BACB Certification Examinations
Global certification update:
If you reside in a country other than the US, Canada, Australia or the UK and you are authorized to sit for the examination on January 1, 2021 or later, your authorization will expire on December 31, 2022. Please be aware, as of January 1, 2022, the BACB examinations will only be administered in English. A description of how these changes may impact your testing authorization can be found on the Global Certifications page.
Due to typical examination-security concerns associated with remote testing, the BACB restricts remote testing in select geographic regions as needed.
Remote testing is currently restricted in the following countries and US states:
- China
- Cuba
- Iran
- Japan
- North Korea
- Sudan
- Florida, United States
These countries and states still offer in-person testing. Candidates attempting to test remotely in restricted countries or states will have their score invalidated and will be subject to disciplinary action.
Overview
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established to meet professional credentialing needs identified by behavior analysts, governments, and consumers of behavior-analytic services.
The BACB offers three certification examinations: the Registered Behavior Technician® (RBT®), Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® (BCaBA®), and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®).
Examination Outlines
BACB examinations are composed of multiple-choice questions. Each question has 4 possible answers and only 1 correct answer. Candidates have a specified amount of time to complete the examination. Details regarding each BACB examination are as follows:
| |
BCBA |
BCaBA |
RBT |
| Examination Length |
4 hours |
4 hours |
90 minutes |
| Examination Questions |
185 |
160 |
85 |
| Examination Delivery |
In person |
In person |
In person and online |
Examination Scheduling
Once a candidate has been approved to take a BACB examination, they are issued an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter via email.
Caution:
Candidates should review the information in their ATT letter for accuracy before scheduling an examination appointment. If something is incorrect, candidates must contact the BACB immediately.
To schedule an examination, candidates must log into their Pearson VUE account or contact Pearson VUE’s customer service center. Please note that if a candidate requests examination accommodations, they will receive a separate email from accommodations@bacb.com with details on how to schedule their examination.
Candidates can see in-person and remote examination appointment availability during the scheduling process. Appointments are contingent on Pearson VUE availability, so the BACB cannot guarantee that a candidate’s desired examination date or time will be available.
Note:
Candidates will receive an examination appointment confirmation email from Pearson VUE within 24 hours of scheduling. They should review the email in its entirety to ensure that they are scheduled to take the correct examination on the date and at the time of their choosing.
What to Expect on Examination Day
In-Person Testing
Before taking an examination at a testing center, candidates should take the Pearson VUE demo test to learn how to navigate a computer-based examination.
General rules for taking an in-person examination include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Candidates are advised to arrive at the testing center approximately 30 minutes before their examination appointment to allow sufficient time for the check-in process. This process includes security measures, such as photographing, palm vein scanning, and obtaining an electronic signature.
- Candidates must provide TWO forms of valid identification to be admitted into the examination area. Both pieces of identification must show the candidate’s first and last name exactly as they appear in their BACB account. Any name discrepancies will prevent admission to the examination (e.g., providing a nickname in your BACB account, identification that shows a different last name due to marriage). Pearson VUE does not make exceptions for name discrepancies based on marriage certificates.
- Both pieces of identification must have the candidate’s signature and be current (i.e., not expired). The primary identification must be government issued and include both a photo and signature (e.g., a driver’s license or state/national ID). The secondary identification must include a signature but need not include a photo (e.g., a signed credit card that matches the government-issued identification).
- Personal items may be stored in lockers available at all testing centers.
For more details on what to expect on examination day, please refer to the Examination section of the BCBA, BCaBA, or RBT Handbook.
Remote Testing
The BACB offers live, online-proctored testing for the RBT examination through Pearson VUE’s online-proctoring platform, OnVUE. The delivery of accommodations via OnVUE differ from that at test centers, so please refer to your accommodation approval email regarding scheduling.
Before taking an online-proctored examination, candidates should take the OnVUE System Test which outlines the necessary steps (e.g., system test, examination simulation) for a successful OnVUE testing experience.
General rules for taking a live, online-proctored examination include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Candidates are advised to log in approximately 30 minutes before the examination appointment to allow sufficient time for the check-in process.
- Candidates must provide ONE form of valid identification to be admitted into the examination. The identification must be a high-quality, clear photo showing the candidate’s first and last name exactly as they appear in their BACB account. Any name discrepancy will prevent admission to the examination (e.g., providing a nickname on your BACB account, identification that shows a different last name due to marriage). Pearson VUE does not make exceptions for name discrepancies based on marriage certificates.
- The piece of identification must have the candidate’s signature and be current (i.e., not expired). It must also be government issued and include both a photo and signature (e.g., driver’s license or state/national ID).
- No cameras, phones, recording devices, beepers or electronic-transmitting devices, notes or reference materials, textbooks, briefcases, backpacks, portfolios, or purses, among others, may be in the examination area. Access to any of these items can result in the dismissal of the examination and further investigation by the BACB. Additionally, scratch paper, calculators, and rulers are NOT permitted in the area.
- No third-party individuals are permitted in the examination room.
For more details on what to expect on examination day, please refer to the Examination section of the RBT Handbook.