ABAcasesABA Roles Explained
A plain-English overview of how ABA agencies, BCBAs, BCaBAs, RBTs, BTs, and ABA therapists fit together on a case.
Start with the team at a glance, then see what a week on a case looks like.
The ABA team at a glance
An ABA case usually involves an agency that coordinates the work, plus one or more providers at different credential and role levels: BCBA, BCaBA, RBT, and BT or ABA therapist. Who does what depends on the setting and the client's needs.
ABA agency role
An ABA agency generally coordinates the business and operational side of a case: posting and managing open cases, hiring or contracting providers, and supporting day-to-day service delivery. "Agency" is an organizational role, not a BACB credential.
Before posting or accepting a case involving an agency, it's worth confirming: what the case actually involves, how supervision is structured for the providers on it, and whether pay and schedule details are clearly spelled out.
BCBA role
BCBA stands for Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis issued by the BACB. Depending on the setting and role, a BCBA often oversees clinical programming, assessment, and supervision, and directs case-level decisions.
Many BCBAs write the treatment plan and train the rest of the team. Exactly what that looks like on a given case, employer, or state can vary. Confirm specifics directly with the BACB .
BCaBA role
BCaBA stands for Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst, an assistant-level certification issued by the BACB. A BCaBA may support behavior-analytic services, depending on the credential and the applicable rules for the setting, but always under the ongoing supervision of a BCBA.
A BCaBA may also oversee RBTs. As with every role on this page, confirm the exact supervision arrangement and scope for a specific case directly with the BACB and the applicable employer.
RBT role
RBT stands for Registered Behavior Technician, a paraprofessional certification issued by the BACB. RBTs deliver direct ABA services and work under close, ongoing supervision.
Want the fuller picture on becoming an RBT specifically? See how to become an RBT.
BT / ABA therapist role
"BT" (Behavior Technician) is a job title many agencies use for direct-service ABA work. It is not automatically the same as holding the RBT credential.
"ABA therapist" is an even broader, informal phrase people use to refer to various ABA provider roles. It isn't a single defined credential. What it refers to varies by employer, the actual credential held, and the state or context. If credential status matters for a specific case, ask the agency to confirm it instead of assuming.
A week on a case
Details change by agency and setting. Here is what a normal week can look like for a provider on one case.
Keep your own record of sessions and pay. The free tracker does this for you.
Want the roles in a table? See RBT vs BT vs BCBA vs BCaBA for education, training, and who supervises whom.
Which ABA credentials involve exams?
The BACB administers certification exams for RBT, BCaBA, and BCBA candidates. All three are multiple-choice, computer-based exams delivered through Pearson VUE at authorized testing centers.
This page intentionally does not list exact question counts or time limits, since those specifics can change. For current exam details, go directly to the BACB's examination information page and Pearson VUE.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Roles, supervision rules, and scope of practice can change, and they can differ by employer and by state.
To check current rules, go directly to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) , including its upcoming changes page for the current timeline on RBT, BCaBA, and BCBA requirement updates, and with the applicable employer or state regulator.
How ABAcases connects roles, credentials, and case fit
ABAcases helps match providers to cases by role, credential, schedule, setting, and location. An RBT level case shows for RBTs, a BCBA level case shows for BCBAs, and so on.
Agencies can post open ABA cases by the role and credential they need, and providers can join ABA case alerts to hear about matching cases as they're posted. Agencies hiring across multiple roles can also see how ABAcases works for agencies.
FAQ
Last reviewed against BACB public resources: October 2026. Requirements can change, so always confirm current details with the BACB.
Find cases that fit your role
Turn on alerts for your area and hear when a case opens that fits your role. The free tracker helps you log sessions and see what you are owed.