RBT Competency Assessment Is Ending: Here’s What Replaces It in 2026

For years, Registered Behavior Technicians® (RBTs®) renewed their certification each year by completing a Competency Assessment with a qualified supervisor. Starting in 2026, that process is being replaced with a more modern and flexible renewal system that focuses on continuing education (CEUs) instead of re-testing.

This change, introduced by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), reflects a shift toward lifelong professional learning and a stronger emphasis on maintaining clinical excellence across the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA).

Here’s what you need to know about what’s ending, what’s replacing it, and how to prepare.

What Is Changing for RBT Renewal

Under the new BACB guidelines, the annual Competency Assessment will no longer be required after December 31, 2025.

Instead, all RBTs will renew their certification every two years by completing 12 hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

The new structure looks like this:

• Renewal Frequency: Every two years
• Requirement: 12 CEU hours completed within the renewal cycle
• Focus: Professional development, ethics, and service quality

This approach aligns RBTs with the renewal systems already used by BCBAs and BCaBAs, ensuring that every professional in the ABA field engages in continuous learning.

Why the BACB Is Ending the Competency Assessment

The original Competency Assessment was designed to ensure that RBTs could demonstrate basic clinical skills during renewal. Over time, however, the field has evolved, and so have the standards for maintaining professional readiness.

By replacing annual testing with CEU-based renewal, the BACB aims to:

• Promote continuous skill development instead of one-time assessments
• Encourage exposure to new research, tools, and treatment methods
• Increase flexibility for RBTs and agencies to plan professional development
• Improve consistency across all behavior-analytic credentials

In short, the change focuses less on repeating old tasks and more on expanding professional knowledge throughout an RBT’s career.

How the New CEU System Works

RBTs will now complete 12 hours of approved CEU training every two years to remain in good standing.

Acceptable CEU activities include:

• Online or in-person courses from BACB-aligned providers
• Training workshops or webinars led by qualified instructors
• Ethics and professional conduct courses
• Topics that strengthen client care, data accuracy, and teamwork

All CEU hours must be documented and verifiable, and they must relate directly to the practice of applied behavior analysis.

How RBTs and Agencies Can Prepare

1. Plan Early

Do not wait until your renewal window approaches. Set a reminder at least six months before your certification expires to start completing CEU hours.

2. Use Reliable Training Providers

Select CEU providers that follow BACB standards and issue official certificates of completion. Online ABA Training offers a growing library of BACB-approved CEU courses that meet all RBT renewal requirements.

3. Organize Documentation

Keep all certificates in a dedicated digital folder labeled with your renewal year. This makes it easy to verify your CEUs if the BACB requests documentation.

4. For Agencies

If you manage RBTs, create a simple internal tracking system for CEU progress. Online ABA Training offers bulk CEU packages at a discounted rate per learner, making it easier and more affordable for clinics to keep teams compliant. Contact us for pricing.

What This Means for the ABA Field

The move away from Competency Assessments toward CEU-based renewal signals a more professional and sustainable standard for ABA practitioners. It encourages curiosity, self-improvement, and long-term engagement in the science of behavior.

This shift will also create more consistency across credential levels, from RBTs to BCBAs, strengthening the professional identity of the ABA community as a whole.

Stay Current with Online ABA Training

The end of the Competency Assessment is just the beginning of a new chapter for RBTs. At Online ABA Training, we are committed to helping you stay compliant and confident under the 2026 BACB renewal system.

Our CEU courses are:

• BACB-aligned and evidence-based
• Self-paced and 100% online
• Designed by ABA professionals for real-world application
• Available in discounted bulk packages for agencies and supervisors

📩 Start your RBT CEU journey today and keep your certification active with high-quality, accessible continuing education.

👉 View RBT CEU Courses