Most ABA therapy teams are built around two roles: a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), who assesses your child, writes the treatment plan, and oversees progress, and a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), who works one-on-one with your child during sessions under the BCBA’s supervision. Some providers also use Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs), who support the BCBA.
Below, we’ll walk through what each person on your child’s team does, how supervision works, and which questions to ask so you always know who is responsible for your child’s care. If you’re researching these credentials as a career path instead, see our guide to BCaBA vs. BCBA certifications.
The BCBA: Your Child’s Clinical Lead
A BCBA is the clinician responsible for the overall, big-picture direction of your child’s care. That usually includes conducting assessments such as a functional behavior assessment, writing an individualized treatment plan, analyzing session data to decide when the plan needs to change, and supervising the RBTs who deliver day-to-day sessions. BCBAs also communicate directly with families about progress and treatment decisions.
To earn the credential, a BCBA completes a master’s or doctoral degree with behavior-analytic coursework, a substantial period of supervised fieldwork, and the BCBA certification exam through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) 1. That graduate-level training is what allows a BCBA to practice independently and design treatment. Learn more in our guide to what a BCBA is.
As a parent, you can expect your child’s BCBA to walk you through the treatment plan and goals, observe sessions and review data regularly, lead parent training so you can use the same strategies at home, and update the plan, or any behavior intervention plan, as your child progresses.
The RBT: The Person Working With Your Child Day to Day
A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) is the team member you’ll likely see most often. RBTs are trained, certified practitioners who deliver your child’s one-on-one sessions at home or in the community. To earn the credential, an RBT completes BACB-required training, passes a competency assessment and the RBT certification exam, and must practice under ongoing supervision.
During a session, your child’s RBT follows the treatment plan the BCBA wrote, uses the teaching strategies it calls for, and records data on how your child responds. The BCBA uses that data to decide what’s working and what needs to change. Learn more in our guide to what an RBT is.
Where BCaBAs Fit In
Some ABA providers also employ Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs). A BCaBA holds a bachelor’s degree and BACB certification and can help implement treatment plans and supervise RBTs, but must always work under a BCBA’s supervision. At Heartlinks, a BCBA designs and directly oversees every child’s treatment plan. For a detailed comparison of the two credentials, read our BCaBA vs. BCBA guide.
Your Child’s ABA Team at a Glance
| BCBA | RBT | |
|---|---|---|
| Role on your child’s team | Clinical lead: assesses your child, writes and adjusts the treatment plan | Works one-on-one with your child to carry out the plan |
| Training | Master’s or doctoral degree, supervised fieldwork, BCBA exam | BACB-required training, competency assessment, RBT exam |
| Works independently? | Yes | No. Always supervised, typically by a BCBA |
| In a typical week | Reviews data, observes sessions, updates goals, meets with parents | Runs sessions and records data after each one |
| Go to them for | Questions about goals, progress, or the treatment plan | Day-to-day session questions and what your child worked on |
How Supervision Works at Heartlinks
Every child at Heartlinks has a BCBA who leads their care. Your BCBA conducts the initial assessment, writes your child’s individualized treatment plan, and reviews session data regularly to decide when goals or strategies need to change. They’re also your main contact for questions about the plan itself.
Day-to-day sessions are delivered by a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), a trained, certified practitioner who works directly with your child, implements the plan, and records data during sessions. RBTs never practice without supervision. BCBA rules require that at least 5% of an RBT’s service hours each month be supervised, including regular face-to-face contact with their supervisor. Your BCBA observes sessions and adjusts the plan based on the data.
That structure is a built-in checkpoint, not a gap in supervision. The person who designs your child’s plan is also the person accountable for it.
Questions to Ask Any ABA Provider About Your Child’s Team
Whether you’re choosing a provider or already working with one, it’s completely reasonable to ask:
- Who is the BCBA on my child’s case, and how often will they observe sessions?
- Who will run my child’s day-to-day sessions, and what credential do they hold?
- How often will the BCBA review my child’s data and update the treatment plan?
- Who should I contact with questions about the plan versus scheduling or individual sessions?
- How will I be involved through parent training?
We believe families deserve to understand exactly who is involved in their child’s care and why each role matters — not just a title on a wall, but a clear, accountable structure behind every session.
If you’re exploring what ABA is, thinking through at-home techniques, comparing therapies for autism, or just getting an autism diagnosis, our team is happy to walk you through how our care model works.
Frequently Asked Questions About Your Child’s ABA Team
- What’s the difference between a BCBA and an RBT? A BCBA is a graduate-level clinician who assesses your child, writes the treatment plan, and supervises the team. An RBT is a certified technician who delivers sessions and collects data under that supervision.
- Can an RBT work with my child without a BCBA? No. RBTs must practice under ongoing supervision, typically from a BCBA who oversees your child’s treatment plan.
- How often will I talk to my child’s BCBA? It depends on the provider and your child’s plan. Ask at intake how often the BCBA will observe sessions, review data, and meet with you.
- Who should I contact with questions about my child’s treatment plan? Your BCBA. Your RBT is a great resource for day-to-day session questions, but changes to goals or strategies go through the BCBA.
- Is it a problem if a provider uses BCaBAs? No. BCaBAs are board-certified and work under a BCBA’s supervision. This is a common staffing model, and it’s always a good idea to ask how supervision works.
Resources
- Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (n.d.). Home. https://www.bacb.com
- BACB: RBT 2026 Requirements. https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RBT-2026-Requirements_250723-a.pdf