Becoming a court reporter in Texas involves a series of very specific steps. A potential court reporter must thoroughly learn the profession of court reporting, pass a series of tests and exams, and then maintain continuing education requirements. The process can, at first, seem daunting, so here we will explain the procedure step by step.
Education
In order to qualify as a court reporter in Texas, the student must have a thorough grounding in the profession. There is no specific educational requirement, but most students choose to attend an accredited court reporting program, the length of which will vary according to the exact focus that the student chooses. In order to qualify for the exam, the prospective court reporter must pass two proficiency tests that are administered by an instructor at a school of court reporting. Most schools are willing to administer these tests to non-students, offering an option to those who may have trained in other states or are self-taught.
The Texas Court Reporting Exam
After passing the required school-administered proficiency tests, a prospective court reporter may sit at the exam. Exams are administered on a regular basis by the Court Reporters Certification Board, which is also the governing body responsible for licensing and disciplining court reporters in the state of Texas. The exam covers both knowledge and skills in court reporting and both parts must be passed in order to be granted a court reporter license.
Exam Day
The CRCB maintains a website and related PDF files detailing all of the important information regarding exam day at Exam Registration. Some of the salient points to keep in mind are as follows:
The student is required to provide all relevant equipment and materials. The Board does not provide paper, diskettes, etc.
Electronic equipment is not permitted, although an electronic dictionary may be used during the oral exam. No internet access will be permitted during the testing session. No other reference materials may be used, and no dictionaries are permitted during the written exam.
Students may use a personal computer in lieu of a laptop if they register to do so in advance. However, the student must be able to fully delete test materials from the computer before leaving the testing room. Failure to do so will result in cheating penalties.
Reciprocal Certification for Those Certified in Other States
Texas law allows those who are currently licensed in states with substantively similar requirements to avoid the skills exam in Texas. The court reporter must provide a completed Application for Eligibility of Certification by Endorsement. Those who qualify for certification by endorsement need pass only the written knowledge exam to become certified in Texas. More information, including a list of states that have been deemed Eligible or Ineligible for Certification by Endorsement, can be found on the CRCB website.
Criminal Convictions
A past criminal conviction does not necessarily bar an applicant from becoming a Certified Court Reporter in Texas. Such convictions will be reviewed and weighted on a case by case basis. However, failure to report a criminal background will be a bar to becoming certified, so it is important to be honest.
Texas Court Reporting Sites That We Serve: