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Court Reporter — CVR/RPR/RMR
Court reporter licensing requires completion of an approved stenography program, passing speed and written examinations, and meeting state-specific certification requirements. Approximately 30 states require licensure — requirements for NCRA certification, speed tests, and continuing education vary by jurisdiction.
51
Total States
24
Require License
8
Require NCRA
16.9 hrs
Avg CE Hours
Court reporter licensure involves completing stenography training, passing speed and written examinations, obtaining NCRA certification, and meeting state-specific requirements.
The NCRA offers three certification levels: RPR (Registered Professional Reporter) at 225 wpm, RMR (Registered Merit Reporter) at 260 wpm, and RDR (Registered Diplomate Reporter) at 280 wpm. Many states require or accept NCRA RPR as the qualifying credential for state licensure.
Court reporters must demonstrate stenographic proficiency at 225 wpm for literary dictation, 200 wpm for jury charge, and 180 wpm for two-voice testimony. Speed tests are administered by the state or NCRA and must be completed with 95% accuracy.
Court reporters work in official court proceedings, depositions, arbitrations, CART services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, realtime reporting, and broadcast captioning. Freelance reporters provide deposition and hearing services for law firms and agencies.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | License Req. | NCRA Req. | Speed Test | CE Hours | Total Fees | Confidence | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Yes | No | Yes | 5 | $75 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 | $500 | high | Mar 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Yes | No | Yes | 30 | $75-$150 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| California(CA) | Yes | No | Yes | 0 | $265 | high | Mar 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A for freelance | high | Mar 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A for mandatory licensing; voluntary FPR exam: $199 (FCRA members) or $499 (non-members) | high | Mar 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 | $125 | high | Mar 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $125 | high | Mar 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | Yes | No | Yes | 0 | $50 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | Yes | No | Yes | 10 | $25 | high | Mar 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Yes | No | Yes | 0 | $50 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | Yes | No | Yes | 0 | $125 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | No | Yes | 0 | $265 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A for mandatory; voluntary exam: $40-$50 | high | Mar 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Yes | No | Yes | 0 | $285 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | Yes | No | Yes | 0 | $175 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | Yes | No | Yes | 0 | $100 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Yes | No | Yes | 15 | $350 | high | Mar 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | Per NCRA RPR exam and membership fees | high | Mar 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | Per NCRA RPR exam and membership fees | high | Mar 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | Per NCRA RPR fees | high | Mar 2026 |
| New York(NY) | No | No | Yes | 0 | $173 (voluntary CSR); $50-$100 (voluntary NYRCR/NYACR) | high | Mar 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Yes | No | Yes | 0 | $150-$200 | medium | Mar 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | No | No | Yes | 0 | $100 (voluntary CSR exam) | high | Mar 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Yes | No | Yes | 0 | Contact judiciary for current fees | medium | Mar 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 20 | $250 | high | Mar 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | Yes | No | Yes | 10 | $200 | high | Mar 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 | $45 | high | Mar 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | No | No | Yes | 2 | $30 plus VCRA membership | high | Mar 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Yes | No | Yes | 5 | $165 | high | Mar 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | No | No | Yes | 0 | N/A | high | Mar 2026 |
Court reporters often work alongside other licensed professionals. Explore related licensing requirements.
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