Licensing by state / Hawaii

Court reporter licensing in Hawaii

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

State credential required

Yes

Credential

Hawaii Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR)

Issued by

Hawaii Supreme Court, Board of Certified Shorthand Reporters (under the Rules Governing Court Reporting)

How you qualify

Rules Governing Court Reporting Rule 9.1 and Form 1: applicants must be of good moral character and show proficiency by passing the NCRA Registered Professional Reporter examination (Written Knowledge Test score of 70 or better and Skills Test at 95 percent accuracy) plus the Board's Hawaii Written Knowledge Test on regional terminology at 70 percent. No auxiliary recording devices may be used during the exam.

NCRA RPR accepted

Yes

Fees

Rule 13: application and written knowledge test $125; machine skills testing fees are set by and paid to NCRA; annual renewal $50 due to the Board by January 31; late payment suspends the certificate, which may be reinstated in the same year on payment of the fees plus a 100 percent late fee; a suspension lasting through December 31 becomes a revocation, after which a new application fee applies.

Renewal

Annual, for an additional term of one year; renewal fee due by January 31 (Rule 9.1(e), Rule 13).

Continuing education

3 Continuing Education Units (NCRA-approved CEUs) every three years; proof must be submitted at least 30 days before the certificate expires or the Board will not renew until the reporter passes the CSR exam again (Rule 9.2).

Rule 2 requires anyone doing verbatim reporting of trials or judicial proceedings in Hawaii courts, or taking oral depositions for use in those courts, to hold a Hawaii CSR certificate, so the requirement covers official and freelance reporters; it does not apply to depositions taken and transcribed outside Hawaii. Certified reporters must sign and certify transcripts and include their reporter identification number. Under Rule 18 a firm offering reporting services for Hawaii proceedings must employ a CSR or designate a resident Managing CSR. Voice writing is not addressed in the rules as read; the exam path runs through the NCRA stenographic RPR. The Board must notify reporters at least 60 days before expiration, but missing the notice does not excuse late renewal.

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.