In-person Skills Testing - Houston, Texas

Exam site information

Fees

(Pricing per individual test)

What to bring on exam day

• You must bring a valid current photo ID with you to gain entrance to the exam. Candidates who do not arrive with identification will be denied entrance to the exam.
• Bring a printout of your confirmation email.
• Candidates may use a printed Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Candidates are responsible for providing all necessary equipment including:

• Computer
• Steno machine
• CAT software
• Security keys (if needed)
• USB thumb drive for each test labeled with NCRA ID number and test type
• Cables (power cords, realtime cable mandatory for CRR and CRC)
• Extension cords (optional 6 foot recommended)
• Adapters (if needed, ex. serial port to USB adapter)

NOTE: You CANNOT bring any phones, smart watches, or other smart devices into the test room. Leave all smart devices in your hotel room or car. They will NOT be permitted into the test room.

Bluetooth is NOT permitted. You must have a wired connection.

Test Day Etiquette

You will be testing in the same room as other candidates. You must be respectful of other candidates testing to ensure the best test experience for all candidates. Testing etiquette includes, but is not limited to:

• Do not talk or whisper out loud during any part of the test.
• Candidates must remain seated for the duration of the test until they submit the test flash drive or an Affidavit of Non-transcription.
• Refrain from tapping fingers, shoes, etc.
• No eating or chewing gum will be permitted.
• No breaks will be permitted after candidates have entered the test room so as not to disturb other candidates who are testing.
• When packing up equipment, please do so as quietly as possible so as not to disturb those still testing.
• If you choose during the audio not to finish writing, please wait until the end of the audio to leave so as not to disturb other candidates who are still writing.
• Phones and smart devices will not be permitted in the test room under any circumstances to prevent any accidental sounds during the test.

If you cause a disturbance during the test, you may be liable monetarily for disrupting other candidates’ tests.

Exam instructions

RSR and RPR

CRR and CRC

Submitting your exam

The Skills Test transcripts must be the work of the individual candidate. Candidates are responsible for producing their own transcripts and notes without assistance, including saving and converting to the appropriate format. Files must be submitted in .txt format. The only transcript formatting guideline is that transcripts must be double-spaced.

Candidates who do not transcribe must sign an Affidavit of Non-transcription.

Saving your files

RSR and RPR candidates

• You must write your NCRA ID number at the beginning of your steno notes and transcript files. Candidates must perform their own translating and editing functions.
• Use your full name, NCRA ID number (found in your confirmation email), and the test type as the file names when making your new steno and test files. For test abbreviations, use the following: L for Literary, JC for Jury Charge, and T for Testimony. Examples: JaneSmith_12345RPRLnotes and 12345RPRL.
• Each test leg needs to be written as a separate file. Use of all capitals or all lowercase will result in an automatic failure of the exam. There will be no exceptions.
• Save your notes and transcript files in .txt format to a USB thumb drive labeled with your full name, NCRA ID number, and test type (RPR, etc.).

All candidates are required to place the following items in their skills test envelope and hand them in to NCRA Staff. Do NOT seal the envelope.

CRR and CRC candidates

• You must write your NCRA ID number at the beginning of your steno notes and transcript files. Candidates must perform their own translating and editing functions.
• Use your full name, NCRA ID number (found in your confirmation email), and the test type as the file names when making your new steno and test files. For test abbreviations, use the following: Examples: 12345CRRnotes and 12345CRR or 12345CRCnotes and 12345CRC.
• Candidates must use their own job dictionary. Candidates must know how to have their software write a text file double-spaced.
• Candidates are required to convert their file to text format and produce their own file, without assistance.
• On a USB Flash Drive Candidates are not permitted to edit their file.
• You cannot edit your transcript at all before saving to USB thumb drive. The time allotted is only to save your test file. (Time allotted to convert and turn in files: Five minutes).
• Save your notes and transcript files in .txt format to a USB thumb drive labeled with your full name, NCRA ID number, and test type (CRR or CRC).

All candidates are required to place the following items in their skills test envelope and hand them in to NCRA Staff. Do NOT seal the envelope.

Deleting testing files

All candidates are required to delete all forms of the test before leaving the testing room. If your machine has an SD card, be sure it is blank. Not complying with this step will result in forfeiture of your test.

Equipment and software rules and regulations

The setup and operation of equipment are integral parts of the exam. Therefore, candidates should not expect or receive instruction from NCRA Staff or other candidates on how to operate their own equipment. Additional time will not be allowed for equipment failure, accidental erasing of computer files, forgotten items (e.g., cables, power cords), or related events. Use of the candidate’s own equipment is strictly at the candidate’s own risk. The site and NCRA Staff assume no responsibility should any equipment not perform properly or be dropped, stolen, damaged, etc.

If your steno machine has a test mode, the test mode must be used. If you do not know if test mode is available on your steno machine, please contact the manufacturer or refer to your user manual prior to registration. The laptop screen must be situated in such a manner so that the display will not be visible to other candidates.

If you are taking more than one test, you will need to pack up your equipment and leave the test room in between each test. Please be prepared to do so.

Policies

In-Person Testing policies

All in-person testing candidates are required to sign the following disclaimer prior to taking their test(s):

I acknowledge I am aware of the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) policy concerning testing honesty and integrity. Failure to follow any NCRA Testing procedures may result in my automatic failure and being barred from taking NCRA-administered tests for a minimum of three testing cycles or permanently depending on the nature of the violation. NCRA members may also be suspended or expelled from the Association. I understand that the test is the exclusive property of the National Court Reporters Association. Copyright law protects the NCRA Tests. No part of these tests may be copied or reproduced in part or whole by any means whatsoever, including memorization, unless previously authorized by NCRA.

I further attest that the skills exam I am submitting is solely my own and was developed stenographically during the exam. I have used no notes, materials, or other aids other than those provided by NCRA. I further attest that, to the best of my knowledge, I have not retained a copy (either audio, text or stenographically) of the skills exam. Further, if I discover at any time that I have accidentally retained said copy, I will immediately delete it (in any and all formats) and notify NCRA promptly of the discovery. I further attest that I will not share any copies of this skills test with others, nor will I share its content (terminology or topic), either privately or on a public forum. The theft or attempted theft of an NCRA Test is punishable as a crime.

I will do my best not to disrupt other candidates during the Skills Test and understand that I may be liable monetarily if I do cause any disruption. I also understand that other candidates will be writing at the same time and may pack up their equipment and exit the room before me. I acknowledge that these actions may cause some noise and I am responsible for not letting those noises affect my testing ability. While NCRA strives to ensure a fair and equitable testing experience, we cannot be responsible for ensuring absolute silence during the full testing time.

Grading and results

Grading

All transcripts are graded according to the NCRA grading guidelines What is an Error? A copy is published online at NCRA.org/testing.

Results

Official results will be emailed four to six weeks after the 2023 NCRA Conference & Expo. 

Cancellation policy

Cancellations should be sent to testing@ncra.org using the in-person skills test cancellation form no later than July 10, 2023, to be considered for a refund. NCRA will retain a $50 processing fee for each canceled test registration. If you do not contact NCRA by July 10, 2023, your full testing fee will be forfeited.

If you are requesting a cancellation and refund after the cancellation deadline of July 10, 2023, due to an injury, major illness, flight cancellation, or other extenuating circumstance, please submit back-up documentation with the cancellation form. Examples of adequate back-up documentation include, but are not limited to, doctors’ notes, obituaries, notification from airline of flight cancellation. Please note that the $50 processing fee will still be applied. Failure to submit your request with back-up documentation will result in the return of your request without consideration.

Cancellations for extenuating circumstances must be received within 30 days after the July 10, 2023, deadline to be considered. If you do not contact NCRA within 30 days after the cancellation deadline of July 10, 2023, with the necessary extenuating circumstance documentation, your full testing fee will be forfeited. Any cancellations received after August 9 will not be considered for a refund, no matter the circumstances.

If you register to take an in-person test that you have already registered to take in May online, and you pass the test online, you will need to cancel your in-person test registration. Cancellation policies and fees for in-person skills testing still apply.

Special Accommodations

Candidates who need special accommodations must contact NCRA at testing@ncra.org prior to registering.