RBT supervision in 2026: the monthly requirements and a checklist for your agency

An RBT must receive ongoing supervision for at least 5% of the hours spent providing behavior-analytic services each calendar month¹. With 100 service hours in a month, that is at least 5 hours of supervision.

The observation may be done by webcam, videoconference or similar means instead of the supervisor being present¹. Video monitoring on its own, without real-time interaction or feedback, may not count as supervision¹. The requirements apply at each organization where the RBT provides services¹.

A small-group meeting is an interactive meeting of 2 to 10 RBTs who share similar experiences¹. The number of RBTs may not exceed 10, regardless of the number of supervisors present¹. A group meeting can be one of the two contacts, but the other must be individual, with no other RBTs or trainees present¹.

Supervision and professional development are separate: one event cannot cover both¹.

• An RBT Supervisor must be certified as a BCBA or BCaBA¹. The BACB announced that, effective January 1, 2026, noncertified supervisors can no longer provide BACB-required supervision³. Its December 2025 table of changes lists the role as eliminated⁴.
• Before supervising, the person must complete an 8-hour supervision training².
• The RBT cannot be related to, superior to, an employer of, or in a multiple relationship with the supervisor¹.
• Supervisors and the coordinator need enough client-specific knowledge to direct the RBT’s work, so they should be employed by the same organization or have a contract with the client, and every client needs a supervisor or coordinator¹.

An RBT may only practice with a supervisor or coordinator on record with the BACB¹. When the relationship ends, the supervisor or coordinator must update their BACB account¹.

The BACB asks you and the RBT to keep records of¹:

• days and times of service
• dates and duration of supervision
• format, such as individual or group
• dates of direct observations with a client
• names of the supervisors
• proof of the supervisor’s relationship to the client
• additional records when entries do not match, such as session notes

Keep them for at least 7 years, even if the relationship has ended¹. The BACB can audit current and former RBTs, supervisors and coordinators at any time¹. Audit documents are typically due in 14 days, and late documents are not considered¹. The BACB publishes a supervision checklist for supervisors and coordinators⁴.

The handbook states the minimum per calendar month and does not describe a way to make it up later. If you find a month fell short, the BACB tells you to report it, and suggests reviewing voluntary inactive status, getting another supervisor or talking it over with your supervisor¹.

The recertification application asks whether you met the supervision requirements, were not practicing or did not meet them, and the BACB may still contact you about next steps¹. An RBT found substantially noncompliant loses the certification or the right to recertify, cannot reapply for six months and faces enhanced auditing if they requalify¹. A Notice of Alleged Violation may also be filed against the supervisor or coordinator¹. The handbook gives no numeric threshold for «substantially», so do not assume a small shortfall is safe.

An RBT who is not providing services does not need monthly supervision to keep the certification¹.

Florida Medicaid requires supervision of BCaBAs and RBTs under current practice standards of the Council of Autism Service Providers and under the supervision plan of the approved behavior plan⁶. That plan names the authorized supervisors⁶. RBTs work under a BCBA or BCaBA, and BCaBAs under a BCBA⁶.

The supervisor may be reimbursed for observing a supervisee implementing the behavior plan, and the supervisee is not reimbursed for the same time⁶. The supervision section of the policy does not set a percentage. The 5% is the BACB’s minimum for certification¹, so ask each health plan what it requires on top.

This reflects the RBT Handbook updated 06/2026. The supervision requirements are unchanged by the 2026 transition⁵. The BACB publishes handbook versions as needed, so check it each quarter, and confirm Florida requirements with your plan.