How to Verify a Court Reporter License (RPR, CRR, State License)

Quick answer

Verify NCRA credentials (RPR, RMR, CRR, CRC, CBC) at ncra.org → Find a Member → Verify Credentials. For state court reporter licensure, verify at the state court reporter licensing board or state supreme court administration office. Confirm both credentials are active and current for the state(s) where work will be performed.

NCRA national certifications

The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA — ncra.org) administers the recognized national credentialing program for stenographic court reporters and CART providers.

Credential	Full Name	Requirements
RPR	Registered Professional Reporter	Foundational NCRA credential; written knowledge test + stenographic skills test (225 wpm Q&A, 200 wpm jury charge, 180 wpm literary)
RMR	Registered Merit Reporter	Advanced speed credential; RPR required; 260 wpm Q&A, 240 wpm jury charge, 200 wpm literary
CRR	Certified Realtime Reporter	Realtime translation quality; RPR required; 96% accuracy realtime translation test; used for broadcast captioning and CART
CRC	Certified Realtime Captioner	Broadcast and event captioning specialty; RPR or CRR required; realtime accuracy evaluation
CBC	Certified Broadcast Captioner	Live television captioning; separate certification track for broadcast environment
CLVS	Certified Legal Video Specialist	Legal videography at depositions; not a stenographic credential but issued by NCRA

Verify NCRA credentials at: ncra.org → Find a Member or Verify Credentials. All active NCRA credentialed reporters are searchable. Credentials require biennial renewal with continuing education (CEUs).

State court reporter licensing

Approximately 30 states require a license to work as an official court reporter or to take depositions for use in state courts. Requirements typically include passing a state speed examination or holding the RPR, plus a state-specific written exam.

Selected state court reporter licensing boards

California: CA Court Reporters Board (CCRB) — courtreportersboard.ca.gov → License Lookup; CSR (Certified Shorthand Reporter)
Texas: TX Court Reporters Certification Board — courts.texas.gov/jcr → Licensee Search; CSR designation
Florida: FL Court Reporters Association coordinates with FL Supreme Court; Professional Stenographer license via DBPR
New York: NY has no separate court reporter licensing board; RPR is recognized for deposition work; official court reporters are state employees
Illinois: IL Certified Shorthand Reporters Board — idfpr.illinois.gov → License Lookup; CSR license required
Georgia: GA Court Reporters Board — secretary.state.ga.us → License Search; RPR or state examination required
Ohio: OH Court Reporters Board — ocr.ohio.gov → License Verification

For states not listed, search “[state] court reporter license lookup” or “[state] certified shorthand reporter.” In some states, court reporter licensing is handled by the state supreme court administrative office rather than a separate professional licensing board.

CART providers and accessibility captioning

CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) providers offer realtime captioning for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing in educational, legal, and employment settings. Verification for CART providers involves:

CRR (Certified Realtime Reporter) from NCRA — the primary professional credential for CART work
CRC (Certified Realtime Captioner) from NCRA — event and educational captioning specialty
ACRA (Alliance for Custom Realtime Access): Industry organization for CART providers; not a certifying body but provides professional standards
State vocational rehabilitation or disability services contracts may specify particular credentials; check contract requirements

Common red flags

No RPR in a state that accepts RPR in lieu of state exam: Many states accept the RPR as the speed component of state licensure. If a candidate claims state licensure obtained by RPR, verify the RPR is active at ncra.org.
Claiming CRR or CRC for realtime captioning work without verified credential: Realtime accuracy standards are high; unverified realtime claims carry accuracy risk in legal and ADA-compliance contexts.
Working across state lines without non-resident endorsement: Some states require a non-resident reporter permit or endorsement for depositions taken in that state. Verify applicable state requirements.
NCRA credential lapsed: NCRA credentials require biennial renewal and CEUs. An initial certification date does not confirm current active status. Verify at ncra.org.

Verification checklist

1. Verify NCRA credentials (RPR, RMR, CRR, CRC) at ncra.org → Verify Credentials; confirm active status and renewal date
2. Determine whether the state(s) where work will be performed require a state court reporter license
3. For licensed states: verify CSR or state reporter license status at the state court reporters board or supreme court licensing office
4. For realtime or CART work: confirm CRR or CRC credential is active at ncra.org
5. For multi-state deposition work: check whether non-resident endorsements are required in each state
6. Use VerifyED to confirm the court reporting program's institution was regionally accredited

Verify court reporting program accreditation

Court reporting programs are accredited by NCRA's Council on Approved Student Education (CASE). Use VerifyED to confirm that the awarding institution was regionally accredited before accepting a candidate's educational credentials.

Search Schools and Accreditation →