BT vs RBT: what a behavior technician needs in Kansas
Last researched October 21, 2026
Behavior technicians are not all regulated the same way. This page separates what the BACB requires, what Kansas and its Medicaid program say, and what remains unverified.
Behavior technicians and the RBT credential
- Unregistered BT may deliver services
Only in some situations. See the detail below.
- Detail
Under Kansas Medicaid IIS, an individual need not hold an RBT if they complete the alternative route (18+, HS diploma/equivalent, 40 hours ABA training, ethics, competency assessment, background checks) and are approved through KDADS. K.S.A. 65-7503(b)(5) exempts autism specialists, intensive individual service providers and others qualified under the KDADS HCBS autism waiver from the state ABA licensure requirement. No specific time window to obtain RBT was found.
- State-specific requirements
- Background checks through Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Adult Protective Services (APS), Child Protective Services (CPS), Nurse Aide Registry and a Motor Vehicle screen (Kansas State Plan, IIS provider qualifications)
- Annual training as specified by certification (State Plan)
What Medicaid says about technicians
- Who may deliver services
As of 2026-10-21, per Kansas State Plan Attachment 3.1-A (SPA KS-21-0002, effective 1/1/2021), IIS providers must either (1) hold Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification under the supervision of a BCBA, or (2) via the alternative route, be 18+, hold a high school diploma/equivalent and complete 40 hours of ABA training (including 8 hours of supervised intervention work, 3 hours of ethics, and at least 1 hour each of criterion reference, social skills training, parent training and program development) plus an initial competency assessment; and pass the required background checks. IIS works under the direction of a BCBA or other qualified CCTS practitioner. The KS-21-0002 amendment corrected an acronym; it did not create these qualifications. KMAP bulletin 21013 describes enrollment as follows: CCTS enrollment is through BCBA, BCBA-D, BCaBA, or a KDADS-approved alternative; IIS enrollment is through RBT certification or the KDADS-approved alternative. Credentials, enrollment specialties and billing authorization are distinct, so a fuller list of credential types should not be read from these sources. Per KMAP bulletin 24125, from 7/1/2024 CCTS (11/403) may bill 97153, 97154 and 97158, and IIS (11/404) may bill 97154 with 97153 still covered.
- RBT required for technicians
It depends. See the condition below.
- RBT condition detail
RBT certification (under BCBA supervision) is one of two qualifying routes for IIS. The alternative route is a KDADS-approved letter based on the 40-hour ABA training, ethics, competency assessment and background checks (KMAP bulletin 21013: letter signed by the KDADS HCBS Autism Waiver Program Manager or HCBS Director).
National baseline
Per BACB: the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) is 'a paraprofessional certified in behavior analysis' who assists in delivering behavior-analytic services under the direction and close supervision of an RBT Supervisor and/or RBT Requirements Coordinator, who are responsible for all work the RBT performs.
Getting the RBT credential takes a 40-hour training, a competency assessment, an application and an exam. See the RBT pathway and the fast-track timeline.
Kansas note from our research: Kansas Medicaid offers a non-RBT route for IIS technicians (40 hours of ABA training plus competency assessment plus KDADS letter), but the multi-registry background check (KBI, APS, CPS, Nurse Aide Registry, motor vehicle) is required. An RBT certificate satisfies the qualification directly.
Related guides for Kansas
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