Every career field has its own special lingo and words that distinguish the various roles within different disciplines in those fields. In the Applied Behavior Analysis world, two basic terms often come up that may confuse the uninitiated, or even those who are but are early in their journey. This article seeks to clarify the abbreviations ABA and BCBA.
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) is the nonprofit certification and accreditation organization that leads the nation in professional development in the field of ABA. The BACB only recognizes two professional titles: Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs).
What is an ABA?
This one is a bit confusing, because the abbreviation ABA is used to describe the field of Applied Behavior Analysis as well as the professional title of an applied behavior analyst, otherwise known as an ABA therapist. In some ways, the term ABA is very general. An ABA therapist could technically refer to any professional in the field of behavioral therapy and analysis. In that sense, it could be said that all BCBAs are ABA therapists but not all ABA therapists are BCBAs. Another type of ABA therapist is a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), who are under the supervision of BCBAs and carry out BCBA plans in the field with clients. RBTs do not need a college degree to work in the field but do need a certification and to pass an exam. Some states place an ABA therapist as a separate role in the field, on the rung between RBT and BCBA. In general, though, ABA therapist is a general umbrella term describing two roles in the field: RBTs and BCBAs.
What is an RBT?
RBTs are generally responsible for fewer clients than a BCBA and work directly with their client to work on various challenges, including developmental delays, behavioral challenges, eating disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and autism spectrum disorder, among others. ABA therapists, including RBTs, analyze behavior patterns, implement strategies for behavioral targets (which are often designed by the BCBA with input from the RBT), and consult with caregivers on behavioral strategies.
Here are the key responsibilities of ABA therapists in general:
- Creating behavior intervention plans based on individual client needs;
- Putting intervention plans into practice with clients and regularly reassessing for effectiveness;
- Collaborating with clients and family to give resources for implementing behavior techniques when ABA is not present;
- Analyze client progress through data collection and recording
- Working with caregivers to help manage behaviors
An RBT has similar duties that are more focused on implementing the intervention plans designed by BCBAs and coordinating with supervisors, teachers, and caregivers (or the client, depending on age and need) to help create continuity and integration of intervention plans into the client’s everyday life, whether the RBT or BCBA are present or not.
BCBAs also perform many of these same functions. For the most part, the biggest difference between an RBT and a BCBA is the education level and, thus, the amount of training received before entering the field. An RBT may not have been required to complete any fieldwork in their certification process prior to applying for work in the field of ABA.
An ABA therapist makes less than a BCBA, averaging between $39,000 and $42,000 per year nationally, according to PsychologyJobs as of January 2025.
How to become an RBT
The first step on the journey to become an RBT is to get your high school degree. The RBT candidate will then need to take an approved 40-hour RBT training taking no less than 5 days and no more than 180 days to complete. Once the training is completed, the RBT can apply to take the RBT Initial Competency Assessment. Once the exam is passed, the RBTs certification is inactive until they are added to a qualified RBT supervisor’s list of supervisees.
An RBT can go on to get their undergraduate degree in a related field, like education or psychology. However, to progress in the field, a graduate degree will be needed. RBTs work under a supervising BCBA, who is in charge of guiding the treatment of the client’s with whom the RBT works with.
What is a BCBA?
This acronym stands for Board Certified Behavior Analyst. The first two words are telling, and really describe the big difference between an RBT and a BCBA, which is that a BCBA is board certified by the BACB. Fully-certified BCBAs are independent practitioners and can work on their own, rather than working under a supervisor or agency. They can analyze behavioral needs of clients and craft and implement intervention programs. The interventions are designed to help children, teens, and adults manage behaviors, disabilities, functioning, and mental health challenges and can range from practical needs like bathing and shoe-tying to issues in cognitive ability and following rules.
Here are some of the basic duties of a BCBA:
- Assessing client behaviors;
- Creating behavior intervention plans and implementing them with clients, either directly or through an RBT;
- Analyzing client data to monitor progress and update plans to meet client’s ongoing needs;
- Supervising RBTs;
- Working with families, educators, and other professionals to holistically meet the needs of the client;
- Keeping client records and maintaining confidentiality.
Duty-wise, the biggest difference for a BCBA is the supervision aspect, the control over the plan implemented for the client, and the degree of responsibility. Regarding salary, a BCBA makes more than an RBT, which makes sense considering the difference in education and training. The average salary for a BCBA nationwide in 2025 is $73,526, according to Payscale.com.
How to become a BCBA
To qualify for certification by the BACB, the BCBA candidate needs to have completed a master’s degree or higher in a related field with coursework that meets minimum qualifications in behavior-analytic content. Master’s degrees that can fit include behavior analysis, psychology, or education. While there are a few other routes a person can take to meet qualifications, a candidate will need qualifying education or work experience and education level combined in a related field. The graduate degree generally takes at least 2 years to complete.
BCBA-candidates are required to complete supervised fieldwork in behavior analysis work. Candidates doing a concentrated (higher intensive) supervised fieldwork need 1,500 hours while those choosing a less intense supervised fieldwork need 2,000 hours. These hours include both fieldwork with and without the supervisor present, which may include meetings with the supervisor to consult on clients. Candidates must complete between 20 and 130 hours of fieldwork in a month, and supervision is required for 5 percent of the total fieldwork hours in a given month. Fieldwork must be completed in under 5 years.
Once the candidate completes their fieldwork, they must complete the application for certification to be sent to the BCAB, along with a fee and documentation on fieldwork and education. The BCAB will audit the application. If they approve it, they will send the candidate instructions to register for the BCBA exam. Once the exam is passed and scores are approved by the BACB, the candidate’s certification number will be updated on the official website and a certificate will be mailed to the new BCBA. The certificate can be used as soon as the candidate has received a passing score on the exam, according to the BCBA handbook.
The bottom line
The question “what’s the difference between an ABA and a BCBA?” isn’t so clear as it seems, since all BCBAs are ABA therapists. However, the other type of ABA therapist is an RBT. The main differences between RBTs and BCBAs are in the training, education, and overall duties, though some duties overlap.