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Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC)

Certified Realtime Reporter

What is the CRC?

The Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC) is NCRA's certification designed for entry-level captioners who would like to begin working in the broadcast or CART captioning fields.

Become a Certified Realtime Captioner and take advantage of the growing number of opportunities available to realtime captioners. As a top national program that certifies your ability in realtime captioning, attaining the CRC designation commands respect from potential employers.

Eligibility requirements

Candidates must be current or aspiring stenographic captioners in order to take the CRC requirements. Candidates do not need to be members of NCRA to take the CRC components.

Testing information

1. CRC Online Skills Test
Literary matter at 180 wpm
2. CRC Written Knowledge Test
50 multiple-choice questions).

Notes:

  • The NCRA Online Skills Test and the Written Knowledge Test can be taken in any order.
  • As of October 1, 2025, the Education component is no longer required.

Online Skills Test

Test requirements

  • Test duration: 5 minutes
  • Required speed: 180wpm
  • Accuracy required: 96%

Critical test rules !!

  • No editing permitted: You cannot edit your transcript at all.
  • Upload time only: Time allotted is solely for uploading your completed file.

Required preparation

All candidates MUST review the following information before registering and taking their test:

Online Skills Test instructions and technical requirements [PDF] CRC grading guidelines "What is an Error?" [PDF] Knowledge and Skill Outline [PDF]

Skills Test registration and information

Written Knowledge Test

The Written Knowledge Test, or WKT, is a 50-question, multiple-choice test that focuses on areas that come from the CRC Job Analysis:

  • Writing realtime (20%)
  • Language skills (15%)
  • The Broadcast captioning environment (25%)
  • The CART captioning environment (30%)
  • Research (10%)

You must pass with a score of 70% or higher.

All candidates are required to read the Written Knowledge Test information prior to registering and taking their test.

Candidates who hold another NCRA certification will receive .25 PDCs for passing the CRC WKT.

WKT registration and information

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.

How you maintain your CRC certification

Candidates who wish to use the CRC credential must become a Registered member of NCRA within 30 days of passing all CRC requirements. As a CRC, you will participate in NCRA's continuing education program. To renew your CRC, you must maintain your NCRA membership and earn a minimum of 3.0 CEUs over a three-year period.

Note: Effective January 1, 2025, due to budget constraints, and in an effort to maintain a greener footprint, NCRA will no longer be mailing physical certification certificates to members. Members may download and print their own certificates through the NCRA website. Print certification certificate instructions