RBT renewal happens every two years through the BACB, and you must complete continuing education hours and pay a fee to keep your credential active

Your Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) expires two years from the date you first passed the exam. To renew, you need to complete 16 continuing education hours, pay the renewal fee, and submit your renewal process to the BACB before your expiration date. If you let your certification lapse, you cannot work as an RBT and will need to retake the full exam to recertify.

The renewal process itself takes about 30 minutes to complete online, but gathering your continuing education documentation beforehand is where most of the work happens. The BACB does not offer the continuing education courses themselves—you find and pay for those through approved providers, then report what you completed when you renew.

Key Takeaways

  • You must renew your RBT certification every two years by the expiration date shown on your BACB account.
  • Continuing education requirements are 16 hours total, and at least 8 of those hours must cover specific BACB-approved content areas.
  • The BACB renewal fee varies by year but is typically between $75 and $100, paid when you submit your renewal process.
  • You find and pay for continuing education courses through independent providers—the BACB does not deliver the training itself.
  • If your certification expires, you lose the RBT credential when ready and must retake the full exam to work again.

When your RBT certification expires and how to check the date

Your expiration date is exactly two years from the date you passed the RBT exam. If you passed on March 15, 2022, your certification expires on March 15, 2024. The BACB sends email reminders at 90 days before expiration and again at 30 days before, but do not rely on these alone—log into your BACB account to confirm your exact expiration date.

To find your expiration date, go to the BACB website (bacb.com), sign into your account with your username and password, and look at your certification status page. It will show your current expiration date and whether you are may be able to access to renew. You can also read a copy of your current certificate from this page, which shows the expiration date in the bottom right corner.

Mark your calendar for at least 60 days before expiration. This gives you time to complete any remaining continuing education hours and submit your renewal without rushing.

The 16 continuing education hours you need

The BACB requires 16 hours of continuing education during your two-year certification period. Of those 16 hours, at least 8 must come from courses in specific content areas that the BACB approves. The remaining 8 hours can come from any BACB-approved continuing education source.

The required content areas for the 8 mandatory hours are: behavior analysis foundations, behavior change procedures, measurement and data analysis, and professional conduct and ethical issues. You do not have to take one course in each area—you just need 8 hours total spread across these topics. For example, you could take a 4-hour course on measurement and a 4-hour course on behavior change procedures, and that would satisfy the requirement.

The remaining 8 hours can be any BACB-approved course. Many RBTs take additional courses in the required areas, autism spectrum disorder, supervision, or specialized populations. Check the course description before you register to confirm it says "BACB-approved" or "BACB-continuing education"—not all behavior-related training counts.

Where to find and pay for continuing education courses

The BACB does not run continuing education courses. Instead, you find courses through independent providers—universities, online training companies, behavior analysis organizations, and employers sometimes offer them. Common providers include the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), which offers courses at its annual conference and online; Coursera and Udemy, which host BACB-approved courses from various instructors; and smaller specialized companies that focus only on RBT training.

To find approved courses, visit the BACB website and use their Continuing Education Course Search tool. You can filter by topic, format (in-person, online, self-paced), and provider. The search tool shows which courses count toward the 8 mandatory hours and which are general approved courses. Each course listing includes the provider's contact information, cost, and how many hours it offers.

Costs vary widely. Self-paced online courses typically run $30 to $100 per course. Live webinars or workshops may cost $50 to $200. University courses or conference attendance can be higher. You pay the provider directly when you register—the BACB does not collect tuition.

How to submit your renewal process to the BACB

Once you have completed your 16 continuing education hours, log into your BACB account and navigate to the renewal section. The BACB will ask you to list each course you took, including the course title, provider name, number of hours, and the date you completed it. Have your course certificates or completion records ready—you will need to reference them.

You will also confirm that you have met the 8-hour requirement in the mandatory content areas. The BACB system usually lets you select which courses count toward this requirement, so make sure you assign them correctly. If you took 10 hours in mandatory areas, you can count 8 of them toward the requirement and the extra 2 toward your general 8 hours.

After you enter all your course information, the BACB will ask you to pay the renewal fee. The fee amount changes slightly year to year but is typically between $75 and $100. You can pay by credit card or debit card. Once payment is processed, your renewal is submitted and you will receive a confirmation email.

The BACB usually processes renewals within one to two weeks. You will receive an email when your renewal is approved, and your new certificate will be available to read from your account. Your new expiration date will be two years from the date your previous certification expired, not from the date you renewed.

What happens if you miss the expiration date

If your certification expires before you submit your renewal, you when ready lose the RBT credential. You cannot work as an RBT, and your employer will be notified that your certification is no longer active. Some employers have policies that require you to stop working with clients until you recertify.

To regain your RBT credential after expiration, you must retake the full RBT exam—you cannot straightforward renew. This means registering with the BACB, paying the exam fee (typically $300 to $400), studying for the exam, and passing it again. The exam covers the same material as the original RBT exam and takes about three hours. You will need to wait for exam results before you can work again, which usually takes one to two weeks.

Some employers will allow you to work under supervision while you retake the exam, but this varies by state and employer policy. Check with your supervisor or HR department if your certification lapses.

Keeping track of your continuing education as you go

The easiest way to avoid last-minute scrambling is to keep a straightforward spreadsheet or document as you complete courses. Write down the course name, provider, number of hours, completion date, and which content area it covers (if it is one of the mandatory areas). Save your course completion certificates in a folder on your computer or in cloud storage like Google Drive.

Many RBTs complete their continuing education gradually throughout the two-year period rather than waiting until the last few months. If you take one or two courses per year, you will easily meet the 16-hour requirement without stress. Some employers also offer in-house training or pay for courses as part of professional development—ask your supervisor whether your workplace covers continuing education costs.

Set a phone reminder for 90 days before your expiration date. This gives you a final check-in point to see whether you have completed all your hours and are ready to submit your renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I renew my RBT certification if I am not currently working as an RBT?

Yes. The BACB does not require you to be employed to renew. You can renew your certification even if you are between jobs, taking a break, or working in a different field. However, if you do not renew by your expiration date, your credential will lapse and you will need to retake the exam to work again.

Do I have to take new courses, or can I count courses I took before my current certification period?

Continuing education hours must be completed during your current two-year certification period. Courses you took before your current period began do not count toward renewal. The BACB tracks the dates you completed each course, so make sure your completion dates fall within your current certification window.

What if I cannot find 8 hours of courses in the mandatory content areas?

The BACB-approved course search tool shows which courses count toward the mandatory 8 hours. If you are having trouble finding enough options, check whether your employer offers in-house training, contact local behavior analysis organizations about workshops, or look at online providers like ABAI or Coursera. You can also reach out to the BACB directly if you believe a course should be approved but is not listed.

Can I renew early, before my current certification expires?

No. The BACB does not allow early renewal. You can only renew during the final year of your current certification period. If you try to renew too early, the system will not let you submit. Wait until you are within 12 months of your expiration date to begin the renewal process.

What if the BACB denies my renewal process?

The BACB will deny a renewal only if you did not meet the 16-hour requirement or did not have at least 8 hours in the mandatory content areas. If this happens, you will receive an email explaining what was missing. You can then complete the missing hours and resubmit your renewal process before your expiration date. If your certification expires before you resubmit, you will need to retake the exam.