New data from the autism clinician certification entity, Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), details the testing outcomes of select registered behavior technicians (RBTs) training entities.
Of the 31 programs in the report, five had first-time RBT examination pass rates of 90% or higher for applicants who took the test in 2023. The median pass rate was 80.4%. RBTs must complete 40 hours of training and pass the RBT Initial Competency Assessment before they may be certified. The data finds a wide range of outcomes and the number of participants in the training and testing programs.
The program with the highest pass rate for initial test-takers was the University of Kansas at about 95%. The lowest is Vargas University. Both have some of the smallest numbers of test takers. Vargas University had 29 in 2023, the third lowest, according to the BACB report.
There is a near tie for the most first-time test takers. The Autism Partnership Foundation (69%) had 12,203, and CentralReach (80%) had about 12,061. They are far ahead of the organization with the third-most initial test takers in 2023 — Rethink at 8,217 (82%).
RBT retention is a vital strategic issue for autism therapy providers. Often, these employees spend the most time in sessions with patients, administering treatment plans developed by board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs). Over the last few years, wages for RBTs have increased along with several other front-line worker roles, making the marketplace especially competitive for talent.
The average wage for RBT roles is often on par with retail, food service or logistics roles. Wages can vary significantly based on location and organization. Average wages for RBTs are around $24 per hour, according to the Economic Research Institute, or $20.63 per hour, according to talent.com.
Overall, the behavioral health industry faces a shortage of care providers. The shortage of autism providers was a significant force behind the turbulence of the summer of 2022 that saw several organizations close locations and lay off employees. The challenges in the workforce are tied to the relative stagnation of payer rates, which often do not compare well to the cost of providing care. This is especially true for providers that seek to serve children covered by state Medicaid programs. Still, some organizations have been able to push regulators on rates.
Over the past year, several organizations have pointed to value-based care reimbursement contracts and technology as solutions to workforce challenges that impact employing RBTs. Some point to AI as a key tool for alleviating the administrative burden and clinical pressures clinicians face.
The shortage of and turnover of RBTs has inspired innovations in care models. Earlier in the year, the tech-backed startup Forta secured a $55-million funding round that would enable its paid, parent-led RBT platform.
