Behavior Technicians (BTs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) are in high demand. The number of open RBT positions has skyrocketed as the ABA field struggles to keep up with the demand. With so many options for ABA providers, it can be challenging to find a position and organization that best aligns with your goals, values, and needs. Read on to explore what to look for in your RBT job search.
Pay and Benefits
When surveyed, RBTs overwhelmingly shared that pay was the top priority in their job search. The importance of competitive pay and benefits cannot be overstated—but there is much more to consider than the hourly rate alone. Here are a few considerations to evaluate when it comes to the pay rate ABA practices offer.
Does the company pay the same hourly rate for all hours? Some companies offer a lower hourly rate for "non-billable" time. This means they would pay you a different rate when you're working with your clients compared to when you're doing tasks that they cannot bill to insurance (e.g., training, travel time, meetings, creating stimuli). Some companies even pay a lower rate during hours that you are being supervised. Ask the company whether they pay the same rate for all hours worked. If they have a separate non-billable rate, consider how much of a pay differential it would be and determine how many hours you can expect at both rates.
Will you be paid for ALL hours? Spoiler alert—You need to be paid for ALL hours worked, per federal law. However, some companies try to get away with not following labor laws and won't pay for meetings, supervised hours, or mandatory trainings. It's always a good idea to verify before accepting a position that you will be paid for all hours.
Does the company offer guaranteed hours? Positions with guaranteed hours for RBTs are few and far between, but it's an added bonus if they do.
Would your pay be impacted by cancelations? Ask how the company handles client cancelations. Would you still get paid when cancelations occur? OR do they have other ways for you to still work when clients cancel? For example, can you cover sessions with another client or do administrative work?
What benefits does the company offer? Consider the benefit package as a whole in addition to the pay rate—PTO, paid holidays, health insurance, 401K, etc.
Would the company be paying you as a W2 employee? This is important! Some companies try to skirt federal labor laws by paying RBTs as an independent contractor (1099). However, this is illegal. They may offer a higher hourly rate to entice you to be a contractor but don't let that fool you.
Are you paid for travel time? If you have to travel between clients, you should be paid for travel. Consider whether travel pay is mileage reimbursement or a regular hourly rate.
Hours
There is a lot that goes into working hours in the ABA field. For many, it's not necessarily a traditional 9-5 job. Hours can vary widely. Here are a few things to consider.
How many weekly hours can the company offer?
Will the hours promised be available immediately upon your start date or is there a ramp-up of hours? (e.g., are there clients currently available or will you have to wait a few weeks until they go through intake before starting?)
Will there be travel time? How far away will your clients be from your home and each other?
Will hours be continuous (e.g., 8 am-2 pm) or will there be breaks in the day (e.g., one session 8 am-11 am and another session 2 pm-5 pm)?
Are schedules consistent/the same each week or will they vary? How far in advance will you receive schedule changes?
If a client discharges, will additional hours be available right away or will there be a temporary reduction of hours?
Growth & Development
Not every RBT aspires to grow in the ABA field—and that's okay! But even if you don't have plans to become a BCBA, growth within the RBT position can be rewarding. Consider what opportunities the company offers for promotions. Additionally, do they pay for training? If you're planning on pursuing BCBA or BCaBA certification, do they offer free supervision?
If you're not yet an RBT, you should also consider whether they offer the RBT training and competency assessment to become certified—especially if they require RBT certification for your position.
Reviews & Reputation
It can be beneficial to take a look at the company's reviews. However, take reviews with a grain of salt and evaluate them as a whole against everything else. Keep in mind that most people only leave reviews when they are dissatisfied, so you may not get a full picture of staff who are happy in their position.
Beyond reviews, take a look at social media posts (especially LinkedIn) from people who work for the organization. You can get a good feel for the company's culture and reputation this way.
Supervision and Mentorship
A supportive supervisor can make all the difference for RBT job satisfaction. While it can be difficult to assess the quality of supervision before getting hired, there are a few things you can ask about, including:
Frequency & format of supervision—How often will you receive supervision? Who provides supervision? Will your supervisor be present at your first session(s) to support you before your independent sessions begin?
Feedback—How is feedback provided? How often can you expect feedback? (Hint: Feedback is important. It should be provided at every supervised session!)
Support for challenging cases—What support is available for challenging situations, such as working with aggressive clients? Consider whether they prioritize staff safety and offer added support.
Setting(s) and Client Population
Consider the setting(s) and client population(s) you would serve. Everyone has different preferences and if you're new to the field, you may not yet know what you prefer until you experience it firsthand. You may enjoy working with autistic toddlers or perhaps you find you experience the most enjoyment working with adults with IDD.
The most common settings in the ABA field include:
In-home sessions—Working with clients in their homes. This will involve travel between clients. For some clients, you may also do some sessions in the community, like at the playground, their daycare, stores, or other community settings. The clients are likely to vary in age and needs, but most clients will be autistic.
Center/Clinic sessions—Working with clients at a clinic or center. You would typically stay in one location for your work day. Many clinics specialize in early learners with most clients in the range of 2-7 years old. Again, most clients in this setting will be autistic.
School sessions—Working with students at school. This can involve working directly for the school, often supporting several students with unique needs (similar to the role of a paraprofessional). Alternatively, you may work with a specific client in the school setting. For example, you may have a client through your in-home therapy provider who you work with in their school and home.
You could also work in group homes or hospitals, although RBT positions are less commonly available in those settings.
Technology
Having the tools needed to do your job well is important. Consider whether the company uses paper data collection or a digital platform. If they use digital data collection, verify that they provide a device (e.g., an iPad) to track data on.
Where to Start Your RBT Job Search
Ready to begin your RBT job search? Get started on the ABA Job Board!
The ABA Job Board showcases open RBT and BT positions in companies across the U.S. Find a position perfectly aligned with your goals and needs today.
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