How To Become A Behavior Technician: What It Is and Career Path

Q: Do you need a degree to be a behavior technician?

No, you do not need a degree to become a behavior technician. The education requirements to become a behavior technician include either a high school diploma or equivalent, typically followed by either a certificate program or associate's degree.

Q: How much does a behavior technician make an hour?

Behavior technicians make between $15 to $17 per hour. This is about $35,000 a year on average. Depending on where a person starts working, their salary range may vary, typically salaries range between $20,000-$45,000 per year.

Q: How much does it cost to get RBT certified?

It costs between $100 to $400 to become a registered behavior technician certified. Becoming a registered behavior technician requires a 40-hour training course which can sometimes be found for free or at most a few hundred dollars. Meanwhile, the application fee to the BACB is $50, with a $45 fee for taking the required RBT exam.

Q: Is a behavior technician a therapist?

No, a behavior technician is not a therapist. A registered behavior technician (RBT) is a paraprofessional who works with applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapists to implement treatment plans.

Q: Is being a behavioral technician a good career?

Yes, being a behavior technician is a good career. This role is accessible, pays fairly well, and is an in-demand position. A behavior technician provides mental health services to patients who struggle with various behavioral problems, including psychiatric disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and physical and emotional abuse.

What is a behavior technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A behavior technician works with individuals who have behavioral disorders or developmental disabilities. They provide direct services to clients under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst. A behavior technician implements treatment plans, collects and analyzes data, and communicates progress to the supervising analyst. The primary goal of a behavior technician is to help clients acquire new skills and reduce challenging behaviors through the use of evidence-based interventions.

ScoreBehavior TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,026

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.13%

Asian 6.43%

Black or African American 14.26%

Hispanic or Latino 20.09%

Unknown 6.17%

White 51.91%

Gender

female 73.46%

male 26.54%

Age - 30

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 30

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a behavior technician?

Pros

Rewarding feeling when clients make progress
Excellent training and development opportunities
Job security in a growing industry
Opportunities to work with other professionals in the field, such as occupational therapists and speech therapists
Possibility of career progression into more senior roles, such as behavior analyst

Cons

Can be physically and emotionally demanding
May require working with clients who display aggressive behaviors towards you or others
Low pay compared to other healthcare professions with similar education requirements
May require working irregular hours, including evenings and weekends.
Limited opportunities for career advancement

Key steps to become a behavior technician

Explore behavior technician education requirements

Most common behavior technician degrees

Bachelor's

67.8 %

Associate

11.8 %

Master's

11.3 %

Start to develop specific behavior technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Autism	24.79%
Applied Behavior Analysis	18.83%
Behavior Analysis	8.05%
BCBA	4.81%
Developmental Disabilities	3.99%

Complete relevant behavior technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New behavior technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a behavior technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real behavior technician resumes.

Research behavior technician duties and responsibilities

Manage and target behaviors using the ESDM, ABA, PRT and SCERTS model.
Teach family members and teachers different ways to achieve cooperation with child and transfer skills to ensure an efficient learning environment.
Have RBT credential from the BACB.
Work with kids with autism * run programs apply individually for each child

Prepare your behavior technician resume

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