Interning at Proud Moments and working with the family that I was blessed to work with helped me learn so many things. It benefited me in terms of my future career because it is a step behind becoming a Behavior Analyst. As an RBT I worked closely with my supervisor who is a BCBA and I got to learn a lot from her. Since we saw each other weekly, I was able to ask a lot of questions about the science behind all of the interventions that we do. Most of my clients in the past were also older so getting the experience to work with a 5 year old also benefited me because I saw was sessions look like with younger kids that have different deficits.
My internship and working as a Registered Behavior Technician tie into my major because it all revolves around the science and psychology of behavior.
Educationally speaking, other than the 40 hour training course needed to become an RBT, there really aren't any skills needed to be successful. I think in this internship the skills we need to apply in the day to day are more important. Patience, willingness to learn, adapting to different types of sessions, and the ability to be flexible are great skills to have when working with kids on the spectrum.
After completing my internship I am more sure than ever before that I want to get my Master's Degree and work in this particular career more than ever before. Working so closely with a family and seeing all of the improvements that my client made throughout my time with him made me fall in love with this field even more. Being in this career helps change these kids' lives and the lives of their parents as well.
To become an RBT which is the entry level position you need to complete a 40 hour training which is available online for a fee. Afterwards you complete a competency assessment and take an exam that certifies you as an RBT once you pass. To become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst you do need a Master's Degree in applied behavior analysis.
A piece of advice for future interns is to have a lot of patience. Most of the treatments are repetitive but slowly and surely the results are so worth it.
