RBT Ethics Practice Questions

Ethics on the RBT exam

Ethics is 11 of the 75 scored questions (15%). In the 2nd edition this area was Professional Conduct and Scope of Practice and pointed to the whole ethics code; the 3rd edition lists ten specific tasks, three of them new: core principles, the gift guidelines and cultural humility. Every question here follows the RBT Ethics Code (2.0), in effect since January 1, 2022.

Share of the exam

11 of the 75 scored questions (15%) in the official content outline, across 10 tasks

Our drill

10 questions from 69 ethics questions, untimed, an explanation after every answer; one free attempt, unlimited with a pass

The 10 ethics tasks in the 3rd edition

• F.1 Identify and apply core principles underlying the BACB’s ethics code for RBT certificants (e.g., benefit others; treat others with compassion, dignity, and respect; behave with integrity).
• F.2 Provide behavioral technician services only after demonstrating competence.
• F.3 Provide services only under ongoing supervision from supervisors who meet BACB requirements.
• F.4 Identify effective supervision practices (e.g., receive training that includes instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback; observation of RBT service delivery).
• F.5 Identify and comply with requirements for collecting, using, storing, protecting, and disclosing confidential information.
• F.6 Identify and comply with requirements for making public statements about professional activities (e.g., social media activity; misrepresentation of professional credentials, behavior analysis, and service outcomes).
• F.7 Identify types of and risks associated with multiple relationships, and how to mitigate those risks when they are unavoidable.
• F.8 Adhere to the gift giving and receiving guidelines provided by the BACB’s ethics code for RBT certificants.
• F.9 Identify and apply interpersonal and professional skills (e.g., accepting feedback, listening actively, seeking input, collaborating) when representing oneself as an RBT.
• F.10 Engage in ongoing cultural humility and responsiveness (e.g., identify personal biases) in service delivery and professional relationships.

What the questions look like

• Scope and supervision: RBTs work only under close, ongoing supervision, never employ their supervisor (1.04), and tell the supervisor right away when asked to do something beyond their competence (1.06).
• Confidentiality: no identifying client information on social media or websites (2.09), and client information discussed only under the supervisor’s direction unless the law allows it (2.10).
• Gifts: no gifts to or from clients, stakeholders or supervisors worth more than $10, and only as an occasional expression of gratitude; a stricter employer policy wins (1.11).
• Multiple relationships: avoid them, and if one develops, tell the supervisor, work to resolve it and document it (1.10). No romantic relationships with clients or stakeholders until two years after services end (1.12).
• Reporting: self-report required events to the BACB within 30 days (3.04) and report a change in certification status to the supervisor within 24 hours (3.07).
• Supervision itself: the BACB requires supervision for at least 5% of your service hours each month, with at least two real-time contacts and at least one observation of you working with a client (RBT Handbook).

How to study it

• Read the RBT Ethics Code (2.0) once from start to finish; it is six pages and has 29 standards.
• Memorize the numbers the questions use: $10 for gifts, 2 years for romantic relationships with former clients, 30 days to self-report, 24 hours to report a status change, 5% of hours supervised.
• In scenario questions, the best answer usually protects the client, follows the code exactly and brings in the supervisor. Be wary of options that solve the problem quietly on your own.

Common questions

The other RBT content areas

• Data Collection and Graphing
• Behavior Assessment
• Behavior Acquisition
• Behavior Reduction
• Documentation and Reporting
• RBT practice exam (85 questions, 90 minutes)

Sources

• BACB: RBT Handbook (updated 10/2026): examination, fees, retakes and results
• BACB: RBT Test Content Outline (3rd ed.): 43 tasks in 6 content areas
• BACB: Examination Information (scoring, rescheduling fees and RBT pass rates)
• BACB: RBT Ethics Code (2.0)
• BACB Newsletter, December 2023: the 2026 RBT examination and the 2nd-to-3rd edition crosswalk
• BACB: RBT certification overview