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Specialty

Certification

State

Mandatory/Voluntary Certification Requirements

Alabama Mandatory
Written: Yes
Skill:  180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
Alaska  
Arizona Mandatory - Must pass an NCRA (or NVRA) exam and an Arizona exam.
Written: Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
Arkansas Mandatory
Written:  Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
California Mandatory
Colorado Mandatory
Official Court Reporters must have their RPR and CRR
Connecticut Mandatory
Written: Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
Delaware None
Florida Voluntary
Georgia Mandatory - must pass NCRA (or NVRA) test before applying for Georgia certification
Written: Yes
Skills:  Yes, testing speeds of national certifications
Hawaii Mandatory
Tested RPR must pass Hawaii written exam.
Idaho Mandatory
Written:  Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
Illinois Mandatory
Written:  Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit, 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
Indiana Voluntary
Written: Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
Iowa Mandatory
Conditional Reciprocity. Tested RPR must pass Iowa written exam.
Written: Yes
Skill:180 wpm technical Q&A, 200 & 225 wpm nontechnical
Kansas Mandatory
Reciprocity granted to tested RPRs.
Written: YES
Skill: 180 medical Q&A, 200 wpm solid matter, 225 wpm Q&A
Kentucky Voluntary
Louisiana Mandatory
Will grant CSR to tested RPRs
Written: Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
Maine No CSR
Maryland No CSR
Massachusetts Two Types:
1. No mandatory certification for state officials.
2. Voluntary for freelancers (by state association).
Skill: 170 wpm Lit., 190 wpm JC, 210 wpm Q&A
Michigan Mandatory
Reciprocity given for RPR Skills portion. However, must pass CSR Written Knowledge test.
Written: Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
Minnesota Officials must have their RPR and have graduated from an NCRA certified program.
Mississippi Mandatory certification on NCRA exam.
Grant reciprocity to RPRs only on Skills; to CSRs but must take WKT.
Written: Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
Missouri Mandatory
Written: Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
Montana No certification required
Nebraska Voluntary.
There is no official state test.  Proficiency is proven through past work, RPR certificate, or a state proficiency test is administered.  Reciprocity is granted to tested RPRs & CSRs if their standards are same as test.
Nevada Mandatory
Written: Yes
Skill: Dictation not less than 200 wpm and not more than 225 wpm
New Hampshire

Mandatory licensure with reciprocity to the RPR or CVR and no state-to-state reciprocity. There is no NH-specific examination (written or skills). The license requirement includes a $1,000 bond. More information can be found at:
http://www.nh.gov/jtboard/ 

New Jersey Mandatory
Written: Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
New Mexico Mandatory unless granted waiver.
Reciprocity to tested RPRs & CSRs who passed an equivalent exam, and have three out of four years' court-reporting experience immediately prior to application.
Written: Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
New York Voluntary
Written: Yes
Skill: 7 min. 4-voice 200 wpm Q&A, 4min 175 wpm JC, 5 min 175 wpm Q&A
North Carolina Freelance reporters: none Required
Official: reporters: RPR (or CVR) and maintain all CEU requirements
North Dakota None
Ohio None
Oklahoma Mandatory. Reciprocity granted for RPR, RMR, and certain CSRs.
Written: Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., no JC, 200 wpm Q&A
Oregon Voluntary CSR
Will grant CSR to tested RPRs who been tested within 24-mo. period preceding application for CSR
Pennsylvania None
Rhode Island Voluntary
Written: No
Skill: Must report an actual trial and transcribe 10 pages
South Carolina Mandatory testing administered by Court Administration for court. May be waived if RPR or CM.
South Dakota  
Tennessee Mandatory Licensure
Will grant CSR to tested RPRs or states with equivalent testing.
Texas Mandatory
Written: Yes
Skill: 180 wpm Lit., 200 wpm JC, 225 wpm Q&A
Utah NCRA RPR or National Verbatim Reporters Association CVR
Vermont  
Virginia Voluntary
Washington Mandatory
West Virginia Mandatory for Official reporters. Voluntary for Freelancers
Wisconsin None - Officials receive a pay raise for certification
Wyoming Officials must have graduated from an accredited court reporting school AND pass a 225 Q&A.