What to expect after being hired as a Behavior Therapist or Behavior Technician?

If you are actively searching or currently in the process of being hired as a Behavior Technician or Behavior Therapist (BT), this is the post for you! Once you are hired as a Behavior Technician, here is what to expect during your first few weeks in the position. This blog post is based on the extensive training that ABA Works provides and may be different from other companies.

1. Training

In the ABA Works Company, a Behavior Technician’s first week is dedicated to 4 different types of training. During each of the 4 training, ABA Works is dedicated to teaching our new employees new skills where they can learn and grow in their positions.

During the first 2 months, the ABAT/RBT will be required to complete a portion of the credentialed online 40-hour Registered Behavior Training (RBT) that focuses on ABA strategies, data collection methods, and much more relating to the Behavior Technician’s position. The online training is expected to be completed during your availability of the first week and will relate to the other 3 scheduled pieces of training. The Online RBT and ABAT training is accessible on the website: www.abacourses.com

The second training will be the administrative training. During this training, the ABAT/RBT trainee and the trainer will review the following topics:

• BT training manual
  • Company Overview
  • NPA (ABA software)
  • Your work and training schedule
  • Employee Handbook
  • BT job description, and
  • The mandated tasks for session.

Before diving into the other training, I can tell that it is very important to review the training manual before the other training is conducted. In the training manual, the ABAT/RBT trainee will be presented with the BT Training handouts, which provide guidelines of what to expect during the training. It is significant to review these beforehand because you will be tested in your knowledge, participate in role-playing ABA skills, and implement these skills.

The third training will be focused on the clinical aspect of the BT position and relates to the topics presented in the RBT online training. The clinical training will be conducted one time during that week and focuses on the following topics:

• Professionalism & Ethics
  • Explanation of a Typical Session
  • Overview of Verbal Operants
  • Data Collection, and
  • Behavior Management.

The fourth training is dedicated to working in the field. During this training, the ABAT/RBT trainee will shadow another BT or RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) /ABAT during a session. The field training takes place 3 times during that week and with different clients. During the field training, the ABAT/RBT trainee will observe and partially assist in the following tasks:

• Setting up for the session
  • Using basic ABA strategies
  • Implementing skill acquisition trials, and
  • Wrapping up Daily Session Notes.

• During the first few weeks of your ABA position, the ABAT/RBT trainee will also get to start the first few sessions with their client.

After the training week has concluded, the second week is when the ABAT/RBT trainee officially starts the sessions. During the first few sessions with the clients, the Program Supervisor will be overlapping assist and inform of the following:

About the client: The target behavior; Family Dynamics & Culture; The environment and; The client’s programs.

While working with the client, the RBT/ABAT will be provided ongoing supervision from their Program Supervisor. Just as with the training, it is so important to ask questions to the Program Supervisor.

During the first sessions, it is best to focus on building rapport with the client(s) and their family(s). While building rapport, it is also a great time to start pairing yourself with your client.

In a previous ABA Works blog post, I mentioned that pairing means that the learner will have access to preferred activities through you (and not free access). When you have successfully paired yourself, the learner will become motivated to follow your lead and think of you as a fun person every time they see you. Through successful pairing, you are also able to establish instructional control. I remember during my first session I used that time to get to know my client and observed what his favorite activities are. Once I found that my client enjoyed playing with cars, I used that activity as an opportunity to pair myself. During this process, I became creative and used a playful voice, which my client really enjoyed!

2. Staff Training/Meeting

During the first few weeks of your ABA position, the ABAT/RBT will also get to experience the amazing monthly all-team training. In the ABA Works Company, this training is mandated to attend and focuses on training staff members in certain ABA skills that will be utilized and beneficial during sessions. These meetings, helped me improve my ABA skills and to also get to know my fellow Behavior Technicians and other Program Supervisors. The meetings became a great time to hang out with them and learn something new.

For information on starting ABA services, click here
For starting a 40-hour RBT or ABAT training, click here