RBT Competency Assessment: Documentation and Reporting (2026)

Skills Assessed: Documentation and Reporting

1. Writing Objective Session Notes

Your assessor will ask you to write session notes for a completed session. Notes must be objective (observable, measurable) and free of opinions or emotional language.

Example: "Client completed 8/10 math problems in 30 minutes. Used verbal prompt for 2 problems. Tantrum occurred at 10:15 AM, lasted 5 minutes after math task demand. Token economy in place." The assessor checks that every statement is observable and measurable — no "client was frustrated" or "making progress."

2. Completing Data Sheets Accurately

You must complete all data sheets fully: client name, date, time, behavior definition, data entries, and signature. Incomplete data sheets are a common competency failure.

Example: Your data sheet has columns for Date, Time, Behavior (Hitting), Frequency, and Notes. You fill in: "2026-05-07, 10:00–10:30 AM, Hitting = 5, Notes: Occurred after math task demands." The assessor checks that all fields are filled, data matches what they observed, and notes are objective.

3. Reporting Incidents to Supervisor

When a safety incident occurs (injury, suspected abuse, severe behavior), you must report it to your BCBA supervisor immediately. The assessor will role-play an incident and check that you report it correctly and promptly.

Example: During session, the client hits their head on the table (self-injury). You stop the session, ensure safety, document the incident objectively, and immediately call/text your BCBA supervisor with: who, what, when, where. The assessor checks that you included all 4 elements and notified the supervisor without delay.

Supervisor Competency Checklist (Documentation & Reporting)

#	Task	Completed?	Notes
1	Writes objective session notes (no opinions or feelings)
2	Completes all data sheet fields (name, date, time, signature)
3	Data entries match what occurred during session (objective)
4	Reports safety incidents to supervisor immediately (who/what/when/where)
5	Documents incidents with observable, measurable language
6	Maintains client confidentiality (HIPAA) in all documentation
7	Submits completed data sheets and notes to supervisor on time
8	Uses correct behavior definition from the treatment plan

Session Note Template

Use this template for your competency assessment. The assessor expects to see all 5 sections filled out for each session.

Section	What to Include
Date/Time	Session date, start time, end time (e.g., 2026-05-07, 10:00–10:30 AM)
Attendees	Client name, RBT name, any others present (BCBA, parent, teacher)
Behaviors Observed	Objective description: frequency, duration, context (e.g., "Hit table 5 times, 10:15 AM")
Interventions Used	What was implemented: DRO timer, prompting, token economy, extinction, etc.
Progress Notes	Objective summary: "Completed 8/10 math problems, required verbal prompt for 2"

Note: Every section must use observable, measurable language. "Hit table 5 times" NOT "was aggressive."

Incident Reporting: What to Include

When reporting an incident to your BCBA supervisor, include all 4 Ws. Be objective — no opinions or assumptions.

Who: Client name, staff present, any witnesses (e.g., "Johnny Smith, RBT Maria Lopez, teacher Mr. Park")
What: Objective description of the incident (e.g., "Client hit head on table 3 times, lasting 2 minutes total")
When: Date and exact time the incident started and ended (e.g., "2026-05-07 at 10:15 AM, ended 10:17 AM")
Where: Location of the incident (e.g., "Classroom 5, seated at math table")
Supervisor Notification: Call, text, or email BCBA IMMEDIATELY after ensuring safety. Do not wait until end of day. Include all 4 Ws above in your notification.