20 O.S. 1503

A. Every applicant who seeks to be examined for enrollment as a certified shorthand reporter shall prove to the satisfaction of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters that he or she:

1. Is of legal age;

2. Meets the requisite standards of ethical fitness;

3. Has at least a high school education or its equivalent; and

4. Possesses a minimum level of court reporting proficiency which would allow the applicant to meet the examination requirements established in paragraph 1 of subsection B of this section. An applicant may satisfy such requirements by obtaining verification through a court reporting school official of the applicant’s level of proficiency, as outlined by the test application; by passing a preliminary proficiency examination, which has been approved by the Board; or by proving that the applicant has previously held any state or national shorthand reporting certificate or license.

B. The examination for certification in one or more authorized methods of shorthand reporting consists of two parts, designated Part 1 and Part 2 as follows:

1. Part 1 consists of the test as authorized by the Supreme Court consisting of the following requirements: demonstrated proficiency in reporting testimony and proceedings at a speed of not more than two hundred (200) words per minute in taking a question-and-answer type dictation and at a speed of not more than one hundred eighty (180) words per minute in taking literary materials which shall be designed to test the ability of an applicant to accurately prepare a transcript of testimony and proceedings that is reasonably free from spelling errors. The Board may not increase or decrease such minimum speed requirement, by rule or otherwise; and

2. Part 2 is the Oklahoma Written Knowledge test which consists of not less than twenty-five multiple choice questions relating to Oklahoma law and court rules, duties of certified shorthand reporters, and general court procedure. The examination shall be approved by the Supreme Court. A person who has tested with the Board and successfully completed the written knowledge portion of the examination shall be allowed to retain the credit for that portion for two (2) years from the date passed, and shall not be required to retake that portion during the two-year period.

C. An applicant who is academically dishonest when taking any authorized examination is disqualified and may not take the examination again until two (2) years have elapsed from the date of the examination at which the applicant was disqualified.

D. A certification issued under this section must be for one or more of the following methods of shorthand reporting:

1. Written shorthand;

2. Machine shorthand; or

3. Any other method of shorthand reporting authorized by the Supreme Court.

E. No person may engage in shorthand reporting in this state unless the person is a licensed or certified shorthand reporter or otherwise authorized by law or the Supreme Court.

20 O.S. 1503.1

A. Every certified shorthand reporter and every court reporter temporarily employed by the district court, Workers’ Compensation Court, or Corporation Commission shall annually complete at least four (4) hours of continuing education approved by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters. Included in the four-hour minimum requirement for every official shorthand reporter and every court reporter temporarily employed by the district court, Workers’ Compensation Court, or Corporation Commission at least one (1) hour shall relate to Oklahoma court rules and procedures. All four (4) hours of continuing education shall be approved by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters.

B. A certified shorthand reporter or court reporter is exempt from the requirements of subsection A of this section if the reporter verifies under oath to the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters that he or she:

1. Has attained the age of sixty-five (65) before or during the calendar year for which the reporter seeks an exemption;

2. Is a member of the armed forces on full-time active duty during the entire calendar year for which the reporter seeks an exemption; or

3. Has provided written verification by a licensed physician that a medical condition has prevented the court reporter from working in such capacity and completing continuing education for the calendar year for which the reporter seeks an exemption.

20 O.S. 1505

A person holding a license from another state which is deemed by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters to be equivalent to that of an Oklahoma certified shorthand reporter, or holding current national certification as a shorthand reporter, or holding both an equivalent license from another state and national certification, may be enrolled without examination as an Oklahoma certified shorthand reporter upon satisfying the Board that the credentials of the applicant are in proper order and that the person is a resident of Oklahoma.
Contact the Administrative Office of the Courts for information: 405-556-9300