What Supervision Looks Like for RBTs

The RBT credential requires ongoing supervision by a BCBA, BCaBA, or BACB-approved supervisor. Without supervision at the required frequency and quality, you are not authorized to practice — and your certification can be revoked.

Required Supervision Frequency

The BACB requires RBT supervision at a minimum of 5% of monthly service hours, with at least one face-to-face meeting with the supervisor per month. If you bill 80 hours in a month, that's 4 hours of supervision. At least 50% of supervision must occur during the RBT's actual delivery of services to clients (not just office meetings).

What Counts as Supervision

  • Direct observation of RBT service delivery (in person or via secure video)
  • Review and feedback on session notes and data
  • Discussion of clinical decisions and behavior plan progress
  • Skill development conversations (e.g., new prompting strategies)
  • Crisis debriefing after critical incidents

What Does NOT Count

  • Administrative meetings about scheduling or paperwork
  • Training videos watched alone
  • Group staff meetings without individual clinical content
  • Brief check-ins lasting under 15 minutes

If Your Supervision Is Inadequate

If you are not receiving required supervision, you must (1) raise the concern with your supervisor or agency administrator, (2) document your requests in writing, and (3) if the situation does not improve, contact the BACB. Continuing to bill services without supervision can result in revocation of your certification and potential billing fraud claims against the agency.

The Supervisor Has Responsibilities Too

Your BCBA supervisor is required to: design behavior plans, provide timely feedback on your work, maintain a supervisor-supervisee agreement, document supervision hours, and complete your annual competency reassessment. If your supervisor is not meeting these obligations, the BACB Ethics Code requires escalation.

How to Get Quality Supervision

Come to supervision sessions prepared. Bring specific questions, share challenging cases, ask for direct observation of areas you struggle with. The best supervisees actively shape their own supervision rather than waiting passively for it.