I would encourage others to earn the CLVS certification because you never know when you may need the skills, even if you are primarily still reporting.

Deborah Alvino, RPR, CRR, CLVS, CRC
Home / Certification / NCRA Certifications / Certified Legal Video Specialist (CLVS)

Certified Legal Video Specialist (CLVS)

Certified Legal Video Specialist

What is CLVS?

The Certified Legal Video Specialist (CLVS) is designed for legal videographers to showcase proficiency in video deposition practices.  The CLVS program sets and enforces standards for competency in the capture, utilization, and retention of legal video and promotes awareness of these standards within the legal marketplace. Legal videographers partner with court reporters to ensure the integrity of both the video of legal proceedings and the official transcript.

Who is eligible for the CLVS certification?

Videographers who wish to develop proficiency in legal video deposition practices.

Is the CLVS Certification a good fit for me?

Strong candidates have some background or experience in videography. The course is not designed to teach videography from the ground up. The CLVS program is designed to teach an overview of capturing the legal video record.

 Minimum expertise highly recommended:

  • Video camera familiarity – can operate, adjust lens, light balance, etc.
  • Familiarity with lighting – white balance, lighting options
  • Familiarity with mixers/mics
  • Interest in preserving the legal video record
  • Experience with video files
  • Familiar with basic legal process

 

CLVS testing information

The following are the THREE components of CLVS testing.

Number 1 (Online CLVS Education workshop) is mandatory and MUST be taken FIRST.

PRICING

Member: $350
Nonmember: $450

numbers

Mandatory Online CLVS Education

This online seminar is mandatory and is comprised of seven modules that cover the knowledge you need to record depositions with confidence.

Register for mandatory CLVS education

Number 2 (Production Exam) and number 3 (WKT) may be taken in any order.

PRICING

Member: $325
Nonmember: $425

Optional Hands-on Training

PRICING

Member: $200
Nonmember: $300

numbers2

CLVS Production exam and Hands-on training

Exam location: NCRA Headquarters, Reston, Virginia.

The production exam is administered two times a year: spring and fall (depending on interest). Please contact NCRA by calling 800-272-NCRA (6272) for more information, or contact the CLVS Staff. During this exam you'll run the show at a staged deposition and be graded on your ability to follow video deposition guidelines and produce a usable, high-quality video of the deposition. When your passing grade is confirmed, and you have passed the written knowledge test, you have earned your CLVS. This exam will stay on your record for 3 years. If you have not taken your WKT within three years of the production exam, you must retake the exam.

Candidates who already hold another NCRA certification will earn 0.25 PDC after passing either the Written Knowledge Test or the Production Exam.

Register for Hands-on Training and CLVS Production Exam

Registration period: Sept. 21 – Oct. 31, 2026

  • Hands-on Training: Nov. 12, 2026 (1–4 p.m.)
  • Production exam dates: Nov. 13–14, 2026

Registration form [PDF]

Visit NCRA.org/WKT for pricing information

numbers3

CLVS Written Knowledge Test (WKT)

Test online through Pearson VUE

The Written Knowledge Test (WKT) is a 120*-question, multiple-choice test that focuses on the areas that come from the CLVS Job Analysis:

  • Pre-production (19%)
  • Production (39%)
  • Post production (28%)
  • Professional practices (14%)

You must pass with a score of 70 or better.

* Pretesting ensures that all items on an examination are items with good statistics and no brand-new, untried items will appear on any examination. This means that the examinations will have 120 items instead of 100 items. These items will not be scored, so the exams are still based off of 100 points. Candidates will not know which items are pretest items. Candidates have 110 minutes to complete all items on the test.

This exam will stay on your record for three years. If you have not taken your Production Test within three years of the WKT, you must retake the exam.

WKT registration and information

 

How to maintain your CLVS certification

As an CLVS, you'll participate in NCRA's continuing education program. All CLVSs must maintain either continuous membership or annual payment of CLVS fees in order to maintain their certifications.

I. Continuing Education requirement

CLVSs are required to earn 1.0 Continuing Education Unit (CEU), the equivalent of 10 hours of approved seminar time, per three-year CEU cycle. CLVS may earn .25 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) towards the 1.0 CEUs required for their cycle. Please check your cycle transcript to view your continuing education record for this cycle.

Learn about CLVS Exam Retention Policy

 

II. Membership requirement

CLVS certification is maintained with the one of the following annual renewals:

You do not need your renewal form to renew over the phone. A Member Services and Information Center Specialist will be happy to assist you. NCRA hours are 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday.

Please note that only NCRA members are listed in the online NCRA PROLink directory.

 

CLVS benefits

NCRA associate membership offers additional benefits and automatically renews your CLVS certification. Compare the benefits available to nonmember credential holders and associate members below.

NEW benefits effective Jan. 1, 2027
BenefitsNonmember Certified CLVS$125Associate Member$197
Free basic listing and access to upgraded listing options as a CLVS in the online NCRA PROLink* ✓
NEW Listing of nonmember certified CLVS credential holders on website (not in PROLink/member directory)*✓✓
Authorized use of the CLVS logo on the certification holder’s marketing materials*✓✓
Authorized use of the CLVS designation following the certification holder’s name*✓✓
NEW Reduced pricing in the NCRA Book Store* (less than nonmember, but more than member pricing)*✓✓
NEW Reduced pricing for select NCRA events and education offerings* (less than nonmember, but more than member pricing)*✓✓
NEW Reduced pricing in the NCRA’s Learning Center online educational catalog* (less than nonmember but more than member pricing)*✓✓
Authorized use of the NCRA member logo on the member’s marketing materials ✓
Subscription to the Journal of Court Reporting (contains special legal video content) ✓
Subscription to the JCR Weekly, a news publication for the reporting, captioning, and legal video professions ✓
Access to group rates for errors & omissions insurance as well as personal liability insurance ✓
Access to members-only sections of the NCRA website ✓
 

*Individuals may join NCRA before earning their CLVS certification. However, benefits marked with an asterisk are available only after successfully completing all CLVS certification requirements.

Join NCRA

 
 

Recognition of your achievement

After you have earned your certification, you will be able to log in to your NCRA account and print your newly earned certificate to proudly display in your home or office. Your certification also gets recognition in the Journal of Court Reporting and on NCRA's website. NCRA membership also includes a complimentary listing in NCRA PROLink.

 

CLVS Code of Ethics

Preamble

The mandatory Code of Professional Ethics for Certified Legal Video Services (CLVS) defines the ethical relationship the public, the bench, and the bar have a right to expect from a CLVS Member. The Code sets out the conduct of the CLVS Member when dealing with the user of video services and acquaints the user, as well as the Member, with guidelines established for professional behavior. By complying with the CLVS Code of Professional Ethics, CLVS Members maintain their profession at the highest level.

A CLVS Member must also adhere to the voluntary Principles for Professional Practice when providing legal video services as well as all local, state and federal rules and statutes.

Here are some resources: