Rule 4 Test Requirements

A. Enrollment as a Certified Court Reporter - Voice, shall occur either via Reciprocity for Skills Examinations as set forth in subsection (F) of this Rule, or via Reciprocity as set forth in Rule 18 of the Rules of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Court Reporters.

B. The examination for enrollment as a Certified Court Reporter - Stenography shall consist of the following set forth in (1), (2) and (3):

1) Testimony and Proceedings ("Q&A") Skills Examination--

(a) Two tests will be administered using a two-voice question-and-answer dictation of testimony at two hundred (200) words per minute for five (5) minutes. Speaker designations such as "Q" and "A" will not be read nor counted as words, but must be appropriately indicated in the transcript.

(b) Ninety (90) minutes will be given for the transcription of the Q&A dictation. The candidate will choose which test to transcribe in which order. The candidate may choose to transcribe and submit one or two of the Q&A tests for grading.

2) Jury Charge Materials Skills Examination -- Two tests will be administered using a five-minute dictation of jury charge material at one hundred eighty (180) words per minute. Ninety (90) minutes will be given for the transcription of the jury charge dictation. The candidate will choose which test to transcribe in which order. The candidate may choose to transcribe and submit one or two jury charge tests for grading.

3) The Oklahoma Written Knowledge Test -- A written knowledge test of not less than twenty-five (25) multiple choice questions relating to the Oklahoma law and court rules, duties of certified shorthand reporters, and general court procedure. This section of the examination will be administered in forty-five (45) minutes. Candidates will be provided with the study aids from which the test questions will be taken. The written knowledge test may be administered together with or separately from the skills examination. There is no annual limitation on the number of times the written knowledge test may be administered.

C. Candidates will be allowed in the testing room one hour before the skills examinations begin to set up and practice. The jury charge skills examination will begin with a one-minute jury charge warmup dictated at 180 words per minute, followed by two five-minute jury charge tests dictated at 180 words per minute, followed by transcription time. Candidates will be allowed in the testing room twenty-minutes before the Q&A skills examination begins to prepare and practice. The Q&A skills examination will begin with a one-minute Q&A warmup dictated at 200 words per minute, followed by two five-minute Q&A tests dictated at 200 words per minute, followed by transcription time.

D. Candidates may take one or both of the skills examinations at any regularly scheduled examination. A candidate who has successfully completed either of the skills examinations may retain the credit for that portion of the examination for two (2) years from the date passed, and will not be required to retake that portion of the examination during the two (2) year period.

E. Candidates may take the Oklahoma Written Knowledge Test at any regularly scheduled examination or by special arrangement with the AOC's Director of Court Services. A candidate who has successfully completed the Oklahoma Written Knowledge portion of the examination may retain the credit for that portion of the examination for two (2) years from the date passed, and will not be required to retake that portion of the examination during the two (2) year period.

F. Reciprocity for Skills Examinations.

1) All references below to reciprocity for skills examinations through passing Verbatim Reporters examinations (CVR and RVR) will be effective with an amendment of 20 O.S.106.4(A)(1) (last amended by Laws 2023, SB 296, c. 100, 1, eff. 11/1/2023), eliminating the prohibition against the exclusive use of a steno-mask for court reporting.

2) A candidate who provides proof of passing the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) Examination of the National Court Reporters Association, the Registered Skilled Reporter (RSR) Examination of the National Court Reporters Association, the Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR) Examination of the National Verbatim Reporters Association, or the Realtime Verbatim Reporter (RVR) Examination of the National Verbatim Reporters Association, or an equivalent test as authorized by the Supreme Court, is eligible for enrollment without taking the skills examinations described in paragraphs A.(1) and A.(2) of this Rule.

3) A candidate who has successfully passed the jury charge skills examination portion or the testimony/Q&A skills examination portion of the RPR, RSR, CVR or the RVR within the past twenty-four (24) months may apply to the Board for recognition of the exam. The candidate must prove to the satisfaction of the Board that the speed and passing score for the skills examination are substantially comparable to the speed and passing score required by these Rules. Upon approval by the Board, a candidate may retain the credit for that skills examination for two (2) years from the date passed for enrollment as an Oklahoma Court Reporter.

4) The candidate must, prior to certification, pass the Oklahoma Written Knowledge portion of the examination, and meet all other applicable eligibility requirements.