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How to become a licensed court reporter in Tennessee. NCRA RPR certification required. Speed test: No state exam; national certification provides proficiency verification. Total initial fees: $250. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Court Reporter — CVR/RPR/RMR
Governing Authority
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance — Board of Court Reporting
Official website →Most information on this page has been verified.
86% of data points are verified against official sources. 5 fields based on preliminary research. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
Yes
License Required
Yes
NCRA Required
Required
Speed Test
Not Required
State Exam
20 hrs
CE Hours
$250
Total Initial Fees
Stenography Program & Accreditation
VerifiedStenography Program
Not Required
Minimum Speed
Per national certification standards (RPR/CVR/AAERT)
Program Type
No specific education requirement; must hold RPR, CVR, or AAERT certification
Accreditation
No state-mandated program; national certification required
Court reporters must complete a court reporting or stenography program from an NCRA-approved or regionally accredited institution. Programs typically require 2-4 years and include intensive stenographic machine shorthand training, legal terminology, medical terminology, and transcript production. Graduates must demonstrate minimum speed proficiency, typically 225 wpm for literary material.
Certification Requirements
VerifiedNCRA Certification Required
National Court Reporters Association
NCRA Certifications
RPR, CVR (NVRA), or AAERT certification required
State Certification
Tennessee LCR — requires national certification; state does not administer proficiency test
Realtime Certification N/A
Realtime Reporting
The NCRA (National Court Reporters Association) offers three levels of certification: RPR (Registered Professional Reporter) as the baseline, RMR (Registered Merit Reporter) for advanced proficiency at 260 wpm, and RDR (Registered Diplomate Reporter) as the highest distinction at 280 wpm. Many states require or accept NCRA RPR certification as the qualifying credential for state licensure.
Examination Requirements
VerifiedSkills Test Not Required
Stenographic Speed Test
Speed Requirements
No state exam; national certification provides proficiency verification
Written Exam
No Written Exam
No State Exam
State-Specific Exam
No state exam; RPR, CVR, or AAERT certification required
Additional Requirements
Court reporter examinations typically include a stenographic skills test at 225 wpm for literary dictation, 200 wpm for jury charge, and 180 wpm for two-voice testimony. A written knowledge exam covers legal terminology, court procedures, transcript production standards, and professional ethics. Some states administer their own exams while others accept the NCRA RPR examination.
State Licensing Requirements
VerifiedState License Required
State License Title
Licensed Court Reporter
Additional Notes
Tennessee Court Reporter Act of 2009 requires all court reporters to be licensed (effective July 1, 2010).
Approximately 30 states require licensure or certification for court reporters. States that do not require licensure include Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Even in non-licensing states, NCRA certification may be required by courts or employers.
Practice Scope & Services
VerifiedOfficial Proceedings
Authorized
Depositions
Authorized
Captioning
Not specifically regulated
CART Services
May be provided by LCR holders
Realtime Reporting
Available
Court reporters provide verbatim transcription services in official court proceedings, depositions, arbitrations, and hearings. Additional services include CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, realtime reporting with instant text display, and broadcast captioning for television and live events. Freelance reporters also provide deposition services for law firms.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $250 |
License Fee | Included in application fee |
Renewal Fee | $200; late renewal: $20/month up to 6 months; reinstatement: $350 |
Total Initial Fees Initial application fee; temporary application: $50 | $250 |
Renewal & CE Requirements
VerifiedAnnual (by June 30)
Renewal Period
20 hrs
CE Hours Required
$200; late renewal: $20/month up to 6 months; reinstatement: $350
Renewal Fee
CE Details
20 hours of continuing education (2 credits) before renewal date
Regulatory Board
Court reporter licenses must be renewed on schedule with the state licensing authority. Most states require continuing education hours in court reporting technology, stenographic skills, legal procedures, transcript production, and professional ethics. Requirements typically range from 10-30 hours per renewal cycle.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedEndorsement Available
Yes
Comity Available
Yes
Reciprocity Requirements
Most states that license court reporters offer reciprocity or endorsement for certified reporters from other states. Requirements typically include verification of current certification, passage of the NCRA RPR exam or equivalent skills test, meeting education requirements, and completing a background check. Some states may require a state-specific jurisprudence exam.
Tennessee's Court Reporter Act of 2009 is relatively recent. The state accepts three national certifications (RPR, CVR, AAERT) but does not administer its own proficiency test. It also provides exemptions for federal-paid and AOC reporters.
Tennessee Court Reporter Act of 2009 requires all court reporters to be licensed (effective July 1, 2010).
Accepts RPR, CVR, or AAERT certifications.
No state proficiency test; national certification provides verification.
Initial fee: $250; renewal: $200 annually by June 30.
20 CE hours required annually.
Exemptions: federal government-paid services and AOC per diem reporters.
Temporary license available for $50.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Tennessee.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Cost
#18 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 108–226 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance — Board of Court Reporting — Licensing Requirements
Varies based on national certification and application processing
Estimated processing time
Source: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance — Board of Court Reporting — Licensing Requirements
Study materials for the RPR certification exam.
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Tennessee requires certification for court reporters. NCRA RPR certification is required. Speed test: No state exam; national certification provides proficiency verification. All licensing is managed through the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance — Board of Court Reporting.
Requirements vary by state. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.