RBT Practice Exam

RBT Study Guide: Printable PDF Version

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RBT Exam Quick Study Guiderbtpracticeexam.app · August 2026

Measurement (16%)

  • Continuous: frequency (count), rate (count/time), duration (onset to offset), latency (instruction to response start), IRT (response to response).
  • Discontinuous: partial interval (any occurrence scores; overestimates; use for reduction), whole interval (entire interval required; underestimates; use for acquisition), momentary time sampling (check at interval end only).
  • Operational definition: observable, measurable, so two observers score identically.
  • Baseline: measure before intervening, no teaching or programmed reinforcement.
  • Graphs: X axis time, Y axis behavior; vertical phase change lines; read level, trend, variability.

Assessment (8%)

  • Preference formats: single stimulus, paired stimulus, MSW (with replacement), MSWO (without; gives full ranking), free operant (nothing removed; gentlest).
  • ABC data: antecedent, behavior, consequence, in observable terms; patterns suggest function.
  • Functional analysis: attention, demand, tangible, alone conditions vs play control; analyst designs and interprets, RBT may assist.
  • RBT role: run assigned procedures, record accurately; never select or interpret assessments.

Skill Acquisition (32%)

  • Three-term contingency: antecedent, behavior, consequence. DTT: instruction, response, consequence, inter-trial interval. NET: teach inside current motivation.
  • Reinforcement: unconditioned vs conditioned; token = conditioned, backup gives it value; FR1 to build, intermittent (VR/VI) to maintain; MOs shift reinforcer value moment to moment.
  • Prompting: most-to-least, least-to-most, time delay; goal is transfer of stimulus control; watch for prompt dependence.
  • Shaping: reinforce successive approximations (behavior does not exist yet). Chaining: forward, backward (natural end reinforcer from day one), total task; all use a task analysis.
  • Discrimination training: reinforce responses to SD only. Generalization: vary materials, settings, people. Maintenance: probe mastered targets on a schedule.
  • Verbal operants: mand (request), tact (label), echoic (repeat), intraverbal (answer/converse).

Behavior Reduction (16%)

  • Four functions: attention, escape, tangible, automatic. Match intervention to function, not form.
  • Plan components: definition, function, antecedent strategies, replacement behaviors, consequence procedures.
  • Antecedent strategies: choices, warnings, task interspersal, scheduled breaks, NCR.
  • Differential reinforcement: DRA (alternative), DRI (incompatible), DRO (absence for interval), DRL (lower rate).
  • Extinction: stop the maintaining reinforcer. Expect burst, later spontaneous recovery; inconsistency creates intermittent reinforcement and strengthens the behavior.
  • Crisis: safety first, follow protocol exactly, document and report immediately.

Documentation and Reporting (13%)

  • Objective notes: observable, countable; no frustrated/defiant/manipulative/on purpose.
  • Timely: write during or immediately after; late entries labeled late; memory reconstruction presented as live data = falsification.
  • Secure: storage, transport and release only via organizational procedures; nothing on personal devices; records never leave with you.
  • Report promptly: session specifics, medication/sleep/home changes, incidents (formal timelines), suspected abuse or neglect (mandated reporting, immediately).

Professional Conduct and Scope (15%)

  • Scope: implement under ongoing supervision. Never design, interpret, diagnose, advise on medication or practice unsupervised.
  • Boundaries: no gifts, no dual relationships (babysitting, loans, romance, social media), confidentiality forever in every medium.
  • Represent the credential accurately; work only within trained competence; respond to feedback by changing performance.
  • Integrity: data reflect only what happened; refuse and report improper instructions, from anyone.
  • Exam facts: 85 questions (75 scored), 90 minutes, scaled pass 200/250, at Pearson VUE.

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