License Requirements for Certified Shorthand Reporting

Any use of the title "Certified Shorthand Reporter," within New York State requires licensure.

To be licensed as a certified shorthand reporter in New York State you must:

• be of good moral character;
• be at least 21 years of age;
• meet education and examination requirements; and
• meet experience requirements.

You must file an application for licensure and the other forms indicated, along with the appropriate fee, to the Office of the Professions at the address specified on each form. It is your responsibility to follow up with anyone you have asked to send us material.

The specific requirements for licensure are contained in Title 8, Article 151, Section 7504 of New York's Education Law and Part 71 of the Commissioner's Regulations.

You should also read the general licensing information applicable for all professions.

The fee for licensure is $173.

Fees are subject to change. The fee due is the one in law when your application is received (unless fees are increased retroactively). You will be billed for the difference if fees have been increased.

• Do not send cash.
• If you apply for licensure electronically using the online Application for Licensure, you will be required to pay by credit card.
• Other payments must be made by personal check or money order payable to the New York State Education Department. Your cancelled check is your receipt.
• Mail any required forms and fees to the indicated address on the form.

NOTE: Payment submitted from outside the United States should be made by check or draft on a United States bank and in United States currency; payments submitted in any other form will not be accepted and will be returned.

You are responsible for filing all the following materials:

• Form 1 - Application for Licensure and fee ($173)
• Form 2 - Certification of Education and Official Transcripts - High school (all applicants) and professional education (if applicable)
• Form 3 - Certification of Examination Grades
• Form 4 - Certification of Experience - Employer certifications from each employer from whom experience is claimed

Individuals who withdraw their licensure application may be entitled to a partial refund.

• For the procedure to withdraw your application, contact the Certified Shorthand Reporting Unit at opunit3@nysed.gov or by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 270 or by fax at 518-402-5354.
• The State Education Department is not responsible for any fees paid to an outside testing or credentials verification agency.

If you withdraw your application, obtain a refund, and then decide to seek New York State licensure at a later date, you will be considered a new applicant, and you will be required to pay the licensure fee and meet the licensure requirements in place at the time you reapply.

To meet the education requirements for licensure, you must present evidence of satisfying the preprofessional education requirements listed below. If you also attended a professional school or institution, the professional education requirements must be met as described below.

Preprofessional

Graduation from high school/secondary school or its equivalent.

A Certification of Education (Form 2) and official transcript must be sent directly from the school to the Office of the Professions at the address at the end of the form.

Professional

Completion of technical study in manual or machine shorthand reporting from a postsecondary school or private instruction consisting of 1,300 hours. The study or instruction must be designed to develop:

• shorthand skills to achieve a minimum speed of 180 words per minute on three or four voice dictation of material of average syllabic density and transcription thereof;
• typing skills of 50 words per minute;
• proficiency in grammar, vocabulary and punctuation; and
• familiarity with medical and legal terminology and court or hearing procedures.

A Certification of Education (Form 2) and official transcript must be sent directly from the school or institution to the Office of the Professions at the address at the end of the form.

Note: In lieu of evidence of completion of professional education, you may present evidence of five years of experience described in the Experience Requirements section below.

A Certification of Experience (Form 4) must be submitted by each employer with whom you are claiming experience. Experience must be as a full time verbatim shorthand reporter using either manual shorthand or shorthand writing machine.

Three years of experience is required when you have met the professional education requirements as outlined in the Education Requirements section above.

Five years of experience is required in lieu of the professional education requirements as outlined in the Education Requirements section above.

You are required to pass the Written Knowledge Test (WKT) and three sections of a skills test of the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) examination administered by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA). The examinations consist of the following:

• Written Knowledge Test – 115-question, multiple-choice test that focuses in three areas:
  • Technology
  • Reporting practices
  • Professional practices
• Skills Tests
  • Literary – 180 words per minute (wpm)
  • Jury Charge – 200 wpm
  • Testimony/Questions and Answers at 225 wpm

Contact the NCRA for eligibility requirements for the RPR examination, fees and other information at:

National Court Reporters Association
12030 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 400
Reston, Virginia 20191
Toll Free Telephone: 800-272-6272 (NCRA)
Telephone: 703-556-6272 (NCRA)
Fax: 703-391-0629
Web: www.ncra.org/

A Certification of Examination Grades (Form 3) must be submitted by the NCRA to the Office of the Professions at the address at the end of the form.

Reasonable Testing Accommodations

If you have a disability and may require reasonable testing accommodations for the examination, please contact the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) for information on the procedures for requesting such accommodations.

If you are or have ever been licensed as a Certified Shorthand Reporter in any other state, you must still meet all of the New York State licensure requirements to be certified in this State. In addition, you must have each state in which you were ever issued a shorthand reporting license provide a written certification of your licensure and good standing.