Realtime Systems Administrator Practical Exam

The Realtime Systems Administrator Workshop and Exam will be offered at the Annual Convention in August.

In order to take the Realtime Systems Administrator practical exam, candidates must have attended the Realtime Systems Administrator Workshop that are held at the Annual Convention or at TechCon. 

Candidates must bring their own CAT system to take the practical exam.  The exam will include the following elements: 

• Reporters bring their laptops and machines and must connect to attorneys’ computers and ensure effective realtime stream.
• Test candidates will troubleshoot issues on attorneys’ computers that need to be fixed.
• Test candidates are given 20 minutes to complete the exam - hooking up and sending a realtime feed simultaneously to two computers successfully, which are preloaded with two different Realtime Viewers (LiveNote and Summation).
• Test candidates are encouraged to arrive earlier than your time slot to boot their computer and set up their writer prior to entering the individual exam areas. (Tables with power strips will be provided for booting and setting up.)
• The examiner/proctor will start the timer and will indicate to the test candidate when there are ten and five minutes remaining for the exam.
• Multi-Line Block with appropriate cables and adapters are provided.
• A StenoCast X7 device and two receivers are provided.
• Two USB-to-Serial adapters are provided.
• CD and thumb drive with necessary drivers are provided
• Test candidates may choose either the cabling method or the Bluetooth method to send the realtime feed to the receive laptops.
• Test candidates must provide the cable, Bluetooth or wireless feed from the writer to the CAT computer.
• Test candidates must provide the USB-to-Serial adapter from CAT computer, if needed, to connect to the Multi-Line Block provided.
• If choosing the StenoCast Bluetooth option for hooking up, the X7 device is provided for output from your computer.
• A test candidate will pass the exam if he/she successfully delivers a realtime feed simultaneously to the two receive computers.  If the test candidate has not successfully hooked up one or both of the computers to realtime, the candidate does not pass. In this situation, the examiner/proctor will provide feedback as to why the test candidate failed to troubleshoot successfully.
• In order to allow for feedback to the test candidate, the examiner/proctor will be closely observing your troubleshooting process.  This may include standing nearby or looking over your shoulder.

In summary, you will be required to bring all equipment necessary to send your realtime feed to the Multi-Line Block (Steno machine, computer, cables and adapters, if necessary).  If you choose the StenoCast option, NCRA will be providing all of the StenoCast equipment, including the X7 and the receivers and the driver.

IMPORTANT NOTES

In order to ensure your success in sitting for the practical exam, it is recommended that you should practice working with realtime before sitting for the exam.  Only those who already have familiarity with realtime connectivity should attempt to sit for the practical exam immediately following a workshop.

Please note that due to the nature of this exam, attendance is very limited. Registration is first-come, first-served.

Retesting Policy

Candidates are not permitted to retest/sit for the same certification or certificate exam during a given test administration period.  This includes, but is not limited to, the following programs: RPR, RMR, RDR, CRR, CBC, CCP, CLVS, Realtime Systems Administrator, Trial Presentation Professional. 
 
Unless the retest is required due to an NCRA technical malfunction or other extenuating circumstances deemed appropriate by the Council of the Academy of Professional Reporters, candidates must wait until the next test administration to retest, and all expenses to retest (registration fee, travel expenses, etc.) will be covered by the candidate.