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RBT Competency Assessment Essentials

May 13, 2025

RBT Competency Assessment Overview

General Information

  • The RBT competency assessment covers the same material for both initial and renewal processes.
  • Initial assessment is completed before taking the RBT exam.
  • Renewal assessment is completed prior to license expiration.
  • The purpose is to ensure understanding of basic skills, not to be tricky.
  • Assessment can be done through interview, role play, or with a client.

Continuous Measurement

  • Types of Data:
    • Frequency: Count how many times a behavior occurs.
    • Duration: Record how long a behavior lasts.
    • Latency: Time between instruction and behavior.
    • Inter-Response Time (IRT): Time between two responses.
  • Methods:
    • Interview: Explain how each type of data is taken.
    • Role Play: Demonstrate taking each type of data.

Discontinuous Measurement

  • Difference from Continuous: Data is taken on parts of the session, not the entire session.
  • Types of Procedures:
    • Partial Interval: Record if behavior occurs at all during interval.
    • Whole Interval: Record if behavior occurs throughout entire interval.
    • Momentary Time Sampling: Record if behavior occurs at end of interval.
  • Methods:
    • Interview: Explain differences and procedures.
    • Role Play: Demonstrate taking data using intervals.

Data and Graphs

  • Common Graph: Line graph is most common.
  • Graphing Details:
    • X-axis typically represents time.
    • Y-axis represents the behavior.
  • Interview Questions:
    • How often data should be graphed.
    • Trends and averages from graph data.

Assessment Role

  • RBT Role: Assist with assessments and conduct preference assessments.
  • Preference Assessments:
    • Types include Single, Forced Choice, Multiple Stimulus with and without replacement.
    • Forced Choice Example: Present two items and record preference.

ABC Data

  • Components:
    • Antecedent: What happens before behavior.
    • Behavior: The action/behavior itself.
    • Consequence: What happens after the behavior.
  • Role Play: Example using a simple behavior like drinking water.

Skill Acquisition and Behavior Reduction

  • Discrete Trial Training (DTT):

    • Structured teaching with clear beginning, middle, and end.
    • Use SD, behavior, consequence, corrective feedback, and restart.
  • Naturalistic Teaching (NET):

    • Teach in natural environment with natural incidents, no demands.
  • Chaining:

    • Types: Forward, Backward, Total Task.
    • Break tasks into steps and teach sequentially.
  • Shaping:

    • Reinforce approximations of a behavior, gradually becoming more accurate.
  • Discrimination Training:

    • Teach differences between stimuli by reinforcing correct responses.
  • Stimulus Control Transfer:

    • Fade prompts to transfer behavior control from a prompt to the actual SD.
  • Prompting:

    • Types include verbal, gestural, physical, and positional.
  • Token Systems:

    • Tokens as secondary reinforcers, exchanged for backup reinforcers.
    • Implemented on reinforcement schedules like FR2.

Crisis and Emergency Procedures

  • Role Play:
    • Simulate situations like hair pulling, swatting, eloping.
    • Follow company policies and ethical guidelines.

Other Key Tasks

  • Differential Reinforcement:

    • DRO: Reinforce absence of behavior.
    • DRA: Reinforce alternative behavior.
  • Antecedent Interventions:

    • Manipulating motivating operations or environmental changes.
  • Extinction:

    • Stop reinforcement of previously reinforced behavior.

Professionalism and Requirements

  • Session Notes: Should be objective, complete, and relevant.
  • Client Dignity: Respect, appropriate interactions, and treatment.
  • Professional Boundaries: Avoid dual relationships, maintain professionalism.
  • Supervision Requirements: 5% of monthly hours need supervision.
  • Clinical Direction: Seek guidance when unsure or in new/unexpected situations.

Conclusion

  • If it’s an initial assessment, prepare for the RBT exam.
  • If it’s a renewal, continue practicing as an RBT.
  • Focus on understanding and demonstrating basic competencies, don’t overthink.

  • For further help, reach out with questions or refer to exam videos and study materials.