This course introduces the student to the Child Life Specialist pathway. Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) is a paraprofessional who directly gives behavioral intervention in a one-on-one or small group setting from a detailed plan. RBTs are credentialed paraprofessionals who practice under the close supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and alongside a Board Certified Assistant Behavioral Analyst (BCaBA) with goals including: improving education, health outcomes, behavior challenges, social behavior, etc. of clients requiring behavioral intervention. Prepares students for taking the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification. Possible professional opportunities for RBT's upon successful completion of the course and supervised hours in a human services agency are varied.
NOTE: Students must be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or national equivalent and pass a criminal background check.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
To assist students in learning about the professional requirements of a Registered Behavior Technician as well as preparing to take the Registered Behavior Technician exam.
- Measurement of developmental milestones.
- Assessment of functional assessment of children and caregivers.
- Skill Acquisition Analysis
- Behavior Reduction
- Documentation and Reporting
- Professional Conduct and Scope of Practice
- Prepare, record, enter, implement, and update data collection.
- Describe the behavior and environment in observable and measurable terms.
- Conduct preference assessments.
- Assist with individualized and functional assessment procedures (e.g., curriculum-based, developmental, social skills).
- Identify the essential components of a written skill acquisition plan.
- Prepare for a session as required by the skill acquisition plan.
- Use contingencies of reinforcement (e.g., conditioned/unconditioned reinforcement,continuous/intermittent schedules).
- Implement multiple behavioral teaching procedures.
- Assist with the training of stakeholders (e.g., family, caregivers, other professionals).
- Identify the essential components of a written behavior reduction plan as well as the common functions of behavior.
- Implement interventions based on modification of antecedents such as motivating/establishing operations and discriminative stimuli.
- Implement differential reinforcement procedures (e.g., DRA, DRO).
- Implement extinction procedures.
- Implement crisis/emergency procedures according to protocol.
- Report other variables that might affect the client (e.g., illness, relocation, medication).
- Generate objective session notes by describing what occurred during sessions.
- Communicate with supervisors and stakeholders (e.g., family, caregivers, other professionals) as authorized.
- Comply with applicable legal, regulatory and workplace reporting requirements (e.g., mandatory abuse and neglect reporting).
- Comply with applicable legal, regulatory and workplace requirements for data collection, storage and transportation.
- Describe the role of the RBT in the service delivery system.
- Respond appropriately to feedback and maintain or improve performance accordingly.
- Maintain professional boundaries and behaviors (e.g., avoid dual relationships, conflicts of interest, social media contacts).
- Maintain client dignity.
Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT) may work in private family homes, residential group homes, private and state facilities providing behavioral and mental health services. RBT's may also work for nonprofit agencies, health and human services providers, private clinics, hospitals, behavioral in-patient crisis centers, and schools as a paraprofessional in special or general education settings, as well as law enforcement agencies.
Assessment and Requirements
Students are expected to complete assessments as prescribed by the instructor. In addition, participants will take the Registered Behavior Technician exam at the end of the course which will account for 20% of the course grade.
Textbooks are determined by the program faculty
Outcomes
Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
RBT certificate must be current. Department faculty will verify certifications.