20 RBT Interview Questions And Answers | Real Interview Compilation

Get ready for your RBT interview with our compilation of real RBT Interview Questions and Answers. Learn from actual interview experiences, covering ABA concepts, client management, and data collection to help you succeed.

So you’ve got an RBT interview coming up? I’ve been there, and I know it can feel a little intimidating.

But don’t sweat it, I’ve put together a list of the most common questions you’ll probably face, plus how to answer them without stressing.

I’ve also included what the interviewers are really looking for, so you can walk in feeling way more prepared.

RBT Interview Questions

1. “Role-play showing me how you’d interact with a child.”

How to answer:

Okay, so this one’s a bit of a vibe check. You’ll want to get into your playful mode, think of it like you’re a big kid yourself!

Talk in a fun, energetic voice, and just follow the child’s lead and make sure you’re giving them a chance to choose the activity. Keep it light and enthusiastic.

They’re looking for: Being warm, engaging, and just overall comfortable around kids. Like, do you know how to play?

Not just follow instructions.

2. “Show me how you’d use positive reinforcement in this scenario.

This one’s pretty straightforward. If the child does what you ask, you give them immediate praise or a little treat/toy.

Timing is EVERYTHING. So, praise them right when they do the right thing.

They want to see that you get the importance of positive reinforcement, praise the right behavior at the right moment.

3. “How would you respond if a child starts cussing at you?”

Remain totally chill. Don’t react, don’t laugh, don’t get upset.

You’ve gotta stay neutral, redirect them to better language, and stick to your behavior intervention plan (BIP). You’ll need to show emotional control here.

You need to show your Professionalism and emotional neutrality. They want to see that you can handle tough moments without losing your cool.

4. “If a child tries to hit you, what do you do?”

Safely block the behavior if the guidelines allow it, but don’t escalate. Follow the behavior plan, and if it’s serious, call in your BCBA for help.

Safety’s the number one priority.

They’re looking for whether you can handle Calmness under pressure. You’ve gotta show that you can maintain control and stick to safety-first practices.

5. “If the child throws themselves on the floor and refuses demands, walk me through your steps.”

Wait it out calmly, don’t engage in a power struggle.

Stick to the plan (BIP), and when the child settles down, reinforce the positive behavior. Be ready to collect data on what happened.

Understanding that tantrums aren’t personal.

You need to show you’ve got the tools to handle these situations without getting emotional; protocol’s the key.

6. “What would you do if a child elopes during a community outing?”

Follow the safety plan like a pro. Track them visually, make sure they’re not in danger, and call your supervisor if needed.

Quick thinking, quick actions.

Your ability to think on your feet and keep everyone safe. You’ve got to show that you can make fast decisions when things get real.

7. “Show me how you’d run a discrete trial with me.”

This is like a mini lesson in ABA. Give a clear instruction, prompt the right response, reinforce with praise or a reward, then reset and do it again.

Keep it structured and smooth.

8. “Use this random object and ‘teach’ something with it.”

Think of a simple skill you can teach. Use the object to make it fun, color matching, labeling, or anything you can make playful. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just keep it simple and fun.

What they’re looking for is how you can be creative with limited resources. They want to see how adaptable you are and if you can think on your feet.

9. “Show me how you’d redirect a behavior without raising your voice.”

Use a quiet, positive voice, give choices if appropriate, and gently redirect to something more positive.

Maybe use visual cues or a preferred activity to get their focus.

They’re looking for non-confrontational management and testing your ability to handle tricky situations without getting loud or frustrated.

10. “What would you do if you think another staff member is acting unethically?”

Document what you saw, stay objective, and reach out to your BCBA or supervisor ASAP. Don’t get involved in gossip or confrontation.

They want to see that you prioritize ethics and are comfortable reporting issues without making it personal.

11. “You’ll observe this 10-second clip — what behavior do you see?”

How to answer:

Just stick to the facts. What did you see that’s measurable? Avoid making judgments or assumptions; just stick to the data.

For example: “The child threw a toy” instead of “He was upset.”

Objective, data-driven observation. They want to know if you can accurately assess behavior without adding emotion.

12. “What would you do if the child runs to the parent and refuses to work?”

Keep it calm and positive. Gently prompt them back to the task, but don’t give too much attention to the refusal. Reinforce when they engage with the task, and keep the energy positive

13. “Show me how you’d greet a child starting their session.”

Alright, so this is all about creating a welcoming vibe.

You want to give them a big smile, be super friendly and enthusiastic, but not too overwhelming. Maybe have a toy or activity ready that you know they like, just to get them excited to start.

Keep it light but still structured, basically, make them feel comfortable but also let them know it’s time to focus.

They want to see if you can connect with the kid right away. Like, can you make them feel at ease and excited to jump into the session without feeling too stiff or formal?

Building that rapport is key.

14. “You’re not sure how to run this program. What do you do?”

First off, don’t freak out!

Seriously, it’s okay not to have all the answers. Just reach out to your BCBA and ask for clarification.

Don’t try to wing it or make things up; it’s way better to ask for help than to do something wrong. No one expects you to know everything right away.

They want to see if you’re coachable and can recognize when you need guidance. It’s all about being humble and knowing when to ask for support, rather than trying to go it alone.

15. “What would you do if the parent asks you for advice?”

Honestly, just gently redirect them to the BCBA.

You can totally listen to their concerns, but you want to make sure you don’t go beyond your role.

You’re not the person to be giving advice on anything that’s out of scope. It’s all about keeping those boundaries clear and making sure they talk to the right person for that kind of info.

16. “If we assigned you a client with intense behaviors, would you be comfortable?”

Just be upfront about it. It’s totally fine to say that, yeah, it might be challenging, but you’re open to the training and support you’d need to handle it.

You’re ready to follow all the protocols and focus on safety first. It’s okay to acknowledge that it could be tough, but you’re willing to take it on with the right resources.

17. “Describe a time you stayed calm when someone was upset or aggressive.”

This doesn’t have to be in an RBT context. Think of any time you’ve had to deal with someone who was upset, whether at work, with a friend, or even family.

Just explain how you stayed patient, kept your cool, and worked through the situation without escalating things. Maybe you used some problem-solving skills to help calm them down or figure out a solution.

They want to see if you can regulate your emotions when things get heated. Can you stay composed and handle a tough situation without losing your cool?

18. “How would you handle a child who refuses every demand you give them?”

Okay, so first things first, don’t jump straight into the hard stuff.

Start with demand fading. Give them something easy and manageable to do first, and then gradually build up to the more challenging tasks.

You can also try using high-probability requests (things they’re more likely to do), and then slowly work up to the tougher demands.

Reinforce them when they do what you ask, even if it’s just a small win.

19. “Pretend you’re explaining a BIP to someone new — how would you do it?”

Start by explaining the target behavior. What’s the specific thing they want to change?

Then, talk about the triggers, what sets off the behavior? Next, mention the consequences, what happens right after the behavior?

After that, go over the replacement behavior. What’s the positive behavior you’re trying to encourage instead?

Finally, explain how you’ll reinforce that good behavior to make sure it sticks. Make it clear and straightforward, like you’re talking to someone who’s never heard of a BIP before.

They want to see if you can break down complex stuff in a way that’s easy to understand. Can you explain things clearly and stick to the main points without getting lost in details?

20. “Have you ever disagreed with a coworker? What did you do?”

Yeah, it happens. Just focus on staying calm and professional.

Talk about how you handled it without getting emotional or making it personal, like you made sure to keep the client’s needs at the forefront.

Explain how you worked through the issue respectfully, maybe by discussing it openly or finding a compromise without escalating things.

Interviews can feel nerve-wracking, but remember, it’s all about showing who you are and how you can help the team.

You’ve got the skills, the knowledge, and the passion to make it through. Just be confident, stay calm, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or clarification if you need it. You’re one step closer to landing that RBT role and your wallet.

Good luck, you’re going to crush it!