RBT 2026 Changes: New Exam Outline and Recertification Rules
Two separate RBT changes took effect in 2026: a new exam content outline (3rd edition, effective January 1, 2026) and a new recertification cycle (every two years, replacing annual). Many study sites cover only the first, and some still use 2nd-edition domain weights.
Change 1: The 3rd Edition exam outline
The exam has 85 questions (75 scored plus 10 unscored pilot questions), a 90-minute limit and four answer options per question, built on six domains.
| Domain | Questions | % of exam |
|---|---|---|
| A. Data Collection and Graphing | 13 | 17% |
| B. Behavior Assessment | 8 | 11% |
| C. Behavior Acquisition | 19 | 25% |
| D. Behavior Reduction | 14 | 19% |
| E. Documentation and Reporting | 10 | 13% |
| F. Ethics | 11 | 15% |
Behavior Acquisition is the largest domain at 25%, so it deserves the most study time. Any practice test that still uses 2nd-edition domain names or weights is out of date.
Change 2: Recertification moves to a 2-year cycle
RBTs now recertify every two years instead of every year. The competency assessment is done one last time at the first 2026 recertification, then 12 professional development units (PDUs) per 2-year cycle replace it.
| Before 2026 | Starting with 2026 recertifications | |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle length | 1 year | 2 years |
| Competency requirement | Annual Recertification Competency Assessment | One last assessment, then 12 PDUs per 2-year cycle |
| First PDU deadline | Not applicable | January 2028 |
| Recertification fee | Annual | $50 per 2-year renewal |
| Late fee / NSF fee | Not applicable | $50 / $45 |
Ongoing supervision still requires at least 5% of monthly service hours, 2 real-time contacts per month, at least 1 with direct observation and at least 1 individual.
What it means for you
If you are preparing for the exam: confirm your study material uses the 3rd edition domains, spend the most time on Behavior Acquisition (25%) and Behavior Reduction (19%), and practice with 85-question, 90-minute timing.
If you are already an RBT: check your recertification date in your BACB account, plan for the final competency assessment at your first 2026 recertification, and start tracking PDUs toward the 12 required per 2-year cycle (first deadline January 2028).
Costs and exam logistics
| Cost to certify | $110: $65 BACB application fee + $45 Pearson VUE exam fee |
|---|---|
| Retakes | Up to 8 attempts in 12 months, 7 days between attempts. No BACB fee; Pearson VUE charges $45 each attempt |
| Cancellation, 31+ days out | Free |
| Cancellation, 5 to 30 days out | $27 |
| Cancellation, 48 hours to 5 days out | $32 |
| RBT Ethics Code (2.0) | 29 standards across 3 sections |
Related pages
- RBT renewal in 2026
- Exam outline explained
- Exam FAQ
- How to become an RBT
- Practice exams
- 85-question exam
- Study guide
Looking for the “task list”? See all 43 items of the 3rd Edition outline explained in plain English.