How to Prepare for an ABA Therapist or RBT Job Interview

Q:
I have an ABA therapist job interview tomorrow. What should I expect and how do I prepare?
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A:
Expect direct questions about your experience with children, your comfort level with behavior challenges, and how you follow instructions from a BCBA.

I’ve interviewed dozens of entry-level RBTs and new ABA therapists. What I look for first is honesty, reliability, and a calm presence. You don’t need years of experience. You do need to show that you’re coachable, observant, and genuinely care about the children we support.

Typical questions you’ll get: Do you have experience working with kids or adolescents?How do you respond to challenging behaviors?What would you do if a child tried to elope or became aggressive? Are you comfortable taking data in real time? How do you handle feedback from a supervisor?

We also look for soft skills. Can you follow a routine? Stay calm when things get loud? Communicate clearly with parents and team members? You should also ask questions. Good ones include: How many clients are assigned per RBT? What kind of training and ongoing supervision will I receive? Are sessions mostly in-home or clinic-based? What’s the culture of your team like?

Before the interview, review basic ABA terms like reinforcement, prompting, and behavior intervention plans. Be honest if you’re new. We can teach skills, but we can’t teach character. If you show up prepared, open-minded, and ready to learn, you’ll stand out.
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More resources:
What is autism?
‍What is ABA?
How can ABA help?