BT vs RBT: what a behavior technician needs in Kentucky

Only in some situations. See the detail below.

As of 2026-10-21, KRS 319C.020(2)(b) exempts from the licensure requirement a person 'implementing applied behavior analysis intervention services to an immediate family member or as a supervisee.' Under KRS 319C.010(10), a supervisee is a person who is not licensed but acts under the extended authority and direction of a licensed behavior analyst or a licensed assistant behavior analyst. Neither provision, as read, makes the exemption contingent on RBT certification, and the Dept. of Insurance advisory is consistent with this reading. Practice permission is not the same as payer reimbursement eligibility: the Medicaid rule cited (907 KAR 15:010) expressly identifies supervised RBT support as the technician pathway, and reimbursement for generic non-RBT technicians is not supported by that rule. No statewide deadline or grace period for obtaining RBT certification was verified; this remains unknown rather than confirmed absent.

• Services must be delivered under direction and close supervision (current 201 KAR 43:050 paraprofessional definition).
• Supervisor-maintained session/supervision records must be retained for a minimum of seven years (201 KAR 43:050).
• The identity of the actual service deliverer must be disclosed (201 KAR 43:050).
• Billing must identify services performed by the supervisee versus the supervisor.

As of 2026-10-21, licensed behavioral analysts (provider type 63 individual, 639 group) who are licensed in Kentucky, enrolled as active Medicaid providers and, if applicable, enrolled with a managed care organization (MCO). 907 KAR 15:010 section 3(3)(r)4 also permits licensed assistant behavior analysts and approved behavioral health practitioners, including qualifying supervised practitioners, with documented ABA training. A registered behavior technician under the supervision of an appropriate practitioner is the expressly named support-technician pathway. This is not a requirement that every eligible ABA practitioner hold RBT certification, nor authorization for independent RBT billing.

It depends. See the condition below.

907 KAR 15:010 section 3(3)(r)4.b expressly names a registered behavior technician under the supervision of an appropriate practitioner as the support-services pathway. Reimbursement for a generic non-RBT technician is not supported by the sources reviewed, so an RBT should be assumed necessary for technician-delivered support services unless DMS or the MCO confirms otherwise. RBT certification is not required of every eligible ABA practitioner, and the sources do not authorize independent RBT billing.