An ABA session note template in SOAP format, with worked DTT and NET examples and a trials and prompts table.
✓Trials and prompt levels table
✓Worked DTT and NET examples
✓Data in O, judgement in A
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What's inside
S — Subjective
O — Objective
A — Assessment
P — Plan
Therapist Sign-off
Preview · 5 sections
Behaviour Therapy Session Note (SOAP)
Learner
Date
Therapist
Session Time
Setting
People Present
S — Subjective
Caregiver or teacher report since the last session
State on arrivalSleep, illness, routine changes, or mood as reported or observed.
O — Objective
Skill Acquisition Targets
Target
Format (DTT / NET / Other)
Trials or Opportunities
Independent Correct
Prompted (Level)
Incorrect / No Response
Notes
Behaviours of Concern
Behaviour (Plan Definition)
Measure
Count / Duration
Antecedent Notes
Response Used (Per Plan)
Reinforcers and engagement
Incidents
Incident reference and who was informed
A — Assessment
Interpretation of today's dataYour clinical interpretation compared with recent sessions.
P — Plan
Changes for the next session
Home practice and caregiver guidance given
Questions for the supervising clinician
Therapist Sign-off
Therapist
Designation
Registration
Date
How to fill it in
1
S — Subjective
What caregivers reported since the last session, and the person's state on arrival.
More guidance
Record what the caregiver or teacher reported since the last session, and the person's state on arrival: sleep, illness, routine changes, mood. Note any reported medication change without comment. Keep caregiver words in quotes where wording matters. Subjective information explains variation in data that would otherwise look random.
2
Skill Acquisition Targets
Each target's format, trials, independent and prompted responses, and errors.
More guidance
Record each target with its teaching format, the number of trials, independent correct responses, prompted responses with the prompt level, and incorrect or no-response trials. Use the codes from your trial-by-trial data sheet so the note and the sheet match. For NET, count the opportunities that arose in play and how the person responded to each.
3
Behaviours of Concern
Each BIP behaviour's count or duration, the antecedents, and the response used.
More guidance
For each behaviour in the BIP, record the measure the plan specifies, a count or duration, brief antecedent notes, and the response used. Confirm the response followed the plan. If a new behaviour appeared, describe it objectively and flag it for the supervising clinician; do not add it to the plan yourself.
4
Reinforcers and engagement
Which reinforcers worked today, which lost their appeal, and overall engagement.
More guidance
Note which reinforcers worked today, any that lost their appeal, and how engaged the person was across the session. Preferences shift quickly, and this one line saves the next therapist from opening with a toy the child has tired of.
5
Incidents
The incident record reference and who was informed, and nothing more.
More guidance
If an incident occurred, record the reference number from the clinic's incident record, who was informed and when. Keep the account in the incident record itself, written to the clinic's policy, and refer to it here so the session note stays focused on teaching data.
6
A — Assessment
Your reading of today's data against recent sessions, noting any uncertainty.
More guidance
Give your interpretation of today's data against recent sessions: which targets are moving toward criterion, which are stuck, and what might explain variation, such as poor sleep or a new room. Stay with what the data support and note uncertainty. The supervising clinician reviews this section where your clinic requires it.
7
P — Plan
Changes for next session, home practice given, and questions for supervision.
More guidance
Record changes for the next session: targets to probe for mastery, prompts to fade, new materials, or a question for the supervising clinician. Add the home practice you gave and to whom. A specific plan lets the next session start where this one ended.
ABA session note template with examples: filled sample
Fictional entries, initials only, showing the level of detail to aim for. Impression and summary sections are left for the treating clinician.
S — Subjective
Mother reports D. slept late after a family function and skipped breakfast. Arrived quiet, sat on the mat and took about five minutes to come to the table.
Skill Acquisition Targets
DTT, receptive colours (red, blue, yellow): 10 trials, 7 independent correct, 2 gestural prompt, 1 no response. NET, asking for “more” during bubble play: 8 opportunities, 5 independent spoken, 3 after a model.
Behaviours of Concern
Throwing materials (BIP definition): 2 episodes, both at the change from play to table work. Response per plan: prompted the break card; D. used it the second time and returned after one minute.
Reinforcers and engagement
Spinning top worked for the first half; after that D. chose the drum. Stayed with table work in 8 to 10 minute blocks with breaks between.
P — Plan
Next session: probe red and blue on the first trial; fade the gestural prompt for yellow. Home: mother to practise “more” at snack time daily.
DTT vs NET entries in a session note
Discrete trial teaching (DTT)
Natural environment teaching (NET)
Setting
Usually at a table, with planned materials
During play, meals or daily routines
Who starts the trial
The therapist gives an instruction
Often the learner, through interest or a request
What to record
Each trial: correct, prompted with level, incorrect or no response
Each opportunity that arose and how the learner responded
Typical count
A fixed block, such as 10 trials
Varies with the activity
Detail to include
Target, instruction, prompt codes
Activity, the opportunity, prompt used, notes on generalisation
Tips and mistakes to avoid
Do
Write the note the same day, from your data sheet.
Use one set of prompt codes in every note and sheet across the clinic.
Keep caregiver words as said, and ask before translating a phrase like “bahut pareshan tha”.
Record who was present, including a parent watching from the door.
healhab's free session data tracker counts trials and prompts on a phone; paste its summary into O.
Avoid
Writing “good session” or “child was cooperative” in place of data for each target.
Leaving out the prompt level on correct responses.
Mixing interpretation into the objective section.
Adding a new behaviour or strategy without telling the supervising clinician.
About this session note
An ABA session note records one behaviour therapy session in SOAP order: what caregivers reported, objective data for each target and behaviour, the therapist's interpretation, and the plan for next time. This template has tables for skill targets with trials and prompt levels, and for behaviours of concern, so every note captures the same data.
After every session, at the clinic, home or school
When several therapists see the same child
When a supervisor reviews data across sessions
When a parent watched and you want their account
Read more
Session notes are the daily record of behaviour therapy, written by whoever ran the session, ideally the same day. Supervising clinicians read them to spot trends and adjust programmes.
This note uses SOAP order and keeps skill targets, with trials and prompt levels, apart from behaviours of concern. In the US it is often called an RBT session note or a behavior session note.
Questions
What should be included in an ABA session note?+
Date, time, setting and people present; caregiver report and the person's state on arrival; data for each target with trials and prompt levels; data on behaviours of concern with the response used; reinforcers; your interpretation; and the plan for next session.
Is there a filled ABA session note example?+
Each section guide shows a fictional sample entry, using initials only, including a DTT block and a NET target. The A (assessment) section has guidance only, because your interpretation must come from your own data.
Is an ABA session note the same as a SOAP note?+
SOAP is one way to organise a session note. Many ABA clinics use it because it keeps reports, data, interpretation and plan apart. Others use a narrative note with a data table; the content matters more than the label.
How long should an ABA session note be?+
Short enough to write in about ten minutes and complete enough that another therapist could run the next session from it. The tables carry most of the detail.
What is the difference between DTT and NET notes?+
DTT notes record a planned block of trials with a code for each response. NET notes record opportunities that came up during play or routines and how the person responded. Most sessions include both.
Who signs the session note?+
The therapist who ran the session. If your clinic requires supervision, the supervising clinician reviews and countersigns at the agreed interval.
Can parents see session notes?+
Session notes are clinical records. Give families a plain-language session update, and share the full note on request in line with your clinic's records policy.
