A Step-by-Step Guide for RBT Candidates Navigating the Post-June 2026 BACB Portal Update #

Who this is for: RBT candidates who have finished their 40-hour training and their Initial Competency Assessment with their assessor, and are ready to submit their application to the BACB.

What changed: On June 29, 2026, the BACB moved to a new portal at portal.bacb.com. If you had a BACB account before that date, your old login no longer works. You’ll reset your password once, then everything else in this guide applies.

The short answer: log in, open Applications, start the RBT Certification Application, upload three documents, answer a few questions, pay, and wait about two weeks. Here’s exactly how, step by step.

Before You Start: What You Need #

Have these three items ready before you log in. All three get uploaded as part of the application, and BACB only accepts PDF or JPEG files, so save them in one of those formats now.

1. 40-hour training certificate. Issued by your training provider once you finish the RBT 2026 40-Hour Training Requirements and Curriculum Outline. Confirm with your instructor that the course meets the current 2026 requirements. Your training provider cannot be someone related to you, subordinate to you, or employed by you.
2. Completed Initial Competency Assessment Packet (current version: 1/2026). Completed with your assessor after your 40-hour training. This has an expiration window: it must be finished no more than 90 days before you submit your application. If you wait too long after finishing the assessment, you’ll need to redo it. Your assessor cannot be related to, subordinate to, or employed by you.
3. RBT Certification Application Attestation form (current version: 3/2025). Your Attesting Certificant confirms your age, education, background check, and abuse registry check, then signs this form. It must be signed no more than 90 days before you pay for the application. Same rule applies here: your attestor cannot be related to, subordinate to, or employed by you.

A quick note on timing: because the competency assessment and the attestation both run on 90-day clocks, don’t let one sit finished for months while you gather the other. Get both done close together, then submit.

One more thing that trips people up: every name on these documents has to match the name in your BACB portal account exactly. If your legal name changed since any document was issued, submit a Name Change Request in your portal account before you apply.

Step 1: Log In to Your BACB Portal Account #

Who does this: RBT Candidate.

1. Go to portal.bacb.com.
2. If you had a BACB account before June 29, 2026: click Forgot Password. Enter the same email address you’ve always used with BACB (not a new one, and not your work email if you originally signed up with a personal one). You’ll get a verification code by email, usually within 15 minutes. Use it to set a new password.
3. If you’re brand new to BACB: select Create a New Account and follow the prompts. Use a personal email address, not a work email. BACB sends every notification, reminder, and password reset to this address, so if you change jobs later, you don’t want to lose access to it.
4. Sign back in with your email and new password.
5. Once you’re in, check that your profile information, especially your legal name and current address, is correct. Your name must match your government ID exactly, or you won’t be able to sit for the exam later.

If you get stuck at this step, BACB’s own walkthrough with current screenshots is here: How to Access Your New BACB Portal Account.

Didn’t get the password reset email? Check spam first. If it’s genuinely not there after 15 minutes, confirm you’re using the exact email address on file with BACB. A typo or an old work email is the most common cause.

Step 2: Open the Applications Tab #

Who does this: RBT Candidate.

1. From your portal home page, select Applications in the top-right corner.
2. Only applications you’re currently eligible for will show up here. If you hold RBT eligibility, you should see the RBT Certification Application listed alongside anything else you qualify for.

If you don’t see an RBT Certification Application option, see the Troubleshooting section below before contacting BACB.

Step 3: Start the RBT Certification Application #

Who does this: RBT Candidate.

1. Click the RBT Certification Application button.
2. Work through the application using the prompts. It will ask for information from your training certificate, competency assessment, and attestation form, then ask you to upload each document.

A practical note: applications are only active for 90 days from the day you start them. If you don’t finish and submit within that window, the application expires and you’ll need to start over, including paying the fee again. Don’t start the application until you actually have all three documents in hand.

???? Screenshot placeholder: Capture the opening screen of the RBT Certification Application, including whatever section/progress indicator the portal uses (BACB’s own knowledge base doesn’t confirm exact wording here, so capture whatever you actually see).

Step 4: Upload Your 40-Hour Training Certificate #

Who does this: RBT Candidate, using the certificate from their training provider.

1. Find the section of the application asking for your 40-hour training documentation.
2. Upload the certificate as a PDF or JPEG.
3. Fill in any fields the application asks for, such as your trainer’s name, credential number, and training dates.

Step 5: Upload Your Initial Competency Assessment Packet #

Who does this: RBT Candidate, using the packet completed with their assessor.

1. Find the section for the Initial Competency Assessment.
2. Upload the completed packet as a single PDF or JPEG.
3. Double-check before uploading that:
   • Every task item is completed and marked with an assessment type (With a Client, Role-Play, or Interview).
   • Your assessor has initialed each task and signed the final attestation page.
   • The assessment was finished after your 40-hour training and within 90 days of today’s submission date.

If the portal won’t let you add your assessor, it’s almost always one of three things: a wrong BACB ID or certification number for them, your assessor not meeting the qualification requirements during the assessment window, or a disciplinary sanction on their record. See Troubleshooting below.

Step 6: Upload Your RBT Certification Application Attestation Form #

Who does this: RBT Candidate, using the form completed by their Attesting Certificant.

1. Find the Attestation section of the application.
2. Upload the completed form as a PDF or JPEG.
3. Confirm the attestor’s signature and date fall within 90 days of the date you plan to pay.

Step 7: Answer the Eligibility and Disclosure Questions #

Who does this: RBT Candidate.

The application will ask you to answer honestly, not just check a box:

1. Health and safety disclosure. Whether you have a physical or mental health condition, or a substance use disorder, that could affect your ability to safely and competently work as a Behavior technician.
2. Critical events / self-reporting. Whether you’ve been subject to certain investigations, disciplinary actions, or official actions related to Behavior-Analytic services or public safety.
   • If you answer Yes, the application will ask you to complete and submit a Self-Reporting Statement. Your application goes on hold while the BACB Ethics Department reviews it, and they’ll follow up with you by email. This isn’t automatically disqualifying, it just adds a review step.
   • If you’re unsure whether something in your history matters, you can request a Prior History Review before you pay, through a separate form on the BACB site. That way you’re not paying the application fee to find out.
3. Exam accommodations. If you have a disability under the ADA or a comparable law, you can request accommodations here, with supporting documentation.

Step 8: Review, Submit, and Pay #

Who does this: RBT Candidate.

1. Review every section of the application. Make sure names, dates, and document uploads all match.
2. Submit the application.
3. Pay the application fee. As of this writing, the 2026 RBT Certification Application Processing Fee is $65, paid to the BACB by credit card online or by mailed check. This is separate from the $45 Pearson VUE exam appointment fee you’ll pay later, once approved.

Timing to remember: if BACB doesn’t approve your application within 90 days of submission, you’ll need to submit a new application and pay the fee again. That 90-day clock is a good reason not to sit on Action Items once BACB sends you feedback (see Step 9).

Step 9: Wait for Review and Respond to Action Items #

Who does this: RBT Candidate, responding; BACB staff, reviewing.

1. BACB processes applications in the order received. Budget about two weeks. You can check current processing timelines on the Application Processing Updates page.
2. Watch your portal account and email. Your application status will tell you where things stand:

3. If your status shows Awaiting Applicant Action: go to the Application Action Items widget on your portal home page. Each action item has a due date. Open it, read what BACB is asking for (usually a clearer scan, a corrected document, or missing information), upload what’s needed, and save. Once every open item is submitted, your status moves back to Under Review.

4. If approved: you’ll get an email with instructions to schedule your exam through Pearson VUE. You have one year from your approval date to test.
5. If you disagree with a determination, you can request a second review through BACB’s Administrative Appeals Policy, but you have to file within 30 days of the decision.

For the full picture of status meanings, BACB’s own reference is here: How can I check my application status?

Troubleshooting #

No RBT Certification Application shows up in the Applications tab.

• Confirm you fully completed the password reset or account creation process. Log out and back in.
• Confirm your portal profile shows a US address (or another jurisdiction BACB still accepts). Ontario and a few other jurisdictions have new restrictions on who can start a new application.
• Confirm your date of birth and education information are filled in.
• If everything checks out and it’s still missing, use the Report an Issue form from inside your portal account, not the general Contact Us form. Include your BACB ID and a short summary of what you’ve already tried.

The portal won’t let you add your assessor, trainer, or attesting certificant. This is almost always one of three things:

• A typo in their certification number or BACB ID. Confirm the correct number directly with them.
• They didn’t meet the qualification requirements during the specific dates you’re listing. Check the requirements in the RBT Handbook and confirm with them.
• They have a disciplinary sanction on file that prevents them from serving in this role. Check the BACB Certificant Registry and the Disciplinary Actions page.

You started your application before June 29, 2026, in the old system. BACB has a specific walkthrough for this exact situation: I started my application before June 29, 2026, what are my next steps?

You need to talk to a person. As of June 29, 2026, the general Contact Us form only handles ACE (continuing education provider) submissions. Everything else, including certification application questions, gets handled inside your portal account or through the portal-specific Report an Issue form. Don’t expect a phone line or a quick email reply outside those channels.

Official BACB Resources #

Use these for anything this guide doesn’t cover, or to confirm you have the current version of a document. BACB updates its handbook and forms quarterly, so always pull the current version rather than reusing an old saved copy.

• BACB Portal Login
• RBT Handbook — full eligibility, maintenance, and exam requirements
• RBT Page, Applying Resources — current training, competency assessment, and attestation documents
• RBT Ethics Code (2.0)
• Application Processing Updates — current processing timelines and current document versions in use
• Recent & Upcoming Changes to BACB Requirements — jurisdiction restrictions and other policy changes
• Portal Transition Guide (PDF) — what changed in the new portal
• Portal Knowledge Base — BACB’s own how-to articles, many with current screenshots
• New BACB Portal Tutorial (video)
• BACB Contact Us
• Report a Portal Issue