The 3rd edition of the RBT Task List expands from 37 to 43 tasks, while maintaining 75 exam questions. Major changes include doubling ethics tasks from 5 to 10 and enhancing coverage of cultural competence, with reduced emphasis on behavior acquisition.
Fast side-by-side comparison
| Domain | 2nd Edition (2018-2025) | 3rd Edition (2026-on) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measurement → Data Collection & Graphing | 12 Qs (16 %) | 13 Qs (17 %) | +1 |
| Assessment → Behavior Assessment | 6 Qs (8 %) | 8 Qs (11 %) | +2 |
| Skill Acquisition → Behavior Acquisition | 24 Qs (32 %) | 19 Qs (25 %) | –5 |
| Behavior Reduction | 12 Qs (16 %) | 14 Qs (19 %) | +2 |
| Documentation & Reporting | 10 Qs (13 %) | 10 Qs (13 %) | 0 |
| Professional Conduct & Scope of Practice → Ethics | 11 Qs (15 %) | 11 Qs (15 %) | 0 |
Both editions include 75 scored questions plus 10 unscored pilot items. Counts sourced from BACB official outlines.
Why the BACB updated the Task List
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board refreshes the RBT blueprint every few years to mirror current practice and feedback from job-task analyses.
In 2023 a committee of subject-matter experts reviewed surveys from thousands of supervisors and technicians.
Their goal: tighten alignment with day-to-day responsibilities, emphasize data literacy, and foreground ethical decision-making in culturally diverse settings.
Key exam changes at a glance
1. New domain names
“Task List” is now “Test Content Outline.” Four domains get clearer labels:
- Measurement → Data Collection & Graphing
- Assessment → Behavior Assessment
- Skill Acquisition → Behavior Acquisition
- Professional Conduct & Scope of Practice → Ethics
2. Eight brand-new tasks
Highlights include calculating summary statistics, spotting data trends, describing risks of poor fidelity, adding punishment procedures, and engaging in ongoing cultural humility.
3. Four tasks removed
Gone: preparing for data collection, defining written Skill-Acquisition and Behavior-Reduction plans, and the catch-all compliance task for documentation. These items were folded into broader competencies or supervisor responsibilities.
4. Question redistribution
Expect slightly more questions on data and ethics, fewer on teaching skills. The overall pass-score methodology and scaled scoring remain identical.
Domain-by-domain breakdown
A. Data Collection & Graphing (formerly Measurement)
You will see 13 scored questions instead of 12. New tasks (A.6–A.8) mean you must calculate rates, identify trends, and articulate how bad data hurt interventions.
Expect math-lite items asking for rate, mean duration, or percentage and conceptual questions about reliability threats.
B. Behavior Assessment (formerly Assessment)
Question count jumps from 6 to 8. The domain keeps preference assessments and functional assessment participation but now spotlights participating in skill-strength assessments. Scenario questions may ask you to choose which assessment type fits a learner profile or how to interpret ABC data summaries.
C. Behavior Acquisition (formerly Skill Acquisition)
This domain shrinks by five questions, falling to 19. While nothing earth-shattering was cut, several tasks merged or tightened. You still need to know DTT, naturalistic teaching, chaining, prompting, shaping, token systems, and generalization. Efficiency matters—BACB trimmed overlap but expects deeper application knowledge.
D. Behavior Reduction
Now 14 questions. Added tasks require you to implement punishment procedures appropriately and describe side effects of extinction and punishment. You will likely encounter vignettes asking you to pick the safest, least-restrictive strategy or to predict an extinction burst.
E. Documentation & Reporting
Question total stays at 10, but wording clarifies that RBTs must “communicate objectively” and “seek and prioritize clinical direction.” Look for items about writing concise session notes, flagging medication changes, or following the chain of command.
F. Ethics
Eleven questions remain, yet the content digs deeper. New tasks cover core ethics principles, social-media boundaries, gift-giving rules, and proactive cultural humility. Scenarios may test your response to dual relationships, confidentiality breaches, or feedback from a BCBA.
Timeline: when do the new rules start?
All RBT exams scheduled on or after January 1, 2026 will use the 3rd-edition outline. If your Authorization to Test expires in 2025, you will still sit for the 2nd-edition exam. Applications filed in late 2025 but tested after the new year fall under the 3rd edition. Mark your Pearson VUE date carefully.
How to adjust your 2025-2026 study plan
Audit your materials. If your flashcards or course slides reference “Measurement,” update the label and add the three new data-analysis tasks.
Shift practice time. Rebalance study hours—allocate roughly 20 % to data collection, 15 % to ethics, and trim a bit from acquisition drills.
Use fresh practice exams. Pick mock tests that follow the 3rd-edition blueprint so your pacing matches the new distribution.
Deepen ethics training. Review the BACB Ethics Code for RBT Certificants and practice cultural-humility scenarios.
Keep your math handy. Rate, percentage, and latency calculations show up more often, so practice quick computations without a calculator.
Quick FAQs
Will the passing score change?
No. The BACB still uses a 200-point scaled score based on item difficulty.
Is the exam harder now?
Difficulty stays comparable, but the emphasis on data analysis and ethics may feel tougher if you skim those areas. Use updated questions to adapt.
Can I choose which edition I sit for?
Only indirectly. Your test date determines your edition. Schedule before Dec 31 2025 to take the 2nd edition, or after Jan 1 2026 for the 3rd.
Final thoughts
The 3rd-edition RBT Test Content Outline is an evolutionary, not revolutionary, update. The exam keeps the same length and multiple-choice format but fine-tunes question weightings to reflect day-to-day technician duties and rising ethical standards. Start swapping in new study resources now, and you will roll into 2026 confident and ready to pass on the first try. Good luck with your prep—and remember that solid data collection and professional integrity never go out of style.