CSR Exam Information

NOTE: Lack of knowledge of the rules is not an allowable exception for not following them.

UPCOMING EXAM DATES:

Envelopes must be postmarked before midnight on the deadline date. As dates are subject to change we recommend that examinees contact TCRA for confirmation of exam dates and locations. The deadline to register with TCRA for the exam is 30 days before the exam date. 

EXAM DATES FOR 2008-2009:

ELIGIBILITY DEADLINE DATES FOR 2008-2009:

Envelopes must be postmarked before midnight on the deadline date. If forms are incomplete, missing documentation, or are not sent by the deadline, the applicant will be considered ineligible to take the current CSR exam and must reapply for the next exam. Once eligibility registration closes no further exam items will be accepted.

The deadline to apply for exam eligibility with the Board office is 45 days prior to the exam date. Examinees will not be registered to take the CSR exam until deemed exam eligible by the Board office.

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GENERAL EXAM INFORMATION:

All persons desiring to engage in the practice of shorthand reporting for use in litigation in the courts of the State of Texas must possess a valid license/certificate issued by the Supreme Court upon recommendation of the Court Reporters Certification Board (Section 52.021, Chapter 52, Government Code, V.T.C.A.). A person commits a criminal offense if the person engages in shorthand reporting violating Section 52.021(b) of this Code except as provided for by Section 52.031. Each day of violation is a separate offense. An applicant achieves certification by successfully completing Part A (oral) and Part B (written) of the examination. Texas does not offer reciprocity to certified reporters from other states

ORAL EXAM: (Part A)

The oral portion of the test, Part A, consists of 5 minutes of 2 voice dictation of questions and answers given at 225 words per minute (wpm), 5 minutes of dictation of jury charge given at 200 wpm, and 5 minutes of dictation of selected literary material given at 180 wpm. Each applicant shall personally take down the test, either in their own writing or in their own voice, and shall reduce to writing the takedown on either a manual or electric typewriter, or computer. The minimum passing grade on each section of Part A of the test shall be 95% accuracy. Applicants may use a dictionary during Part A of the test. Applicants have 3 hours to type Part A of the test. If time permits, the applicant may review their transcript but shall use only their original takedown from which their transcript was prepared to review that transcript.

Options for qualifying to take the oral portion of the examination:

1. If you're an RPR/RMR (NCRA) or CVR/CM (NVRA), you may submit a letter from NCRA/NVRA, as an attachment to your application.  The letter must be an original, it must be notarized, and it must be on their letterhead. It must attest to the fact that you have passed the RPR/RMR exam or CVR/CM exam and are currently certified and in good standing. Said letter must be current on the exam date applied for in order to be a substitute for the Statement of Proficiency (SOP).  The letter is only valid for one year and must be valid on the exam date for which you are applying.



2. If you're not an RPR/RMR or CVR/CM, or are either by way of grandfathering, you must file an SOP form with the Board. The SOP shall be on the official form provided in the application packet. It must be certified by an instructor of a court reporting school and countersigned by the appropriate administrative officer of the court reporting school if the applicant attended the school. The person so certifying that the applicant has satisfactorily passed at the rate of 95% accuracy at least two tests on new material, dictated and graded by the person so certifying and taken by the method of shorthand reporting for which the applicant has applied for examination.   The proficiency tests shall consist of new material and shall be administered all at one time (i.e., each test must consist of 180 wpm literary, 200 wpm jury charge, and 225 wpm Q&A.)  Proficiency tests cannot be administered/passed in legs. The proficiency is only valid for one year and must be valid on the exam date for which you are applying.

Failure by the applicant to submit the SOP, or NCRA/NVRA letter, shall preclude the applicant from assignment to the oral examination. 

Grading of the certification exams:

An error shall be charged for:

WRITTEN EXAM: (Part B)

The objective questions in Part B are multiple choice, with the following categories: grammar and punctuation, spelling (general and medical), vocabulary (general and medical), Texas Court Procedure (Civil and Criminal), and general legal. Time allotted for Part B is 45 minutes.

Please be advised that the Board office does not provide study guides for the exam.

*    List of TCRA's recommended study materials for the written exam.

Materials recommended for study in preparation for the written portion of the examination include, but are not necessarily limited to:

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EXAM PROCEDURES:

The exam registration process is two-fold. First, applicants must apply for exam eligibility with the Court Reporters Certification Board (Board or CRCB).
Second, applicants must register for the certification exam with the Texas Court Reporters Association (TCRA), which is administering the certification exam on behalf of the Board. Please refer to the Upcoming Exam Dates section for deadline details.

First-Time Examinee Form Requirements:
Mail the items below to: CRCB, PO Box 13122, Austin, TX 78711-3122.

1) Application for Certification (w/the $85 app fee),
2) Application for Exam Eligibility, and
3) Statement of Proficiency or NCRA/NVRA letter (if taking oral exam).


Re-Examination Form Requirements (no fees due):
Mail the items below to: CRCB, PO Box 13131, Austin, TX 78711-3131

1) Application for Exam eligibility, and
2) * Statement of Proficiency or NCRA/NVRA letter (if taking oral exam)
 
(*) Please note that you do not need to re-qualify if your previous proficiency has yet to expire (as it is valid for 1 year).

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CERTIFICATION BY ENDORSEMENT:

Effective June 1, 2004 the Board began allowing licensees from other states to become certified in Texas without the requirement of passing the skills portion of the certification examination. Applicants will, however, be required to take and pass the written knowledge portion of the certification exam. The Board does not offer certification by reciprocity. Additionally, the process of certification by endorsement does not extend to RPR's/RMR's (or CVR's/CM's), nor does it extend to those reporters in states where certification by examination is not required. Furthermore, the endorsement process is not applicable to those whose state certification requirements are not substantially equivalent to that of the State of Texas. If you're a licensed out-of-state reporter who would like to apply for certification in Texas, please go to the Forms section of our website and download/complete the Application for Certification by Endorsement.

Endorsements Log
 

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FEES:

There is a one-time, non-refundable, application fee. First time applicants must pay the application fee.  Those reinstating their certifications by taking the exam must pay the application fee the first time they retest.

EXAMINATION FEES (due to TCRA):

APPLICATION FEE (due to CRCB): $85 

PAYMENTS:

The application fee is due 45-days before the exam date. Fees must be in the form of a money order, cashier's check, or bank-certified check made payable to the Court Reporters Certification Board or the State of Texas. Ensure to include your name on your check. The Board cannot accept cash, credit/debit cards, or personal/business checks.

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