RBT Exam FAQ: Questions, Passing Score & 2026 Rules

The RBT exam contains exactly 85 multiple-choice questions. Out of these, 75 are scored questions that determine your pass/fail result, and 10 are unscored pilot questions used by the BACB® to evaluate test items for future cycles. You cannot tell which items are scored or pilot, so treat every question equally.

The BACB® does not publish an official static percentage or cut score. Instead, the passing standard is established using the modified Angoff method, a criterion-referenced psychometric process where a panel of behavior analysis experts evaluates the expected difficulty of each question. Candidates receive an immediate Pass or Fail result on screen at Pearson VUE.

You have 90 minutes (1 hour and 30 minutes) to complete all 85 questions. That allows approximately 63 seconds per question. Managing your pacing and avoiding getting stuck on difficult questions is critical.

Effective January 1, 2026, the RBT 3rd Edition outline is mandatory for all test-takers. The exam tests across 6 sections: Data Collection (17%), Assessment (11%), Behavior Acquisition (25%), Behavior Reduction (19%), Documentation and Reporting (13%), and Ethics (15%). Additionally, certified RBTs now operate on a 2-year maintenance cycle requiring 12 Professional Development Units (PDUs).

If you do not pass, you must wait a mandatory 7 days before you can retake the exam at Pearson VUE. Candidates may take the exam up to 8 times within their 1-year BACB application authorization window.

No. Since January 1, 2022, the BACB offers all certification exams exclusively in English at Pearson VUE testing centers. For non-native English speakers, the best strategy is studying technical definitions and conceptual reasoning bilingually while practicing realistic test items in English.