Licensing by state / Georgia

Court reporter licensing in Georgia

Georgia requires a state credential to work as a court reporter.

State credential required

Yes

Credential

Certified Court Reporter (CCR)

Issued by

Board of Court Reporting of the Judicial Council of Georgia (Office of Court Professionals)

How you qualify

New applicants must first pass the written knowledge and skills tests of a national association (NCRA, NVRA, or AAERT for electronic reporters; the board page also lists the Georgia Court Reporters Association Georgia Licensing Exam) and then pass the Board's Georgia test, 25 questions on Board rules, policies and advisory opinions, with a minimum score of 80% (retest allowed after 24 hours). A reporter is certified only in the method of takedown used for testing. A pre-certification background review is required.

NCRA RPR accepted

Yes

Fees

Board application requirements document: $125 application payment for new applicants and renewals, $200 for renewals paid after April 1; applicants revoked by the Board must reapply as new and pay an additional $500. Board rules: $50 non-refundable pre-certification background review fee. The required LEAP seminar for newly certified reporters costs $200 on time or $225 late. Firm registration is $200, or $250 after April 1.

Renewal

Annual. Certificates must be renewed on or before April 1 (O.C.G.A. 15-14-31); a certificate not renewed by April 1 expires and the right to practice is suspended until delinquent fees are paid or the reporter requalifies.

Continuing education

10 hours of approved continuing education per calendar year; a reporter issued an initial certificate is exempt for that calendar year; newly certified reporters must attend the first LEAP (Learning Essentials about Professionalism) seminar after certification.

O.C.G.A. 15-14-28 provides that no person shall engage in the practice of verbatim court reporting in Georgia without a certificate or temporary permit, which covers official and freelance reporters. Court reporting is defined (15-14-22) as making a verbatim record by manual shorthand, machine shorthand, closed microphone voice dictation silencer or other means of personal verbatim reporting, and because AAERT certification is accepted, voice writing and electronic reporting are certifiable methods. A judge may request an emergency judicial permit letting a non-certified person serve as temporary official court reporter for up to one year, extendable once; such permits do not allow freelance work. Applicants must file an affidavit of lawful presence and a secure and verifiable document. The board page also notes Uniform Superior Court Rule 36.19 on digital recording of court proceedings, effective February 26, 2026. Court reporting firms must register with the Board. Applications are filed through the online Georgia Courts Registrar.

Exam speeds and legs for the national credentials are on the certifications page; the path from school to the exam is in how to become a court reporter.