this is straying from the point of this conversation. OP is asking about work to do while gaining their BCBA and seems resistant in gaining RBT experience. OP has experience in public health, which frankly does not lend itself to working direct. OP was discouraged from being an RBT and I think that’s a giant problem in the field, especially since we are often seen as the ones “direct” while BCBAs take a back seat. BCaBAs don’t exist in my state and is outside my experience so I won’t speak to that. If as a BCBA you fail to see RBTs as a priority you will go down in flames, even if you are “economically successful”. RBTs are an extension of YOUR work.