RBT Skill Acquisition: DTT, NET, Chaining and Shaping
Updated October 27, 2026
Behavior Acquisition is the largest content area on the RBT exam: 19 of the 75 scored questions under the 3rd edition test content outline. It covers how RBTs teach new skills. Here are the main teaching procedures, followed by free practice questions. Always follow the skill acquisition plan your supervisor writes.
Discrete trial training (DTT)
A structured way of teaching in short, repeated trials. Each trial has:
- A discriminative stimulus (SD), the instruction or cue, such as “Touch red”
- A prompt, if needed
- The client’s response
- A consequence: reinforcement for a correct response, or a correction procedure
- A short intertrial interval before the next trial
Naturalistic teaching (NET)
Teaching during everyday activities and play, often following the client’s interests. For example, teaching “ball” when the child reaches for a ball. It helps skills generalize to real life.
Task analysis and chaining
A task analysis breaks a complex skill, such as handwashing, into small steps. Chaining teaches those steps in order:
| Type | How it works |
|---|---|
| Forward chaining | Teach the first step first, then add the next steps one at a time |
| Backward chaining | The adult completes all steps except the last; teach the last step first, then work backward |
| Total task | Teach every step in each session, prompting as needed |
Shaping
Reinforcing successive approximations: closer and closer versions of the target behavior. For example, reinforcing “ba,” then “bah,” then “ball.”
Generalization and maintenance
- Generalization: the skill happens across people, places and materials beyond where it was taught.
- Maintenance: the skill continues over time after teaching ends.
Free practice questions
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In discrete trial training, what is the discriminative stimulus (SD)?Answer: BThe SD is the instruction or cue, such as "Touch red," that signals reinforcement is available for the correct response.
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An RBT teaches toothbrushing by helping with every step except the last one, which the client does independently. This is:Answer: CIn backward chaining, the last step is taught first and the client completes it, ending the chain with reinforcement. Earlier steps are added one at a time.
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Reinforcing closer and closer versions of a target behavior is called:Answer: AShaping reinforces successive approximations of the target, such as sounds that get closer to a full word.
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A child who learned to say "please" with the RBT now says it with their teacher at school. This shows:Answer: DGeneralization means the skill happens with different people, in different places or with different materials than where it was taught.
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Teaching a child to request a toy while they're playing with toys is an example of:Answer: BNaturalistic teaching uses the client's everyday activities and interests as teaching opportunities, which helps skills generalize.
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What is a task analysis?Answer: AA task analysis lists the steps of a complex skill in order, so each step can be taught, often through chaining.
Pass your RBT exam on the first try
- All 172 questions on data collection, assessment, skill acquisition, behavior reduction, documentation and ethics
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