What Are the Different Levels and Types of BACB Certification?

Did you know that there are 301,393 certified ABA professionals? This is according to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) as of July 1, 2025. Specifically, there are 218,757 RBTs, 5,221 BCaBAs, and 77,415 BCBAs. This is proof that, indeed, the BACB is doing its job to promote the ABA profession.

What is the BACB in the first place? The nonprofit organization certifies professionals in the applied behavioral analysis (ABA) field. Founded in 1998, its key roles and responsibilities have evolved.

Develop and implement professional certification guidelines and requirements.
Establish and ensure compliance with ethical guidelines and continuing education.
Protect consumers of ABA services by ensuring their certified professional’s competence.

There are three different levels of BACB certification – entry, mid, and advanced. Then, there are four types of BACB certification, each with different requirements.

Here’s a brief preview of these levels and types.

The RBT is an entry-level certification for paraprofessionals.
The BCaBA is a mid-level certification for bachelor’s degree holders.
The BCBA is an advanced-level certification for master’s degree holders.
The BCBA-D isn’t a separate license. Instead, it’s a designation of expertise for BCBAs with a doctoral degree.

Be sure to understand these different levels and types first. Then, you can make an informed decision. You should choose based on your education, scope of practice, and goals.

Related:

What Is the BACB and Why Certification Matters

The BACB’s mission is to promote ethical and effective behavioral analysis services. As such, it promotes best practices that protect consumers of behavior-analytic services. Indeed, the BACB plays crucial roles in upholding the quality and integrity of the profession.

Again, the BACB offers many behavior analysis certification paths. Certifications are vital to establish credibility and ensure competence. These are a formal recognition of your compliance with rigorous standards of:

Formal education (e.g., a bachelor’s or master’s degree)
Supervised experience (e.g., client interactions under direct supervision)
Assessment of knowledge and skills (e.g., certification exam)
Continuing education and professional development

Why should you care about how to become a behavior analyst? For starters, there’s a growing demand for certified ABA professionals. There’s been a 58% increase in job-seeking BCBAs and other related credentials (2023-2024). The demand is highest in the clinical, educational, and early childhood settings.

Then, there’s the fact that ABA-certified professionals earn good salaries. BCBAs, for example, earn $89,075/year, on average, but can earn up to $149,000/year. RBTs earn $47,135/year while BCaBAs earn $70,884/year, on average.

There are also non-monetary benefits in becoming a certified ABA professional. You can make a positive and profound impact on your clients. Certification also validates your ABA skills and opens lifelong learning opportunities.

RBT: Registered Behavior Technician

As the BACB certification levels explained, the RBT is an entry-level credential. But what is RBT certification exactly?

The RBT is for individuals who implement behavior plans under the supervision of a BCBA. RBTs neither design nor modify behavior plans independently. But their work is vital in the day-to-day implementation of behavior plans.

To become an RBT, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Be at least 18 years old
At least a high school diploma or equivalent
Complete a 40-hour training program on the RBT Task List (Second Edition)
Pass a competency assessment performed by a qualified BACB certificant
Complete and pass a background check
Pass the BACB-administered RBT certification exam

RBTs are responsible for the direct implementation of ABA services. Working with children with autism and other developmental challenges is common. Day-to-day tasks can include:

Implementing behavior reduction strategies
Teaching communication, social, and life skills
Helping in skill acquisition among clients

RBTs must work under the direct supervision of a BCBA or a BCaBA. In their case, supervision means:

At least 5% of their total monthly hours performing ABA services
Observation of their delivery of ABA services with at least one client every month
Two face-to-face contacts per month; remote sessions are acceptable

The RBT credential is a great entry point if you’re:

Exploring ABA careers
Working in early childhood education
Passionate about working with individuals with developmental disabilities

Think of it as a stepping stone toward more advanced certified ABA roles.

BCaBA: Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst

In a BACB credentials comparison, the BCaBA certification is a mid-level credential. Here are the answers to the question, ‘What is BCaBA certification?’

As a mid-level certification, the BCaBA certification has a limited scope. A BCaBA provides clinical support in the delivery of ABA services. But a BCaBA must be under the supervision of a BCBA.

Becoming a BCaBA means meeting the following rigorous eligibility requirements.

Have at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
Complete an approved sequence of courses in behavior analysis (about 225 classroom hours)
Gain supervised fieldwork experience (i.e., varies depending on fieldwork pathway)
Pass the BACB-administered BCaBA certification exam
Meet all other ethical and legal requirements (e.g., BACB ethics code and background check)

Once certified, BCaBAs perform these roles and responsibilities, among others.

Assist in the design and implementation of behavior plans
Monitor client progress and update their BIPs, as necessary
Supervise and mentor RBTs

Again, BCaBAs must work under the supervision of a BCBA. The supervision requirements include:

At least 5% of total hours per month spent performing ABA services must be under supervision
Both group and individual formats
Regular meetings and case reviews with their supervisor
Continued compliance with the BACB ethical code of conduct and supervision guidelines

The BCaBA certification is ideal for:

Bachelor’s degree-level professionals seeking career growth in the ABA field
RBTs aiming for planning-support or supervisory positions
Individuals planning to achieve BCBA status but want to gain practical experience first

Think of the BCaBA certification as a bridge between the RBT and BCBA certification.

BCBA: Board Certified Behavior Analyst

As the BACB certification levels explained above show, it’s a graduate-level certification. Here, we’ll provide more answers to the question, ‘What is BCBA certification?’

For starters, BCBAs can practice independently as behavioral analysts. But the credential isn’t easy to achieve either. Aspiring BCBAs must meet these rigorous eligibility requirements.

Master’s degree in behavior analysis or a related field from an accredited college. Education and psychology are popular alternatives.
Completion of a Verified Course Sequence (VCS)
Gain 2,000-2,500 hours of supervised fieldwork (i.e., concentrated or standard model)
Pass the BACB-administered BCBA certification exam
Comply with BACB’s Ethics Code

BCBAs must maintain ongoing certification requirements, too (e.g., CEUs).

Their roles and responsibilities in ABA service delivery include:

Perform functional behavior assessments
Develop and oversee treatment plans
Supervise BCaBAs and RBTs

BCBAs work in schools, clinics, and hospitals as well as in private practice.

Note that some US states require a separate state license. The state license is in addition to the BACB certification. Florida, Texas, and Louisiana are among these states. The state requirements vary, but usually include background checks or jurisprudence exams.

This is a core credential for behavior analysts in:

Early intervention
Autism therapy
Special education

Indeed, the BCBA certification is the gold standard for behavior analysts.

BCBA-D: Doctoral-Level Behavior Analyst

As the BCBA-D certification explained above shows, the BCBA-D isn’t a separate license. Instead, it’s a formal recognition for BCBAs with a doctoral degree.

As a designation of expertise, it recognizes advanced professional achievements in the field. These achievements usually cover exceptional performance in research, leadership, and academics.

To expand on the BACB certification levels explained above, here are its eligibility requirements.

Have an active BCBA certification in good standing
Have a doctoral degree in behavioral analysis or a related field
Provide verifiable and documented evidence of one or more of the following:
Teaching ABA coursework at the university level
Significant research contributions (e.g., publication in peer-reviewed journals)
Other scholarly activities that prove expertise and impact

BCBA-Ds have the same job roles and responsibilities as BCBAs. There is a more advanced focus on research, supervision, and leadership.

The BCBA-D is ideal for BCBAs who work in:

Academia (e.g., ABA professors and researchers)
Program development
Senior clinical roles

If you want a long-term impact in the ABA field, consider it, too.

Comparing All Four BACB Certification Levels

Credential	Education Requirement	Supervision Level	Exam Requirement	Scope of Practice	Common Work Settings
RBT	High school diploma	Must work under the supervision of a BCaBA or BCBA	RBT certification exam	Only implements BIPs, but cannot design and change them	Clinics, schools, and in-home services
BCaBA	Bachelor’s degree and approved courses	Must be supervised by a BCBA	BCaBA certification exam	Aids in the design of BIPs, helps with assessments, and supervises RBTs	Schools, early intervention programs, and therapy centers
BCBA	Master’s degree and VCS completion	No external supervision needed. Supervise BCaBAs and RBTs.	BCBA certification exam	Independent conduct and delivery of ABA services	Clinics, hospitals, schools, and private practice
BCBA-D	Active BCBA certification, doctoral degree, and significant scholarly contributions	Same as BCBAs	BCBA certification exam	Same as BCBAs	Universities and research institutions. Usually serves in executive clinical roles.

How to Choose the Right Certification Level for You

Now that you know how to become a behavior analyst, it’s time to know how to choose the right certification. Here’s a brief step-by-step guide.

Consider your current education and career goals.

This is the first step because you must meet the eligibility requirements first. When considering the behavior analysis certification paths:

Use RBT as your springboard to other paths if you’re starting. Your high school diploma is enough for it.
Consider the BCaBA path if you already have a bachelor’s degree. You may be exploring the full BCBA path or changing careers.
Go for the BCBA credential if you want excellent career advancement opportunities. It’s the core standard for independent behavior analysts, after all.
Consider earning the BCBA-D certification if you’re an advanced professional. The credential opens opportunities in research, teaching, or leadership.

Determine your financial resources for funding your certification journey.

Becoming a BACB-certified professional costs money. While your actual costs will vary, here’s what you can expect to spend:

RBT: $100-$300 (Includes the training, assessment, and application/exam fees)
BCaBA: $12,000-$25,000 (Includes courses, supervision, and application/exam fees. Excludes cost of bachelor’s degree)
BCBA: $20,000-$45,000 (Includes cost of master’s degree, VCS, supervision hours, and application/exam fees)
BCBA-D: $50,000-$100,000 and above (Includes cost of doctoral degree and other costs)

Fortunately, you can apply for financial aid to finance your certification journey. Federal and state aid, scholarships and grants, and employer assistance programs are available. The BACB and ABAI offer scholarships and grants, too.

Conclusion

Each of the different levels of BACB certification serves its unique purpose. The ABA profession is better for these types and levels of BACB certification. After all, every ABA professional, regardless of their designation, performs crucial roles.

So, if you’re interested in being part of the dynamic ABA profession, take the next step now. Consider your background and goals when choosing the certification type. Then, when you’ve earned it, go for a higher certification, if available.