Court Reporters Certification

Provisional Certification Requirements & Fees

Important Note: CSRs expired 1 year or more seeking provisional certification must email the licensing specialist at courtreporting@txcourts.gov prior to starting the application process so they can reactivate your profile, thereby allowing you to submit the application online.

To qualify for a Provisional Certification, you must:

1. Meet one of the four requirements (in a-d) below:

Have been previously certified in Texas within the 3-year period immediately preceding the date of application, retired or otherwise in good standing; or
Have been licensed or certified in good standing in another jurisdiction and actively engaged in shorthand reporting for 3 years out of the 5-year period immediately preceding the date of application; or
Have been actively engaged in shorthand reporting in the federal courts for 3 years out of the 5-year period immediately preceding the date of application; or
Currently hold a certification in good standing as an RPR issued by NCRA or another comparable or more stringent certification issued by NCRA or another comparable organization and have been engaged in the practice of shorthand reporting for 3 years out of the 5-year period immediately preceding the date of application for certification.

2. Pass a criminal history background check.

3. Pass the written exam.

Additional information for Provisional Certification:

Certification may only be issued under the same method of certification of which you were previously certified by Texas or your other jurisdiction.
Supporting documentation must be that issued by your licensing authority.
Provisional certifications cannot be renewed.
Provisional certifications expire when you become fully certified, or on the third anniversary of the date issued, whichever occurs earlier.

To apply for a Provisional Certification, you must do the following prior to registering for the exam:

1. Submit the Application for Provisional Certification and pay the required fee via the online system on our home page.

Do not register for the exam using the JBCC online licensing system. You can only register for the exam with TCRA.
Refer to the Exam Procedures on the Exam page of our website for additional information.

2. Submit all required documentation for one of the following:

Proof you were certified in Texas and, within the 3-year period immediately preceding their application, retired or otherwise ceased certification while in good standing; or
Proof you were licensed or certified in good standing in another jurisdiction and actively engaged in shorthand reporting for 3 years out of the 5-year period immediately preceding their application; or
Proof you were actively engaged in shorthand reporting in the federal courts for 3 years of the 5-year period immediately preceding their application; or
Proof you hold a certification in good standing as an RPR issued by NCRA or another comparable or more stringent certification issued by NCRA or another comparable organization and has been engaged in the practice of shorthand reporting for 3 years of the 5-year period immediately preceding the application for certification.

3. Submit proof of the method you were certified under in your other jurisdiction.

4. Pass a criminal history background check by DPS and the FBI.

Applicants that apply for certification online will receive the service code form via the automated email confirmation they receive after submitting their application for certification.
They must check their inbox (and spam folder) for this correspondence.

Fees

All fees are non-refundable. However, if you have a fee dispute you must submit it to courtreporting@txcourts.gov for resolution.

Application for Provisional Certification: $200.00

Acceptable forms of payment: Credit Card or Debit Card