The Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) is an integral part of the autism care team. They are trained to provide the individuals with the help they need to improve their lives, whether the behaviors are as mild as resistance to rules or as severe as autism. RBTs are also trained to provide direct services to the families of autistic patients, helping them to modify their families to provide better environments for their autistic loved ones. The Registered Behavior Technician can work directly with the families or they may work through an organization that provides certified therapists and supports the families of autistic patients.
If you are an autistic individual, you may have a Registered Behavior Technician assigned to your case. Your job will be to provide direct services to your families, working closely with your therapist and with your autism care team to develop an effective treatment plan. The goal is to provide your families with the help they need to adjust to your treatment so that they can live as comfortably as possible in their surroundings. Jobs for rbts and registered technicians include adapting specific home routines to help your children function more easily around you.
To become a rbt, you must first complete a 16-week Basic Training Certificate. Once you have completed your training, you will be required to pass an exam, called the IITP (International Autism Training Program), which helps to determine if you are a match for this challenging and rewarding career. There are two certification exams that you can take, one that is administered by the Institute of Specialized Education and Training (ISET), and the second is the Certified Behavior Analyst (CBA). Both of these exams will measure how well you have learned the material and will also assess your abilities as a Registered Behavior Technician.
Once you have completed the basic training, you will be assigned a peer therapist. Your peer therapist will be responsible for developing an intervention plan specifically for you and your family. The purpose of the intervention plan is to provide your children with a variety of therapeutic behaviors in order to meet their varying needs. A registered behavior technician will be involved in the initial assessment of your child’s autism symptoms and then design a treatment plan that addresses those needs. Treatment plans are designed to address both the emotional and the social factors that are involved in behavior problems.
Many states, however, allow Licensed Practical Registered Behavior Therapists to work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. As a rbt, you will work in a wide variety of clinics, schools, and hospitals. Some of the jobs that you may find employment in include outpatient clinics, hospitals, military facilities, schools, and more. Some rbt jobs might require additional education, such as a Master’s Degree.
After becoming a registered behavior technician, you will need to complete a background check. To do this, you will need to contact your state’s licensing board and complete a state approved fingerprint background check. The fingerprint background check is part of the comprehensive pre-employment testing that you must pass before working for a licensed therapist. In most states, all of the testing requirements that are administered by the licensing board must be passed before becoming a certified therapist. When you complete all of your state-approved background checks, you will become certified as a rbt.
