Professional conduct ensures ethical, effective service delivery. Learn about scope of practice, professional boundaries, supervision requirements, and ethical guidelines that govern RBT practice.
Professional conduct protects clients, RBTs, and the integrity of the ABA field. This section tests your understanding of ethical and professional responsibilities:
Accept and implement constructive feedback from supervisors.
Avoid dual relationships and maintain appropriate relationships with clients and families.
Treat clients with respect and protect their privacy and autonomy.
Follow ethical guidelines in all professional activities.
Ask questions, report concerns, and seek guidance as needed.
Share appropriate information with family members and other professionals.
Recognize when a situation is beyond your scope and requires supervisor input.
Do not conduct assessments, design interventions, or supervise others.
Keep RBT certification current and maintain required supervision hours.
Understand that RBTs implement protocols under supervision and do not work independently.
Understanding what you can and cannot do as an RBT is critical. The RBT is a paraprofessional who implements treatment plans under BCBA supervision.
A dual relationship occurs when you have both a professional and personal relationship with a client or family. Examples to avoid: babysitting, social media connections, accepting gifts, attending personal events. These can compromise objectivity and the therapeutic relationship.
Always treat clients with respect. Use person-first language, protect their privacy, and honor their preferences when possible. Never discuss clients in public spaces.
Communicate clearly and professionally with families and team members. Share appropriate information and know when to involve your BCBA in communications.
The activities an RBT is qualified and authorized to perform
A professional relationship that also involves a personal relationship
Oversight by a BCBA required for RBT practice (5% of hours monthly)
Protecting client information from unauthorized disclosure
Legal requirement to report suspected abuse or neglect
Agreement to treatment after understanding all relevant information
Professional conduct questions often present scenarios where you must identify the appropriate ethical response or determine if an activity is within scope of practice.
1. A parent asks an RBT to babysit their child on weekends. What should the RBT do?
Answer: B — Babysitting a client creates a dual relationship that could compromise the professional therapeutic relationship. RBTs should maintain professional boundaries.
2. An RBT has been working with a client for 6 months and wants to modify the skill acquisition plan because progress has stalled. What should the RBT do?
Answer: B — RBTs implement treatment plans but do not design or modify them independently. The RBT should discuss concerns with the BCBA, who can make appropriate modifications.
3. Which of the following is WITHIN an RBT's scope of practice?
Answer: C — RBTs implement treatment plans designed by BCBAs. Designing programs, conducting assessments, and supervising others are outside the RBT scope of practice.
4. An RBT suspects that a client is being abused at home. What should the RBT do?
Answer: C — RBTs are mandatory reporters. If abuse is suspected, they must follow mandatory reporting procedures immediately. Waiting or investigating independently is not appropriate.
5. During supervision, a BCBA gives an RBT feedback that their prompting is too intrusive. How should the RBT respond?
Answer: B — RBTs should respond appropriately to feedback and supervision. Accepting constructive feedback and implementing suggestions demonstrates professionalism.
The BACB Ethics Code for RBTs is available free on the BACB website. Read through it carefully—it directly informs many exam questions in this section.
When in doubt, ask yourself: "Am I implementing a plan written by a BCBA, or am I making clinical decisions?" If it's the latter, it's probably outside your scope.
For any question about what to do in a concerning situation, the answer often involves safety and/or involving your supervisor. When in doubt, escalate.