Welcome to the Professional Conduct and Scope of Practice Quiz! Understanding the ethical guidelines, responsibilities, and boundaries as a RBT is crucial for building trust, ensuring quality service, and maintaining public confidence.
Whether you’re a student, a new practitioner, or an experienced professional looking for a refresher, this quiz is designed to help you assess your knowledge in these vital areas.
Test your understanding of key principles and scenarios related to professional integrity and the defined limits of your practice.
Let’s see how well you know your professional responsibilities!
Results
#1. After a week of working with a client, the client’s mom offers to pay the RBT $20 on the side for each target the client masters. If the RBT accepts this offer, what does it represent?
Accepting money or incentives beyond the agreedupon compensation creates a conflict of interest The RBTs objectivity and professional judgment could be compromised by the potential for financial gain which is unethical and violates professional standards
#2. You show up to a client’s house to do a session, but the client’s parents are not there and their older brother who is 15 years old is the only one present. What should you do?
It is generally unethical to run a session with a client when their parents are not there It is very important to call your supervisor in this case because they will guide you based on the specifics of the situation Following instructions to the best of your abilities is what makes you a good technician
#3. Which of the following is an example of dual relationships that an RBT should avoid?
Engaging in personal relationships with clients can create conflicts of interest and is considered a dual relationship
#4. A parent asks the RBT for recommendations on alternative therapies for their child, such as special diets or supplements. How should the RBT respond?
The RBT should refer the parent to the supervising BCBA who can provide guidance within their scope of practice or recommend consulting with appropriate professionals
#5. The ethical guideline that requires RBTs to maintain competence through ongoing education is referred to as:
Maintaining competence involves ongoing professional development to provide effective services
#6. Maggie’s client is a 9-year-old girl who likes to play dress-up. Usually, the client is easygoing and fun to work with. Today, the client seems in a particularly bad mood and is refusing to work. The client’s mom tells Maggie that the client did not sleep well last night. What should Maggie do?
As an RBT Maggies primary role is to implement the treatment plan and document observations Informing her supervisor allows for adjustments to be made if necessary It is outside the scope of practice for an RBT to end a session without consulting a supervisor change a treatment plan independently or offer unsolicited advice to parents
#7. Which of the following is NOT an appropriate action for an RBT when receiving feedback from a supervisor?
RBTs should be receptive to feedback implement changes and seek clarification not become defensive or dismissive
#8. A parent tells the RBT that they want to adjust the goals in the client’s treatment plan without consulting the BCBA. What should the RBT do?
The RBT should inform the parent that the BCBA is responsible for making treatment plan adjustments
#9. Before beginning a session, an RBT should review the client’s…
Reviewing previous session notes and data helps the RBT prepare for the session by understanding progress and planning accordingly
#10. A client’s behavior plan specifies the use of a fixed ratio reinforcement schedule, but the client’s parents request that reinforcement be given after each correct response instead. As an RBT, what should you do?
The RBT should communicate the parents concerns to the supervising BCBA who can address the request appropriately Its important to maintain professional boundaries and follow the established plan unless directed otherwise by the BCBA
#11. An RBT observes a colleague engaging in unethical behavior with a client. What is the appropriate first step?
Ethical guidelines require reporting unethical conduct to appropriate authorities starting with the supervisor
#12. A behavior technician is asked by a parent to provide therapy services to their child outside of the scheduled sessions. What should the technician do?
It is important for a behavior technician to follow the treatment plan and only do what is authorized by the BCBA Doing anything else is outside of the scope of practice Documenting or charging directly for extra services is unethical and can have legal consequences
#13. The ethical code that RBTs must follow is outlined by the…
The BACB provides the ethical guidelines and code of conduct for RBTs and other certified professionals
#14. During a session, the RBT notices an increase in a client’s challenging behavior after introducing a new teaching strategy. What should the RBT do?
The RBT should communicate any significant changes or concerns to the BCBA for guidance and potential adjustments to the intervention
#15. An RBT is required to renew their certification…
RBTs must renew their certification annually which includes meeting supervision and continuing education requirements as specified by the BACB
#16. Which of the following is NOT an example of professional and ethical behavior for an RBT?
Accepting gifts can create a dual relationship and is considered unethical in professional practice
#17. When an RBT is asked to perform tasks outside of their competence, they should:
RBTs should provide services only within their competence and refer tasks beyond their scope to qualified professionals
#18. As part of your supervision, your BCBA requires you to pick up coffee and bring it to each session and meeting. Is this acceptable?
BCBAs should maintain professional boundaries and not exploit their supervisory role Requiring an RBT to perform personal tasks like getting coffee is unethical and an abuse of authority
#19. Upon arriving for a session, a parent informs you that the client has been engaging in aggressive behavior due to a new medication. They ask for your advice. What is the appropriate response?
The RBT should acknowledge the concern and inform the parent that they will notify the BCBA as medication management and associated behaviors are outside the RBTs scope of practice
#20. James has been an RBT for two years. He typically works with children with autism. James is assigned to a client with severe bipolar disorder. James has never worked with this population. What should James do?
The ethical code states that RBTs should work within their competence and scope of practice James has no experience working with clients with severe bipolar disorder which requires a different set of skills and training He should inform his supervisor and document the conversation to ensure ethical guidelines are followed
#21. Prior to the start of the session with the client, Thomas receives an updated treatment plan from his supervisor. Thomas has never seen this behavior plan before and is confused about certain strategies, but the supervisor tells him to implement it as well as he can immediately. What should Thomas do?
If you are not comfortable or competent in implementing a new treatment plan you should communicate this to your supervisor and offer to work on tasks you are already familiar with This ensures client safety and ethical practice
#22. During a session, a client’s mother requests that you focus only on academic tasks and stop working on social skills, contrary to the behavior plan. What should you do?
The RBT should communicate the parents request to the BCBA who can adjust the behavior plan if appropriate and ensure that services align with the clients goals
#23. You, a behavior technician, are at a client’s house placing a behavior on extinction. The client’s mom walks in and asks that you please don’t ignore her child when they are engaging in tantrum behavior. How should you respond?
Its important to communicate with the parent explain the purpose of the extinction procedure and proceed only if the parent provides consent Additionally you should inform your supervisor about the situation since there was an objection If you continue regardless of the parents protest or stop immediately without attempting to communicate you are not collaborating effectively with the caregiver or following ethical guidelines
#24. You, a behavior technician, notice that one of your colleagues uses a few different punishment interventions often with their client. You’re unsure whether these interventions are approved or not and want to make sure the client is getting the best possible treatment. What should you do first?
The best course of action is to consult with the supervising behavior analyst to understand the treatment plan and ensure the clients safety and wellbeing Its not within the scope of practice for a technician to correct a colleague Reporting the technician without further information may be premature
#25. The principle that interventions should be based on the simplest and least intrusive methods is known as the…
The least restrictive alternative principle emphasizes using the most effective but least intrusive interventions
#26. The confidentiality of client information is protected under which ethical principle?
Privacy and confidentiality require professionals to protect personal information and disclose it only with consent or as required by law
#27. If an RBT suspects that a client is being neglected at home, they are ethically obligated to:
Mandated reporters are required to report suspicions of abuse or neglect to authorities and inform their supervisor following legal and ethical guidelines
#28. When you’re discussing an intervention with stakeholders who are not trained in ABA, what should you avoid using?
When communicating with stakeholders who are not trained in ABA it is crucial to avoid jargon and technical language Using simple clear explanations and everyday language ensures that they understand the intervention and can effectively support its implementation
#29. If you suspect a client is being abused or neglected, what is your ethical responsibility?
As a mandated reporter you are legally and ethically obligated to report any suspicion of abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities eg child protective services
#30. David is working with a client who has been making significant progress in reducing her aggressive behaviors. One day, the client’s dad asked David to provide a written testimonial about the progress the client has made for her school records. David knows that sharing information about clients must be done carefully to ensure confidentiality and ethical compliance. What should he do?
As an RBT always consult with your supervisor when faced with requests that involve sharing client information Getting approval ensures ethical and confidential practices are followed
#31. Which of the following scenarios represents a breach of client confidentiality?
Confidential information should only be shared with individuals directly involved in the clients care or as required by law
#32. As part of your supervision, your BCBA requires you to pick up coffee and bring it to each session and meeting. Is this acceptable?
BCBAs should not abuse their authority it is unethical and not part of your job description to bring them coffee as part of your supervision
#33. You’re implementing a behavior plan and start to feel uncertain about a couple of procedures written into the plan due to how the client is responding to the procedures. What should you do?
As an RBT if you have concerns about a treatment plan or the clients response to it the ethical and professional course of action is to immediately consult with your supervisor Stopping the plan ensures no potential harm comes to the client and allows for a collaborative review and possible modification of the plan
#34. A client’s parent insists that you use a specific intervention that is not evidence-based and contradicts the behavior plan. How should you handle this situation?
The RBT should professionally explain the necessity of following the established plan and report the parents request to the BCBA for further discussion
#35. When implementing a behavior intervention plan, which of the following is NOT a necessary step?
Ignoring the supervising BCBAs instructions is unethical and unacceptable RBTs must collaborate with and follow the BCBAs guidance for ethical and effective intervention implementation
