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SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS

IN RE: ARKANSAS SUPREME 

COURT BOARD OF CERTIFIED 

COURT REPORTER EXAMINERS

Opinion Delivered September 15, 2016

PER CURIAM

The Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners [the Board] has submitted 

proposed changes to The Rule Providing for Certification of Court Reporters and the 

Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners. Specifically, the Board 

has proposed that an additional regulation be added. The new regulation permits a court 

reporter, who has successfully completed a national certification exam, received the 

accompanying certification, and remains in good standing with the national certification, to 

petition the Board for certification. Implementation of the new regulation requires minor 

changes to the existing rules and regulations. We have reviewed the Board’s proposal and 

we adopt the additional regulation along with the accompanying amendments to the rules 

and regulations. The revisions to the rules and regulations, which are set out in "line-in, 

line-out" fashion below (new material is underlined; deleted material is lined through), are 

effective immediately. 
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Section 26 of the Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter 

Examiners Admission by National Certification 

A court reporter, who has successfully completed a national certification exam, 

received the accompanying certification, and remains in good standing with the national 

certification, may petition the Board for certification. As used in this Section, “national 

certification exam” means an exam given by The National Court Reporters Association 

and/or the National Verbatim Reporters Association. As used in this Section, “the 

accompanying certification” is limited to a registered professional reporter certificate (RPR) 

or a certified verbatim reporter certificate (CVR). 

Applicants for this alternative certification must file a written application in the form 

prescribed by the Court, together with documentation establishing the successful 

completion of the national certification and an application fee as set forth in Section 3 of 

these Regulations, with the Clerk of the Supreme Court. Applicants and/or applications 

shall be screened by the Board based upon the criteria outlined in Section 5 of the Rule 

Providing for Certification of Court Reporters, and those deemed eligible for certification 

shall be promptly notified. 

Prior to receiving the certification from the Board, the applicant must participate in 

an orientation session at a time and place set by the Board. Certification shall be issued 

solely in the method by which the applicant is nationally certified. 

Upon receiving certification from the Board, the court reporter shall be subject to 

all applicable Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Board and/or the Supreme Court 
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including but not limited to: Section 13 regarding continuing education requirements, 

Section 8 regarding payment of certification renewal fees, Section 19, Section 22, applicable 

records retention policies, and applicable transcript preparation regulations. 

Section 4 of the Rule Providing for Certification of Court Reporters 

Every applicant examination for certification as a certified court reporter shall file 

with the clerk of this court a written application in the form prescribed by the Board. Upon 

request, the clerk of this court shall forward to any interested person application forms 

together with the text of this rule and a copy of the regulations promulgated by the Board 

under the provisions of Section 3. 

Section 4 of the Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners 

Applicants, other than those certified without examination pursuant to Section 6 of 

the Rule Providing for Certification of Court Reporters or those certified pursuant to 

Section 26 of these Regulations, shall file not later than 30 days prior to the next 

examination date, a written application in the form prescribed by the Court, together with 

an application fee as set forth in Section 3 of these Regulations, with the Clerk of the 

Supreme Court. Said application fee shall not be refunded in the event the applicant decides 

not to take the examination or fails the examination. Said application shall state by which 

method the applicant will test, and certification will be issued solely in that method if the 

applicant successfully passes the examination. 
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Section 5 of the Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners

Applicants and/or applications shall be screened by the Board and those deemed 

eligible to take the examination for certification will be advised and provided all necessary 

information. of the time and place the test will be conducted. Any applicant whose 

application is denied shall be promptly notified of the action of the Board and the application 

fee shall be refunded. 

Section 6 of the Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners 

Applicants for certification, deemed eligible by the Board, shall receive certification 

upon submitting the application, paying the application fee, and either successfully passing 

the certification examination or utilizing the provisions of Section 26. Certification shall be 

issued solely in the method by which the applicant successfully tested.

Section 17 of the Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter 

Examiners 

The Executive Secretary of the Board will forward the files containing the names 

and pertinent information including address, phone number, and email address for all 

individuals who have passed the certification test or were granted certification pursuant to 

Section 26 to the Supreme Court Clerk's office where said files will be maintained and 

stored. 

The Executive Secretary will maintain and store all other files pertaining to test 

results, including all verbatim notes or records, transcripts, and other papers used in 
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connection with testing for a period of two years following the date of testing, at which 

time the Executive Secretary may dispose of said files. 

It shall be the responsibility of the certified court reporter to provide the Office of 

the Supreme Court Clerk with written notification of any change of address within fourteen 

(14) working days. For the purposes of these regulations, written notification by certified or 

first class mail to the most recent address provided to the Office of the Clerk shall be deemed 

sufficient.