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SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS
Opinion Delivered September 15, 2016
IN RE: ARKANSAS SUPREME
COURT BOARD OF CERTIFIED
COURT REPORTER EXAMINERS
PER CURIAM
The Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners [the Board] has submitted
proposed changes to The Rule Providing for Certification of Court Reporters and the
Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners. Specifically, the Board
has proposed that an additional regulation be added. The new regulation permits a court
reporter, who has successfully completed a national certification exam, received the
accompanying certification, and remains in good standing with the national certification, to
petition the Board for certification. Implementation of the new regulation requires minor
changes to the existing rules and regulations. We have reviewed the Board’s proposal and
we adopt the additional regulation along with the accompanying amendments to the rules
and regulations. The revisions to the rules and regulations, which are set out in "line-in,
line-out" fashion below (new material is underlined; deleted material is lined through), are
effective immediately.
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Section 26 of the Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter
Examiners Admission by National Certification
A court reporter, who has successfully completed a national certification exam,
received the accompanying certification, and remains in good standing with the national
certification, may petition the Board for certification. As used in this Section, “national
certification exam” means an exam given by The National Court Reporters Association
and/or the National Verbatim Reporters Association. As used in this Section, “the
accompanying certification” is limited to a registered professional reporter certificate (RPR)
or a certified verbatim reporter certificate (CVR).
Applicants for this alternative certification must file a written application in the form
prescribed by the Court, together with documentation establishing the successful
completion of the national certification and an application fee as set forth in Section 3 of
these Regulations, with the Clerk of the Supreme Court. Applicants and/or applications
shall be screened by the Board based upon the criteria outlined in Section 5 of the Rule
Providing for Certification of Court Reporters, and those deemed eligible for certification
shall be promptly notified.
Prior to receiving the certification from the Board, the applicant must participate in
an orientation session at a time and place set by the Board. Certification shall be issued
solely in the method by which the applicant is nationally certified.
Upon receiving certification from the Board, the court reporter shall be subject to
all applicable Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Board and/or the Supreme Court
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including but not limited to: Section 13 regarding continuing education requirements,
Section 8 regarding payment of certification renewal fees, Section 19, Section 22, applicable
records retention policies, and applicable transcript preparation regulations.
Section 4 of the Rule Providing for Certification of Court Reporters
Every applicant examination for certification as a certified court reporter shall file
with the clerk of this court a written application in the form prescribed by the Board. Upon
request, the clerk of this court shall forward to any interested person application forms
together with the text of this rule and a copy of the regulations promulgated by the Board
under the provisions of Section 3.
Section 4 of the Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners
Applicants, other than those certified without examination pursuant to Section 6 of
the Rule Providing for Certification of Court Reporters or those certified pursuant to
Section 26 of these Regulations, shall file not later than 30 days prior to the next
examination date, a written application in the form prescribed by the Court, together with
an application fee as set forth in Section 3 of these Regulations, with the Clerk of the
Supreme Court. Said application fee shall not be refunded in the event the applicant decides
not to take the examination or fails the examination. Said application shall state by which
method the applicant will test, and certification will be issued solely in that method if the
applicant successfully passes the examination.
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Section 5 of the Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners
Applicants and/or applications shall be screened by the Board and those deemed
eligible to take the examination for certification will be advised and provided all necessary
information. of the time and place the test will be conducted. Any applicant whose
application is denied shall be promptly notified of the action of the Board and the application
fee shall be refunded.
Section 6 of the Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners
Applicants for certification, deemed eligible by the Board, shall receive certification
upon submitting the application, paying the application fee, and either successfully passing
the certification examination or utilizing the provisions of Section 26. Certification shall be
issued solely in the method by which the applicant successfully tested.
Section 17 of the Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter
Examiners
The Executive Secretary of the Board will forward the files containing the names
and pertinent information including address, phone number, and email address for all
individuals who have passed the certification test or were granted certification pursuant to
Section 26 to the Supreme Court Clerk's office where said files will be maintained and
stored.
The Executive Secretary will maintain and store all other files pertaining to test
results, including all verbatim notes or records, transcripts, and other papers used in
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connection with testing for a period of two years following the date of testing, at which
time the Executive Secretary may dispose of said files.
It shall be the responsibility of the certified court reporter to provide the Office of
the Supreme Court Clerk with written notification of any change of address within fourteen
(14) working days. For the purposes of these regulations, written notification by certified or
first class mail to the most recent address provided to the Office of the Clerk shall be deemed
sufficient.
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