BACB Certification Examinations
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®).
Important updates:
RBT Examination Delivery
As of September 1, 2023, the RBT examination is only delivered at in-person test centers. Due to examination-security concerns, remote examination delivery is no longer available.
Global Certifications
Effective January 1, 2023, BACB examinations are only authorized to be administered in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US). For more information regarding this change, please visit the International Development and Support page.
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 |
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 the BACB with details on how to schedule their examination.
Candidates can see in-person 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
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.