The BACB has updated the RBT Task List for 2026, so it’s evident that the RBT practice test 2026 will come up with these changes. That’s why many students are getting confused about what the new format will be, and what other changes they should expect.
The Registered Behavior Technician exam still consists of 85 multiple-choice questions (75 scored, 10 pilot) to be completed in 90 minutes. Moreover, the passing score remains a scaled 200 out of 250 (about 80%), meaning roughly 60 of the 75 multiple-choice questions must be answered correctly.
But yes, from January 1, 2026, all new exam content will be based on the BACB’s RBT 3rd Edition Test Content Outline. So today, we’ll help you with all the updates regarding the new RBT exam format 2026, including added tasks, revamped domains, and more.
Fasten your seatbelts, and let’s have a look!
Key Changes (Task List 2nd vs. 3rd Edition)
The 2026 RBT Task List (3rd ed.) retains six domains, but four domain names have been changed to clarify their focus. For example, “Measurement” is now Data Collection & Graphing, and “Professional Conduct & Scope” is replaced by Ethics.
Overall, the total number of tasks grows from 37 to 43. Notably, eight new tasks have been added to emphasize modern ABA practices, data accuracy, and ethics.
Key new tasks include:
- Identify trends in graphed data and calculate & summarize data in various ways (e.g., rate, mean, percentage).
- Implement positive and negative punishment procedures (e.g., time-out) and recognize secondary effects of extinction/punishment
- Demonstrate cultural humility and responsiveness in service delivery (e.g., reflecting personal biases).
- Apply core ethical principles and gift-giving guidelines for RBTs.
Still confused? Here’s a table that summarizes the domain changes and task counts:
| Domain (2nd ed.) | Tasks (2nd ed.) | Domain (3rd ed.) | Tasks (3rd ed.) |
| Measurement | 6 | Data Collection & Graphing | 8 |
| Assessment | 3 | Behavior Assessment | 3 |
| Skill Acquisition | 12 | Behavior Acquisition | 11 |
| Behavior Reduction | 6 | Behavior Reduction | 7 |
| Documentation & Reporting | 5 | Documentation & Reporting | 4 |
| Professional Conduct & Scope of Practice | 5 | Ethics | 10 |
Exam Structure and Content (2026)
The RBT exam will continue to have 75 scored items across 6 domains, but the content weighting has been updated for 2026. Let’s have an overview of the domain breakdown:
- Data Collection & Graphing: 13 Q (17%) – e.g., continuous vs. discontinuous measurement, graphing data trends.
- Behavior Assessment: 8 Q (11%) – e.g., preference/functional assessments, indirect/direct assessments.
- Behavior Acquisition: 19 Q (25%) – e.g., reinforcement procedures, teaching strategies (discrete trial, chaining, prompting, generalization).
- Behavior Reduction: 14 Q (19%) – e.g., identifying functions, antecedent interventions, extinction, and punishment procedures.
- Documentation & Reporting: 10 Q (13%) – e.g., communicating with supervisors, data reporting, writing objective session notes.
- Ethics: 11 Q (15%) – e.g., BACB ethical principles, confidentiality, multiple relationships, cultural responsiveness.
(Roughly 1–1.2 minutes per question is available, so practice pacing on full-length tests.)
Passing Score and Preparation
If you want to pass the RBT exam, remember that you must meet the criterion-referenced passing score of (200/250) set by the BACB. In practice, this translates to answering about 80% of the scored questions correctly.
Careful study and regular practice are essential. Use the Free RBT practice questions 2026 provided here to self-assess. Remember that coaching, training, and a solid review plan are your best preparation.
It’s also important to understand the 2026 transition rules. If you start your 40-hour RBT training before January 1, 2026, you may use the current (2nd ed.) Task List and Outline, but you must complete the RBT Initial Competency Assessment and exam under the old requirements.
Any application or exam on/after Jan 1, 2026, must align with the new Task List 3.0 content and updated training curriculum. The BACB’s guidance document spells out these transition details, so be sure your training program certification statement matches the date you apply.
Example Study Plan
Not sure how to pass RBT exam 2026? Well, a structured study plan can help you cover all the material. For a typical 8-week timeline:
- Weeks 1–2: Data Collection & Graphing
Review continuous vs. discontinuous measurement (A2–A6 tasks), and practice calculating rates and reading graphs. Do daily drills on measuring behavior (e.g., count vs. duration) and graph interpretation.
- Weeks 3–4: Behavior Assessment & Acquisition
Study preference assessments and behavior function (B domain). Learn teaching procedures (C domain) like reinforcement schedules, prompting, token economies, chaining and shaping. Practice related multiple-choice questions.
- Weeks 5–6: Behavior Reduction
Focus on functions of behavior (D2 task) and interventions: antecedent strategies, extinction, differential reinforcement, plus the newly added punishment procedures (D.5–D.6). Review crisis/emergency protocols as well.
- Weeks 7: Documentation & Ethics
Practice writing objective session notes (E tasks) and communication protocols. Dive deep into the Ethics domain: BACB Code principles for RBTs, confidentiality, dual relationships, and cultural responsiveness. Use case scenarios to test ethical decision-making.
- Week 8: Full Practice Tests & Review
Take at least two full-length practice exams (85 questions each) under timed conditions. Review all missed questions and revisit weak areas. In the final days, relax and do a light review (flashcards, summary notes).
Helpful resources include the official BACB RBTexam Handbook and Task List documents, RBT prep courses (e.g., ABA Technologies, PraxisNotes), and practice platforms offering RBT-style questions.
Free Practice Test Questions
Test your knowledge with these 20 free RBT-style multiple-choice questions (answers and explanations follow each). It covers tasks you can expect on RBT exam day in the new 2026 format, including data collection, assessment, teaching procedures, behavior reduction, documentation, and ethics.
See how many you get right:
- Question: Which of the following is a discontinuous measurement procedure?
A. Frequency (event) recording
B. Duration recording
C. Partial-interval recording
D. Rate
Answer: C
Explanation: Partial-interval recording is discontinuous – the observer notes if the behavior occurred at any time during each interval. (Frequency, duration, and rate are continuous measures.) Discontinuous methods sample behavior at intervals, whereas continuous methods record every instance. - Question: An RBT presents a learner with 6 toys, the child chooses toy A, and A is removed. Next, the learner chooses toy B, and so on, without replacing any toys. What preference assessment is this?
A. Multiple Stimulus with Replacement (MSW)
B. Paired Stimuli
C. Free Operant
D. Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement (MSWO)
Answer: D
Explanation: Presenting multiple items and removing each chosen item (no replacement) is the MSWO procedure. (MSW would replace items for each choice; paired stimuli uses only two at a time; free operant gives free access to items one by one.) This falls under Preference Assessment in the assessment domain. - Question: In a token economy, a child earns a sticker for each completed task, which can be traded later for a prize. This procedure primarily demonstrates which teaching strategy?
A. Shaping
B. Discrete Trial Teaching
C. Token Economy (Conditioned Reinforcer)
D. Extinction
Answer: C
Explanation: A token economy uses conditioned reinforcers (stickers as tokens) exchanged for backup reinforcers (prizes). It’s a behavior acquisition strategy listed in the new Task List. Shaping is different (reinforcing closer approximations), and extinction or DTT are not described by this scenario. - Question: The RBT gradually teaches a child to say “apple” by first reinforcing “ah,” then “app,” then “apple.” This is known as:
A. Chaining
B. Shaping
C. Prompting
D. Generalization
Answer: B
Explanation: Reinforcing successive approximations toward a target skill is shaping. (Chaining breaks a skill into steps; prompting gives assistance; generalization is transferring a skill to new contexts.) - Question: An RBT points to the correct picture as a clue for a non-verbal client. This is an example of:
A. Response prompt
B. Stimulus prompt
C. Fading
D. Extinction
Answer: B
Explanation: Pointing to the correct answer is a stimulus prompt (it highlights or cues the correct stimulus). A response prompt would involve guiding the response directly (e.g. physical guidance). Fading is the gradual removal of prompts; extinction is unrelated here. - Question: After teaching a skill in therapy, the RBT checks whether the client can do it at home with family. This testing across environments is called:
A. Maintenance
B. Shaping
C. Generalization
D. Acquisition
Answer: C
Explanation: Teaching a skill in one setting and checking performance in a new setting is generalization. Maintenance refers to retaining a skill over time. Shaping and acquisition are teaching methods. - Question: Which schedule of reinforcement is continuous reinforcement?
A. Reward every time the behavior occurs
B. Reward only after a fixed time interval
C. Reward on average every 5 responses
D. Reward only once each day
Answer: A
Explanation: Continuous reinforcement means reinforcing every instance of the target behavior. Fixed intervals and ratios are partial schedules, and “once each day” is not every occurrence. Continuous schedules are often used during initial learning for rapid acquisition. - Question: The main goal of a functional behavior assessment is to:
A. Identify the function of the behavior
B. Punish problem behaviors
C. Teach replacement skills
D. Record data continuously
Answer: A
Explanation: A functional assessment aims to identify triggers and functions (reasons) of behavior. This guides intervention planning. Teaching replacement skills comes after identifying function; recording data is part of assessment, but not the main goal. - Question: An RBT first asks the child to clap their hands and immediately follows with a request to sit. This high-probability request sequence is an example of:
A. Differential Reinforcement
B. Antecedent Intervention
C. Extinction Burst
D. Punishment
Answer: B
Explanation: A high-probability (high-p) request sequence is an antecedent intervention: you present easy (high-compliance) tasks first to increase compliance with a harder task. It’s not punishment or extinction. - Question: The therapist says “No” in a firm voice when a child hits her hand with a toy. This is an example of:
A. Positive Punishment
B. Negative Punishment
C. Positive Reinforcement
D. Extinction
Answer: A
Explanation: Saying “No” adds an aversive stimulus (a reprimand) following the behavior. This is positive punishment (adding something to decrease behavior). (Time-out or removal of a toy would be negative punishment.) The RBT Task List explicitly added “time-out/punishment” tasks in 2026. - Question: What does the extinction of a behavior involve?
A. Adding a new consequence each time
B. Removing reinforcement so the behavior gradually stops
C. Reinforcing an alternative behavior
D. Teaching the skill in small steps
Answer: B
Explanation: Extinction means withholding the usual reinforcement for the behavior (so the behavior should decrease). It is not adding consequences (that’s punishment), nor directly teaching something new (that’s not extinction). - Question: During a session, a client suddenly begins aggressive behavior that was not present before. The RBT should:
A. Keep silent to avoid confrontation
B. Immediately inform the supervisor
C. Wait until the end of the day to report it
D. Share it only with the client’s parents, not the supervisor
Answer: B
Explanation: New or concerning behaviors should be reported promptly to a supervisor. RBTs must communicate session information and safety concerns in a timely fashion. Delaying or going around the supervisor is unethical. - Question: Completing an objective session note that accurately describes what occurred is part of which domain?
A. Behavior Acquisition
B. Documentation & Reporting
C. Data Collection
D. Ethics
Answer: B
Explanation: Writing session notes that objectively state events is in Documentation & Reporting. This is part of routine record-keeping and communication under domain E tasks. - Question: Which of the following must an RBT do to comply with BACB ethics?
A. Share client info with friends to get advice
B. Accept a high-value gift from a client’s family
C. Maintain confidentiality of client data
D. Continue working unsupervised
Answer: C
Explanation: RBTs must protect client confidentiality. Options A (sharing without permission) and B (expensive gifts) violate ethics. RBTs cannot practice unsupervised (needs a certified supervisor). Ethical practice includes maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality. - Question: An RBT respectfully asks a family about their cultural practices before designing intervention goals. This demonstrates:
A. Cultural insensitivity
B. Cultural humility
C. Boundary crossing
D. Reinforcement strategy
Answer: B
Explanation: Engaging families in discussing culture and adjusting interventions accordingly shows cultural humility and responsiveness. It’s a newly emphasized ethical task in the 2026 RBT list, highlighting respect for client diversity. - Question: According to BACB guidelines, which gifts are acceptable for an RBT to accept?
A. A handmade card from a client
B. A $200 watch from a client’s parent
C. A half-day vacation voucher
D. Cash handed in at closing time
Answer: A
Explanation: Small sentimental items (like cards or homemade gifts) are generally acceptable. Expensive gifts, large cash offers, or vacation offers would violate the gift-giving guidelines. RBTs must avoid even the appearance of impropriety. - Question: Which is a requirement for new RBT applicants (2026)?
A. 40 hours of training covering the RBT Task List
B. A graduate degree in applied behavior analysis
C. Passing the BCBA exam first
D. Two years of supervised experience
Answer: A
Explanation: Applicants must complete a 40-hour training covering all content on the RBT Task List before testing. No degree is required, and the BCBA exam is for advanced certification (BCBA), not for RBT applicants. - Question: The new 2026 RBT exam will place greater emphasis on which of the following?
A. Pharmacology and medical diagnoses
B. Cultural responsiveness and ethics
C. Advanced statistical analysis
D. Historical figures in behavior analysis
Answer: B
Explanation: The updated Task List adds cultural humility and ethics tasks, so the exam will test these areas more heavily. The focus remains on practical ABA skills, not on medical details or unrelated history. - Question: An RBT’s application was approved in November 2026, but they did not test by December. Can they test under the old rules after January 1?
A. Yes – approval lasts 12 months, so they can test under old requirements until Nov 2026
B. No – after January 1, they must meet the new requirements regardless
C. Yes, but only after completing the new training again
D. No – they lose eligibility entirely
Answer: A
Explanation: If your application was approved before January 1, 2026, you may take the exam under the old (2nd ed.) rules for up to 12 months after approval. You do not have to re-train under the new requirements if your original approval was timely. - Question: Which action violates the RBT ethics code?
A. Consulting with a supervisor about a client’s behavior
B. Offering a brief play session as a reinforcer
C. Posting identifiable client photos on social media
D. Recording data only on approved charts
Answer: C
Explanation: Posting identifiable client info or photos online breaches confidentiality and privacy rules. Consulting supervisors and following documentation procedures are correct practices; offering play is a valid reinforcer if appropriate and supervised.
Each explanation draws from the 2026 Task List content. Review the topics you missed, and be sure to understand why each answer is correct.
Study Plan & Resources
To succeed on the new RBT exam, set up a consistent study routine. In addition to the 8-week plan above, incorporate these tips:
- Daily questions: Start each study session with 5–10 practice questions (our blog’s free quizzes or other RBT review sites) to reinforce learning.
- Mock exams: Every 2–3 weeks, take a full-length timed practice test to simulate exam conditions and identify weak areas.
- Review guides: Use a reputable RBT study guide 2026 (e.g. ABA Technologies, CentralReach, or BlowfastABA) that explicitly covers the RBT 3.0 content. Cross-check any online materials with the BACB’s official Task List and Handbook to ensure accuracy.
- Flashcards and visuals: Create flashcards for core concepts (functions of behavior, ethics codes, definitions) and use diagrams/flowcharts for procedures (e.g. token economy, punishment vs. reinforcement).
- Study groups: If possible, form a group or forum to discuss practice questions and concepts – teaching others is a powerful way to learn.
Common mistakes include misreading question details (e.g., confusing punishment with negative reinforcement) and forgetting new content (e.g., the steps of cultural humility and gift policies).
Bottom Line
The new RBT exam format 2026 ensures RBTs are prepared with current ABA skills and ethical standards. If you familiarize yourself with the updated Task List, focus your studies on the key domains, and practice with full-length tests, you’ll be well-prepared to pass.
Also, don’t forget to download our free RBT Practice Test 2026 PDF for additional tricky practice questions and a realistic testing experience.
Good luck, folks!
FAQs
Q1: When do the new RBT exam changes take effect?
Starting Jan 1, 2026, all RBT exams and training must follow the RBT Task List 3rd edition and updated requirements.
Q2: How many questions are on the RBT exam, and what is the time limit?
There are 85 total items (75 scored, 10 unscored), and you have 90 minutes to complete them. This is the same structure that has been applied in recent years.
Q3: What score do I need to pass?
The passing score is 200/250 scaled, essentially about 80% correct. This usually means getting around 60 of the 75 scored questions right.
Q4: Can I take my exam under the old rules in 2026?
If your application was approved before 2026, you have up to 12 months to test under the old (2025) rules. Otherwise, any testing or application on/after Jan 1, 2026, requires the new 3.0 standards.
Q5: Are there official free practice tests?
The BACB does not publish free exams, but many sites (like ours) offer practice questions. Our site’s tests are updated for 2026 content. Also, consider purchasing prep bundles if you want more practice.