How to Become an RBT in Missouri (2026 Guide)

What Does an RBT Do?

A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) delivers ABA therapy one-on-one with a child, following a treatment plan written by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). RBTs teach communication, social, play and daily-living skills, respond to challenging behavior using the plan the BCBA designed, and collect data in every session. The credential is issued by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), and RBTs always work under the supervision of a qualified supervisor.

It is one of the quickest ways into healthcare work that changes families’ lives. You do not need a college degree, and many RBTs start while they are still in school.

RBT Requirements at a Glance

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or the equivalent
• Pass a criminal background check and abuse registry check
• Complete 40 hours of RBT training that meets the BACB’s 2026 requirements
• Pass an Initial Competency Assessment with a qualified supervisor
• Apply to the BACB and pass the RBT exam
• Keep working under ongoing supervision once you are certified

The BACB updates the details from time to time, so check the current RBT Handbook on the BACB website before you apply.

Step 1: Check the Basic Requirements

You must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent. The BACB also requires a criminal background check and an abuse registry check as part of your application, and most ABA employers in Missouri run their own background checks when they hire you. If you have a question about something on your record, ask the employer early, before you invest time in training.

Step 2: Complete the 40-Hour RBT Training

The 40-hour training covers the core skills of the job: measuring behavior, running teaching procedures, supporting behavior reduction plans, documenting sessions and following professional and ethical standards. Since January 1, 2026, the training must meet the BACB’s 2026 RBT requirements, which are based on the third edition of the RBT Test Content Outline. Certificates from older second-edition courses are no longer accepted for new applications.

Many ABA providers, including Archways ABA, provide the training as part of onboarding. You can also complete a qualifying course online on your own before you apply for jobs.

Step 3: Pass the Initial Competency Assessment

After training, a qualified behavior analyst assesses you on the skills in the BACB’s Initial Competency Assessment. They watch you demonstrate each skill, such as collecting data, running a teaching trial and responding to behavior, and sign off once you show you can do it correctly. Under the 2026 rules, anyone helping the assessor must hold RBT certification or higher, and the interview option is no longer available for the measurement skills.

Step 4: Apply to the BACB and Pass the RBT Exam

With your training certificate and completed competency assessment, you create a BACB account and submit your RBT application. Once the BACB approves it, you schedule the RBT exam through Pearson VUE. It is a multiple-choice exam on the same content your training covered. Pass it, and you are a Registered Behavior Technician.

Step 5: Keep Your Certification Active

As an RBT you receive ongoing supervision from a qualified supervisor for at least 5% of the hours you spend providing ABA services each month. Starting in 2026, the BACB also moved RBTs from annual renewal to recertification every two years, with 12 professional development units (PDUs) required in each two-year cycle in place of the yearly competency assessment. You also agree to follow the RBT Ethics Code.

Does Missouri Require a Separate RBT License?

No. Missouri licenses behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts, but it does not issue a separate state license for RBTs. The BACB credential is what matters. MO HealthNet, Missouri’s Medicaid program, defines a behavior technician as someone credentialed by the BACB as a Registered Behavior Technician, and it allows new technicians only a short window to work before they must hold the credential. That is why Missouri ABA providers ask new hires to finish certification quickly.

What Do RBTs Earn in Missouri?

Pay depends on the employer, your experience, your schedule and where in the state you work. At Archways ABA, RBTs earn $20 to $30 per hour, with full-time and part-time schedules and many different hours available.

Where an RBT Career Can Go

Many behavior analysts started as RBTs. With a bachelor’s degree, approved coursework and supervised fieldwork, an RBT can become a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA). With a master’s degree, more coursework and more supervised fieldwork, you can sit for the BCBA exam. In Missouri, a behavior analyst who has not yet passed the BCBA exam can practice on a provisional license under a licensed supervisor. Archways ABA hires BCaBAs and provisionally licensed behavior analysts and builds that supervision into the job.

How Archways ABA Supports Your Certification

• Training provided. Qualified applicants get training and support through the competency assessment and the RBT exam.
• No certification needed to apply. If you are already certified, include your RBT number in your application.
• Real supervision. Every RBT has a BCBA behind them for feedback, coaching and help with hard sessions.
• Flexible schedules. Full-time and part-time roles in families’ homes across Missouri and at our St. Peters clinic.
• A path forward. Structured onboarding, ongoing mentorship and annual reviews with a clear growth path.

Ready to start? See our RBT jobs in Missouri and apply in about two minutes.