Sitting for the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) exam can be intimidating. Studying for the RBT exam is time-consuming and labor-intensive due to the extensive material covered, from the seemingly unending lists of activities and acronyms to the vast array of ideas and extended behavior analysis (ABA) approaches.
Make Reading a Regular Part Of Your Routine
Avoid cramming! There is no correlation between cramming and long-term retention of information. Think instead about how much reading you can do in a day. Stick to a few concentrated points, and make notes as you go.
Make Sure You Take Detailed Notes
Create a topic heading and provide brief definitions rather than merely copying the material or recording your teacher’s exact words (see guidance for creating SAFMEDS below). Identify the salient features that set this idea apart from others, and give some real-world examples of its use.
SAFMEDS (Use Them) (Say All Fast A Minute Every Day Shuffle)
Create flashcards with your vocabulary terms and definitions on one side and 21 words maximum on the other. Set a stopwatch for one minute and after shuffling the cards, say aloud the word corresponding to each definition. Put it in the “correct” pile if you think you’re right. Put it in the “incorrect pile” if you use the incorrect term or don’t provide a response. If you are struggling to determine the meaning of a particular term, do not waste time trying to figure it out; instead, put it in the wrong pile and proceed to the next card. When the buzzer sounds, note how many questions you answered right and how many you got wrong. Keep track of your SAFMEDS progress on a standard celebration chart for the most accurate results (SCC). If you are not familiar with the SCC, you can still monitor your development by plotting your percent correct and percent incorrect on a high similarity graph. If your students place a premium on gathering data and visually representing their findings, you should, too.
To Aid Your Learning Efforts
After you have finished your 40 hours of instruction, developing a list of potential exam subjects is a good idea. Consult an experienced RBT or Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) for more details, read up on the subject in peer-reviewed ABA publications and online resources, or rather take RBT mock exam online.
Try Using Case Studies
If you need help making decisions about ethical concerns, handling challenging behaviors, keeping track of progress, or providing prompts, have your BCBA supervisor come up with “what should the RBT do?” scenarios.
Get Some Experience Reading Graphs
Your BCBA should be able to give you de-identified graphs to analyze. But graphs can be found in unexpected places. Before reading the introductory text, see if you can figure out how to interpret real-world graphs. Remember that popular news graphics often violate the criteria, so if your reading of the graph differs from the explanation provided, you might want to look for flaws in its production as a possible explanation. You should consult your BCBA for input on your analysis, as you would with anything else.
Master The Art Of Stimuli Manipulation
Create a quiet study space, and use a separate notebook or electronic file for RBT study materials. However, if you reach a plateau or repeatedly commit the same errors, consider introducing a new stimulus to see if that helps you achieve a new outcome. If you keep getting mixed up when reading or practicing one of the words—say, positive punishment and negative reinforcement—try switching your body’s orientation. Modifying this one thing will provide you with new associations with the stimuli, which can be quite helpful.
Get Some Hands-On Experience With The Processes
Nothing beats hands-on practice to cement ideas, whether you’re role-playing, educating your kids, or practicing under the guidance of a BCBA. You should practice the method with someone (ideally a BCBA) who can tell you if you’re on the right track, as it can backfire if you don’t.
Conclusion
In recent years, there has been a proliferation of ABA podcasts. Pay special attention to the articles that address practical application and the translation of research into practice. One of the best ways to learn ABA is to listen to native speakers discuss the language and culture. Start with Dr. Rick Kubina (BCBA-D), CentralReach’s Director of Research, on “ABA On Call”!