RBT Ethics Guide

The four core principles

The ethics code that governs RBTs is built on four core principles. They are not decoration; they are the tiebreaker for every hard scenario:

• Benefit others: act in the client's best interest and do no harm. When two principles conflict, protecting the client wins.
• Compassion, dignity, and respect: treat every client and family as a full person, not a case. No mocking, no gossiping, no talking about clients as if they are not in the room.
• Integrity: be honest in your data, your documentation, and your communication. No fudged numbers, no exaggerated progress, no hidden mistakes.
• Competence: only do what you are trained and qualified to do, and keep learning. Saying "that is outside my scope, let me get my supervisor" is competence, not weakness.

Confidentiality: the vault rule

Client information stays locked down. Do not discuss clients by name with friends or family, do not share identifiable details in group chats, do not leave data sheets where others can see them, and never post about clients on social media, even anonymized "funny story" posts that could be recognized. Share information only with authorized team members and only what they need to know. When in doubt, do not share, and ask your supervisor.

Dual relationships and boundaries

A dual relationship is when you relate to a client or family in two roles at once, like becoming their paid babysitter on weekends or their social media friend. Dual relationships blur objectivity and create conflicts of interest, so the exam treats them as a red flag. Keep the relationship professional: friendly and warm, but with clear boundaries. Do not share your personal problems with families, do not accept friend requests from clients or their parents, and do not provide services outside your professional role.

Gifts, social media, and other classic traps

The exam recycles the same traps because real life recycles them too. Gifts: small tokens of appreciation around holidays are often fine per employer policy, but significant or frequent gifts create obligation, so disclose them to your supervisor and follow policy. Social media: no client content, no workplace venting that identifies anyone, and tight privacy settings. Witnessing misconduct: if you see a colleague violate the code, report it through proper channels, starting with your supervisor, not through gossip. Personal problems affecting work: if something in your life is hurting your performance, you have a duty to address it or step back, because clients deserve your competent self.

When your supervisor is the problem

The hardest ethics questions put the supervisor on the wrong side. What if your BCBA tells you to implement a procedure you were never trained on? What if data sheets come back with numbers you did not collect? The code is clear: you do not follow unethical instructions just because they came from above. Raise the concern directly and professionally first, document what happened objectively, and if it is not resolved, escalate through the proper channels, which can include the BACB. Retaliation for good-faith reporting is itself a violation. These scenarios feel disloyal, but the code exists precisely for the moments when loyalty and ethics collide. Client welfare outranks the chain of command.

Quick-fire review

• Four principles: benefit others, compassion/dignity/respect, integrity, competence
• Confidentiality is absolute: no names, no posts, no hallway talk
• Dual relationships and significant gifts: disclose and decline per policy
• See misconduct? Report through proper channels, starting with your supervisor

Last reviewed: October 7, 2026 against the BACB RBT 3rd edition task list.