---
title: "Bitten in Week Three. Was Anyone Trained for This?"
author: Liat Sacks
date: 2026-11-03
updated: 2026-11-03
url: https://pairaba.com/blog-posts/new-rbt-training-before-first-client.html
publisher: Pair ABA
summary: "A new RBT got bitten weeks into the job after a few shadow sessions. What BACB training requires and what to ask before you sign."
---

# Bitten in Week Three. Was Anyone Trained for This?

By Liat Sacks, Founder, Pair ABA · November 3, 2026

A brand-new RBT took to r/RBT just a few weeks into their new job, already wondering if it was time to quit.

After only a handful of shadowing sessions, they were assigned their own clients. One client engaged in significant aggression, and during a session, the RBT was bitten hard enough to break the skin.

The problem? They say they never received adequate training on how to safely respond to or de-escalate aggressive behavior.

But there's another complication. Their employment contract requires 30 days' notice before resigning.

So they turned to Reddit with one question: Can I just send an email saying I quit and not come back?

We can't answer the contract part. But we can talk about the part that happened before day one.

**What the rules actually expect**

The BACB says every new RBT needs at least 40 hours of training, spread over at least 5 days. Crisis intervention is on the required topic list. After the training, a BCBA or BCaBA has to sign off on a competency check, done with a client, a role-play or a live interview.

**Why this matters**

According to federal labor data from 2021–2022, the healthcare and social assistance industry accounted for approximately 73% of private-industry workplace violence cases that resulted in employees missing work or being placed on restricted duty. That's the highest of any industry.

Getting hurt is not a sign you're bad at your job.

**Questions to ask before you sign**

- How many hours of training do I get before my first solo session?
- Who teaches crisis and de-escalation, and do we practice it?
- Who is on call if a session goes wrong?
- What does your contract actually say about giving notice?

Read the quit clause before you sign it, not after you need it.

Our matchmakers ask these before you ever get on a call. Want a clinic that trains you before it tests you? Find us at u/PairABA.

*General info only, not legal advice.*

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Source: https://pairaba.com/blog-posts/new-rbt-training-before-first-client.html · The Pair Post, Pair ABA (https://pairaba.com/)