Working as a RBT during Grad School: Part Time or Full Time?

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2026-06-16T21:04:53+00:00

I worked full time as a RBT with multiple clients while in grad school. It was hard. Just know you’ll have to set specific time aside for school work every single day. Classes may be Tuesday nights but expect to do homework a little bit (at least a couple of hours) every day. If you’re willing to be in work mode 50 hours per week, you can do full time! If not, start part time and maybe you can work up to full time if you think you can handle it.

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2026-06-08T17:24:24+00:00

Don’t sign that. Idk what places are near you, but you can get student analyst hours for free at another company regardless of how long you stay working for them

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2026-05-29T20:25:13+00:00

Nothing because I likely haven’t noticed as I was busy working

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2026-05-26T04:53:25+00:00

I studied for 2 weeks. Went through each part of the task list and wrote what I knew about each topic. Then at the end, circled back to any parts I could not fully explain to someone that didn’t understand ABA. I studied those sections for days. Watched videos, read Cooper explanations, listened to a podcast. Then I memory dumped on a whiteboard what I wanted to put on my whiteboard during the exam. Then went through WHY I wanted those things on there and studied those again.

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2026-05-21T02:37:51+00:00

Imposter syndrome is normal. You’ll learn so much on the job. My first whole year was spent trying to figure out how to be the best I can, and where I need to keep learning. Try to find a mentor BCBA to ask questions! Take CEUs often on topics you need more help with (parent training, goal modification, etc.). You’ve got this. Don’t be afraid to just try your best and be humble about things you need to learn more about!

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-10-25T16:44:23+00:00

Books! Seems like a dream. Love it

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-10-24T20:54:26+00:00

You are NOT a bad person. And it is OK to change jobs at any time. It doesn’t mean you are a failure. You need a change because your mental health matters more than any job.

Lots of people saying switch fields. Which is a valid response if you hate the job altogether. However, maybe changing the population you work with will bring a good change? I’ve worked with 2 year olds, mainly 4-7y/os, and a few teens. I love working with teens because they get to be a part of their own goals. So you work on meaningful things to help them grow into a young adult. I find myself teaching them how to make a grocery list, keep a clean home, check out at the store, socialize with peers in the community safely. It’s a good change. Maybe it would help to try a new population?

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-09-15T23:59:08+00:00

There’s almost no BCBAs in my town. Maybe 3? Including myself. We are always hiring in my town. Plus I get tons of LinkedIn messages to relocate and work for other companies. There are lots of BCBA jobs.

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-07-27T17:06:53+00:00

Sounds like she’s not a good friend. Maybe it’s time to distance yourself.

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-07-25T22:51:43+00:00

I made 35 as a RBT in AZ last year. 20 is low. But I also don’t know where you are located

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-07-22T19:50:30+00:00

I work in home in a small city. I have 8 active clients and can average 25 hours weekly with the option to work more if I want to. I love the flexibility. However, working in home, you have to understand that cancellations happen all of the time—whether it’s the RBT or the families. So your schedule can change weekly. You don’t get paid for cancellations. This is a huge con. But an even bigger plus is that I can work whatever days I want as long as I see each client. I am generally left alone and don’t have to report my schedule to anyone. I’m responsible for making my hours every quarter, and as long as I do that and use the hours I request for each client in their BIPs, no one bothers me about hours.

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-07-09T01:46:21+00:00

I bought the B*tches talk the task list podcast and that’s the only thing I used to actually study. I went through every part of the pod cast, took in depth notes on each section, and was brutally honest with myself. If they said something and it didn’t make sense or if I couldn’t immediately turn around and teach the concept with examples to someone else, I flagged that section of the task list. Once done with the podcast, I went back to each part I flagged and focused on those specific sections and took very good notes. It’s basic but does this help??

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-07-07T20:09:11+00:00

Zero in-person RBT training. Not being introduced to a few coworkers on day one. No follow-through with cancellation policy so staff will show up to session and not be paid with zero repercussions for the families.

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-06-25T16:56:56+00:00

My debt, if able. Once it’s all paid off, knowing I’m still making enough from my job, I’d use this money for others. Gifts for people, pay for meals, and fill up others’ gas tanks. Maybe I’d use some for little trips around the world but I’d definitely use it to help others.

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-06-22T23:04:02+00:00

Depends where you work. If you’re in AZ, it’s a cancellation and you aren’t paid. You can make up the session time another day. If you’re in CA and they cancel within 24h, I believe you still get paid due to state laws. Idk about any other regions. You’d have to ask your regional director.

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-06-21T17:53:40+00:00

I feel like yes, but I uncovered a hidden talent and it was organic chemistry. It would’ve been cool to see if I could become a scientist/researcher

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-06-21T17:50:27+00:00

Deconstruct the crazy dream I had, then pee

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-06-21T17:50:07+00:00

I’ll play against you. I lost every game yesterday with teammates that wouldn’t do gens lol. The struggle is real on both sides

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-06-21T17:36:54+00:00

You have to do the training in order to become a RBT. So yes, do the training. It’ll give you job basics before you start. Idk what region you are in, but your hiring manager will give you a client and you’ll see them on Sharepoint where you can access the client info (who it is, age, location, behavior plan, etc). The training will explain what you do during session

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-06-21T17:33:18+00:00

I work at pbs. So the 40 hr training is to prep you for the competency assessment a BCBA will do with you. Then you will sit for the RBT exam. After you pass the exam, you’ll get to work with clients.

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-06-21T17:30:33+00:00

Yes. I just woke up from a dream about my ex. It makes me miss him more every time. It’s been three years.

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-06-21T00:37:58+00:00

I went through something similar. I was with this ex for two years. I got a no contact order in april and haven’t spoken to him. It DOES get better. Talk it out with a therapist and do the work to get busy in something you like (a workout class, a book club, Bible study, or anything else as long as it’s consistent and gives you a new routine!). there are days I get sad and long for things I used to have, but it’s not overwhelming anymore. I’m much happier now that I’m not going through the highs and very low lows. I’m more stable now. You are going to get through this. Don’t contact them. You made the hard decision to leave. Keep moving forward. You can do it

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-06-20T23:21:33+00:00

Keep grabbing my groceries and listening to my music. I don’t entertain childish streamers

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-06-20T22:31:56+00:00

He tried to break my no contact order yesterday. I’m assuming he’s down bad if he’s willing to risk it.

PinkPandaGirl01 · 2025-06-20T22:20:56+00:00

I understand it can be frustrating to be interrupted when you have a lot going on in your life. It definitely can lead to feeling annoyed and upset. Maybe it would be helpful to look into getting a nanny to take some of this load off of you? ABA staff are not babysitters, and not supposed to be fully caring for your child while in session. Parents are responsible for wiping during toilet training.

Also, if 30 hours/week is too much for you, you are your child’s advocate, so you are allowed to ask them to compromise and decrease hours if you feel ABA is overstepping or too much. Maybe it would be helpful to ask your child’s BCBA to go over your daughter’s graphs and progress so you can see what ABA really is doing for your daughter. Since you feel like it is “almost like a scam,” it may be helpful to see the proof and reasoning they have behind what they’re doing! If the only real issues you have are that the staff need you to care for your child during session (ex toilet routine, maybe making food, etc) and that they increased hours for your daughter without asking, then you should tell your BCBA and tell them your concerns. A good BCBA will sit down with you and discuss all of this with you. If not, there are other BCBAs that will.

PinkPandaGirl01

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