The Master EI Goal Bank — free
154 function-based goals across 21 domains with medical-necessity rationales — click-to-copy into CentralReach or your treatment plan. Our most-downloaded resource.
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Three full example notes, the formula behind them, and the exact phrases to swap out — from a BCBA who reads and signs off on session notes every single week. Written for the RBT staring at an empty notes field at 4:55 PM.
If your note has all eight, it survives an audit. If it's missing one, that's the one they'll find. (Your payor may require more — your BCBA will know.)
Every strong note is the same four moves in the same order. Once this is muscle memory, notes take five minutes.
1 · Frame it: "RBT provided 1:1 ABA services to [learner] at [home/center/school] from [start] to [end]. Present: [who]."
2 · Programs & data: "Targets addressed included [program names]. [Learner] [responded how], achieving [X% / X of Y trials] with [prompt level], compared to [yesterday/criterion]."
3 · Behavior, objectively: "Following [what happened right before], [learner] engaged in [what it looked like] for [how long]. RBT implemented [BIP strategy]; [learner] returned to task within [time]."
4 · Close it: "Caregiver was updated on [topic]. Plan: [next step]. — [Name], RBT"
Fictional learners, real structure. Notice every claim has a number attached, and nothing describes what anyone "felt."
RBT provided 1:1 ABA services to J.M. at the center from 9:00–12:00 PM; learner and RBT present, BCBA observed 9:30–10:00. Targets addressed: manding for preferred items, matching identical objects, and token board tolerance. J.M. independently manded "open" and "more" 14 times across snack and play (up from 9 yesterday) and matched 8/10 identical objects with a gestural prompt on 2 trials. J.M. completed three 5-token cycles, exchanging tokens for bubbles without protest. No challenging behavior occurred this session. Reinforcement was delivered on an FR1 schedule for mands and thinned to FR2 for matching per the BCBA's protocol. Caregiver was updated at pickup on manding progress and encouraged to honor "more" at home when appropriate. Plan: continue current targets; begin field of 3 for matching. — A. Rivera, RBT
RBT provided 1:1 ABA services to K.T. in the family home from 3:30–5:30 PM; learner, RBT, and mother present. Targets addressed: following 1-step directions, tacting common items, and turn-taking with a sibling. K.T. followed 7/10 one-step directions independently and tacted 12 items at 80% accuracy with verbal-model prompts. At 4:12 PM, following the removal of the tablet at the end of a scheduled break, K.T. dropped to the floor and cried for approximately 4 minutes. RBT implemented the BIP: removed attention from the behavior, presented the visual schedule showing "first clean-up, then outside," and reinforced the first approximation of standing. K.T. transitioned to the next activity within 5 minutes and completed the remainder of the session without further incident; the episode was recorded on the ABC data sheet. Mother was coached in the moment on presenting the visual schedule. Plan: continue current targets; pre-teach the tablet transition with a 2-minute warning. — D. Okafor, RBT
RBT provided 1:1 ABA services to L.P. in the kindergarten classroom from 8:30–10:30 AM; learner, RBT, and classroom teacher present. Targets addressed: raising hand to request attention, remaining seated during circle time, and peer greetings. L.P. raised her hand to request help 5 times with one gestural prompt each, remained seated for 8 of 10 minutes of circle (criterion: 7), and greeted 2 peers with a verbal model. RBT faded proximity from within arm's reach to 3 feet during seat work per the fading plan. No challenging behavior occurred. Teacher was briefed on the hand-raising target and agreed to honor raised hands within 5 seconds where feasible. Plan: hold criterion one more session, then fade gestural prompt for hand-raising. — M. Chen, RBT
Same (fictional) session, two notes. The first one is what gets claims denied. The second is the same information made audit-proof.
"Leo had a rough day today. He was very defiant during table work and had a meltdown when asked to clean up. He calmed down eventually and did better after that. Worked on his goals. Mom was told about his day."
"Targets addressed: 2-step directions and independent clean-up. Leo completed 4/10 two-step directions with full physical prompts (down from 6/10 independent on 8/26 — regression noted for BCBA review). When presented with the clean-up instruction at 3:40 PM, Leo swiped materials from the table and cried for 6 minutes; RBT implemented the BIP (blocked access, re-presented demand with a first/then visual) and Leo complied with the original demand within 2 prompts. Remainder of session completed at typical accuracy. Mother was updated on the regression and the successful use of the first/then visual. Plan: BCBA to review 2-step direction data before next session."
The fastest way to upgrade your notes: stop describing inner states, start describing what the video camera would have seen.
| Never write | Write instead |
|---|---|
| "He was aggressive" | "He hit the RBT's forearm 4 times with an open hand" |
| "She had a meltdown" | "She dropped to the floor, cried, and kicked her legs for approximately 6 minutes" |
| "He refused to work" | "He did not initiate the task within 10 seconds of the instruction across 3 presentations" |
| "She was anxious / frustrated / angry" | "She pushed the materials away and turned her body away from the table" |
| "Did great today!" | "Met criterion on 2 of 3 targets; manding increased from 9 to 14 independent responses" |
| "Worked on communication" | "Targets addressed: manding for items using 2-word phrases; tacting actions" |
| "He knows how to do it, he just won't" | "Accuracy was 90% on 8/26 and 40% today; motivation variables to be reviewed with BCBA" |
Everything at E.M.O. is built the same way: field-tested, BCBA-written, and made to be used mid-session, not admired.
154 function-based goals across 21 domains with medical-necessity rationales — click-to-copy into CentralReach or your treatment plan. Our most-downloaded resource.
210 practice questions with a rationale on every item, including a Challenge Series at real-exam difficulty.
Visual schedules, First/Then, token boards, and 156 teaching routines on the tablet you already have. Free for 3 months with code tryclassroom.
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