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: |
| 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. |
