 24 questions. You need to understand reinforcement strategies and teaching methods.
The questions cover discrete trial training and prompting techniques. You must know how to use different prompt types and when to fade them.
Key reinforcement topics include:
- Continuous and intermittent schedules
- Token economies
- Natural reinforcement
- Preference assessments
Shaping procedures appear frequently on the exam. You should understand how to break down complex skills into smaller steps.
The skill acquisition questions test your knowledge of errorless learning. This includes knowing when to provide prompts and how to transfer stimulus control.
Generalization and maintenance strategies are important concepts. You need to know how skills transfer across different settings and people.
Behavior Reduction
This area contains 16% of scored questions with 12 total questions. The focus is on decreasing problem behaviors using evidence-based methods.
Differential reinforcement appears in multiple question formats. You must understand DRA, DRI, DRO, and DRL procedures.
Extinction procedures are heavily tested concepts. You need to know about extinction bursts and how to implement extinction safely.
Antecedent interventions help prevent problem behaviors. These include environmental modifications and teaching replacement behaviors.
The questions test your understanding of function-based interventions. You should know how to match interventions to behavior functions.
Common behavior modification techniques include:
- Functional communication training
- Environmental enrichment
- Choice-making opportunities
- Visual schedules
Measurement
This section includes 16% of your exam with 12 questions. You must demonstrate knowledge of data collection methods and operational definitions.
Primary measurement types tested:
- Frequency and rate data
- Duration recording
- Latency measurement
- Partial and whole interval recording
Operational definitions must be clear and measurable. You need to identify well-written definitions versus poorly written ones.
Graphing questions appear regularly on the exam. You should understand how to read and interpret different graph types.
The measurement questions test your ability to select appropriate recording methods. You must match data collection to specific behaviors and situations.
Preference assessments are important measurement tools. You need to know about paired-choice, multiple stimulus, and single stimulus formats.
Documentation and Reporting
This area represents 13% of scored questions with 10 total questions. You must understand professional communication and record-keeping requirements.
Session notes require specific elements and objective language. You should avoid subjective interpretations in your documentation.
HIPAA compliance covers confidentiality and information sharing rules. You need to know who can access client information and when.
Communication with supervisors follows specific protocols. You must report safety concerns and significant behavior changes immediately.
The questions test your knowledge of scope of practice boundaries. You should know what tasks require supervisor approval or direct oversight.
Documentation standards include:
- Timely completion of records
- Accurate data entry
- Professional language use
- Proper storage procedures
Professional Conduct and Assessment Domains
These two domains test your understanding of ethical guidelines and your ability to conduct proper assessments. Professional conduct covers 11 questions about the RBT ethics code and maintaining appropriate boundaries, while assessment focuses on 6 questions about preference assessments and behavioral functions.
Professional Conduct and Scope of Practice
The Professional Conduct and Scope of Practice section includes 11 questions that make up about 15% of your scored exam. This domain tests your knowledge of the RBT ethics code and professional boundaries.
You must understand what tasks fall within your scope of practice as an RBT. For example, you cannot conduct assessments without supervision or make treatment decisions independently.
Client dignity is a core principle you’ll be tested on. This means treating all clients with respect regardless of their abilities or behaviors.
Key areas include:
- Maintaining professional relationships with clients and families
- Following supervision requirements
- Understanding confidentiality rules
- Recognizing when tasks exceed your role
The exam tests real-world scenarios where you must choose the most ethical response. You might see questions about handling requests that go beyond your training or managing difficult situations with clients.
Assessment
The assessment domain contains 6 questions that represent 8% of the exam. This section focuses on your ability to conduct preference assessments and understand behavioral functions.
Preference assessments help identify what items or activities a client finds reinforcing. You need to know different types like paired-choice, multiple-stimulus, and free-operant assessments.
Understanding behavioral functions is critical. Behaviors typically serve four main functions: attention, escape, tangible items, or automatic reinforcement.
You’ll be tested on:
- How to conduct different assessment procedures
- When to use specific assessment types
- How to interpret assessment results
- Recording data during assessments
The questions often present scenarios where you must choose the best assessment method or interpret assessment data correctly. You need to understand both the procedures and their practical applications.
Scoring System and Pass Requirements
The RBT exam uses a scaled scoring system ranging from 0 to 250 points, with a minimum passing score of 200. You need to answer approximately 80% of the scored questions correctly, which typically means getting 60-68 questions right out of the 75 scored items.
Scaled Scoring Explained
The RBT exam uses a scaled scoring system instead of a simple percentage-based approach. Your raw score gets converted to a scaled score between 0 and 250 points.
This system ensures fairness across different test versions. If your exam version contains harder questions, you might need fewer correct answers to reach the passing threshold.
The scaled scoring accounts for slight differences in difficulty between exam forms. This means two people taking different versions of the test are judged by the same standard.
Key benefits of scaled scoring:
- Ensures consistent difficulty across all test versions
- Provides fair comparison between test-takers
- Maintains exam integrity over time
Your final score reflects your true knowledge level rather than which specific questions you received.
Passing Score and How Many You Can Miss
You need a minimum scaled score of 200 out of 250 to pass the RBT exam. This translates to answering approximately 75-80% of questions correctly.
Out of 75 scored questions, you typically need 60-68 correct answers to pass. This means you can miss about 7-15 questions and still achieve certification.
The exact number varies based on question difficulty and the scaling process. Harder exam versions may allow more missed questions while maintaining the same passing standard.
Passing requirements breakdown:
- Scaled score needed: 200/250
- Approximate accuracy: 80%
- Correct answers needed: 60-68 out of 75
- Questions you can miss: 7-15
Remember that 10 questions on the 85-question exam are unscored pilot questions that don’t affect your final result.
Modified Angoff Method
The modified Angoff method determines the actual passing score for RBT exams. This approach involves expert panels reviewing each question to set appropriate difficulty standards.
Subject matter experts examine every question and estimate what percentage of minimally qualified candidates should answer it correctly. These estimates help establish the final passing threshold.
The method ensures that passing scores reflect real-world competency requirements. It goes beyond simple statistical analysis to include professional judgment about necessary skills.
This approach maintains consistent standards even as new questions are added to the exam pool. The modified Angoff method helps protect both the profession and the clients RBTs will serve.
How the method works:
- Expert panels review each exam question
- Experts estimate difficulty for qualified candidates
- Statistical analysis combines expert judgments
- Final passing score is established based on competency needs
Purpose and Rationale Behind the 85-Question Format
The RBT exam’s 85-question structure serves two main purposes: testing your knowledge with 75 scored questions while using 10 unscored pilot questions to improve future exams. This format helps the BACB maintain exam quality and fairness across all testing periods.
Why the Exam Includes Pilot Questions
The 10 unscored pilot questions embedded in your RBT exam are field-test items that the Behavior Analyst Certification Board evaluates for future use. These questions don’t affect your score but help the BACB determine which questions work best for measuring RBT knowledge.
You won’t know which questions are pilot items during your exam. This design ensures you treat every question seriously and answer honestly.
The pilot questions test new content areas or different ways of asking about existing topics. The BACB analyzes how well these questions perform before adding them to future scored exams.
This process helps maintain consistent difficulty levels across different exam versions. Without pilot testing, some exam versions might be much harder or easier than others.
Continuous Exam Updates and Fairness
The BACB uses pilot question data to keep the RBT exam current with best practices in behavior analysis. New research and updated guidelines require fresh questions that reflect modern ABA techniques.
The 85-question format with pilot items allows for continuous improvement without disrupting the core 75 scored questions. This maintains fairness for all candidates regardless of when they test.
Statistical analysis of pilot questions helps identify poorly written items before they become scored questions. Questions that confuse candidates or have unclear answers get revised or removed.
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board reviews pilot question performance data regularly. This ongoing process ensures your exam accurately measures the skills needed for RBT work.
Preparation and Study Strategies for the RBT Exam
Success on the RBT exam requires focused preparation across all six content domains and using proven study methods. You need at least 4-6 weeks of dedicated study time to master applied behavior analysis concepts and exam-taking strategies.
Effective Review of Exam Domains
You should prioritize your study time based on the number of questions in each domain. Skill Acquisition makes up 24 of the 75 scored questions, so spend the most time on this area.
Focus on these key topics for each domain:
- Measurement (12 questions): Data collection methods, frequency recording, duration tracking
- Assessment (6 questions): Preference assessments, ABC data collection
- Skill Acquisition (24 questions): Discrete trial training, prompting strategies, reinforcement schedules
- Behavior Reduction (12 questions): Extinction procedures, differential reinforcement
- Documentation (10 questions): Session notes, data recording requirements
- Professional Conduct (11 questions): Ethics, supervision requirements, client confidentiality
Create flashcards for technical terms used in ABA therapy. Practice identifying real-world examples of each concept.
Study autism-specific interventions since many RBT positions involve working with individuals on the autism spectrum.
Using an RBT Exam Study Guide
Choose a comprehensive RBT exam study guide that covers all task list domains. Look for guides that include practice questions with detailed explanations.
Your study guide should include:
- Practice exams with 85 questions to simulate test conditions
- Detailed explanations for both correct and incorrect answers
- Task list breakdowns for each content area
- Real-world scenarios that mirror actual RBT work
Take at least three full-length practice tests before your exam date. Time yourself to get used to the 90-minute limit.
Review your incorrect answers carefully. Identify patterns in the topics you miss most often.
Use multiple study resources beyond just one guide. Different authors explain applied behavior analysis concepts in various ways.
Exam Day Tips and Common Mistakes
Arrive at the Pearson VUE testing center 30 minutes early. Bring two forms of identification and avoid bringing prohibited items like phones or notes.
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Rushing through questions without reading carefully
- Second-guessing your first instinct on answers
- Spending too much time on difficult questions
- Ignoring the 10 unscored pilot questions (you cannot identify which ones they are)
Read each question twice before selecting an answer. Pay attention to key words like “first,” “best,” or “most appropriate.”
If you are unsure about an answer, eliminate obviously wrong choices first. Then select from the remaining options.
Use all 90 minutes if needed. Review flagged questions at the end if time allows.
Stay calm and focus on applying your knowledge of applied behavior analysis principles to each scenario presented.
Frequently Asked Questions
The RBT exam structure includes 85 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit. Most candidates need to answer about 80% of scored questions correctly to pass the examination.
What is the structure of the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) examination?
The RBT exam consists of 85 multiple-choice questions that you must complete within 90 minutes. This gives you about one minute per question.
Of these 85 questions, 75 are scored and count toward your final result. The remaining 10 questions are unscored pilot questions that the BACB uses for future testing.
You take the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center on a computer. Each question has four answer choices to select from.
Can you outline the main content areas covered in the RBT exam?
The exam covers six main areas based on the RBT Task List. Skill Acquisition receives the most questions with 24 scored items.
Measurement gets 12 questions and focuses on data collection methods like frequency and duration. Behavior Reduction also has 12 questions covering extinction and differential reinforcement.
Professional Conduct includes 11 questions about ethics and client dignity. Documentation and Reporting covers 10 questions on session notes and HIPAA compliance.
Assessment has 6 questions about preference assessments and functional analysis methods.
What type of questions should candidates expect when taking the RBT exam?
You will encounter multiple-choice questions with four answer options each. The questions test your understanding of ABA concepts like behavior modification and skill development.
Many questions present real-world scenarios that mirror your daily work as an RBT. You might see questions about data collection during client sessions or ethical situations.
The questions assess both your knowledge of ABA principles and your ability to apply them in practice. Some focus on specific procedures while others test your understanding of professional boundaries.
How can one best prepare for the types of questions on the RBT exam?
Take full-length practice tests with 85 questions to simulate actual exam conditions. This helps you manage your time and build stamina for the 90-minute test.
Focus your study time on high-weight sections like Skill Acquisition and Behavior Reduction. These areas contain the most questions on your exam.
Use flashcards to memorize key terms and ABA concepts. Review real scenarios from your competency assessment tasks since exam questions often mirror practical situations.
Join study groups to discuss concepts with other candidates. This reinforces your understanding of complex topics.
Is there a set number of questions that focus on specific topics within the RBT exam?
Yes, the exam follows a specific distribution across the six content areas. Skill Acquisition contains 24 scored questions, making it the largest section.
Measurement and Behavior Reduction each have 12 questions. Professional Conduct includes 11 questions about ethics and scope of practice.
Documentation and Reporting covers 10 questions on record keeping and communication. Assessment has the fewest questions with only 6 items.
This distribution remains consistent across all RBT exams to ensure fair testing standards.
What is the passing criteria for the RBT examination in terms of question accuracy?
You typically need to answer about 80% of the 75 scored questions correctly to pass. This means getting approximately 60 questions right out of the 75 that count.
The BACB uses a scaled scoring method called the modified Angoff approach. They do not publish the exact passing score since it may vary slightly between exam versions.
Since you cannot identify which 10 questions are unscored, treat every question as important. Answer all 85 questions to maximize your chances of success.