Licensing by state / Idaho

Court reporter licensing in Idaho

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

State credential required

Yes

Credential

Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR)

Issued by

Idaho Certified Shorthand Reporters Board, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL)

How you qualify

Idaho Code 54-3108: applicants must pass the Idaho certified shorthand reporter examination, or provide proof of having passed, within the two years before applying, the NCRA RPR, RMR, RDR, CRR or CRC examination. DOPL's exam page directs candidates to NCRA to schedule one of those exams. Applicants must be lawful US residents with a high school diploma or equivalent and no relevant criminal conviction. The NCRA state list describes the skills portions as Q&A, jury charge and literary.

NCRA RPR accepted

Yes

Fees

Idaho Code 54-3110: $50.00 application fee for a certificate or temporary permit; $50.00 examination fee; renewal fee not to exceed $150; exam preparation materials up to $20.00. DOPL fee listing (2026): Application $50; Annual Renewal $75; Biennial Renewal $150; Reinstatement Penalty $35. IDAPA 24.29.01 (effective 7-1-25): Application $50, Renewal $75, all fees non-refundable.

Renewal

Certificates are issued for two years (54-3108(3)); DOPL states the Board is transitioning to biennial licensure, and lists both an annual ($75) and a biennial ($150) renewal fee.

Continuing education

None found. Neither Idaho Code Title 54 Chapter 31 nor IDAPA 24.29.01 (as read 2026-11-08) contains a continuing education requirement for certified shorthand reporters.

Idaho Code 54-3103 bars anyone from practicing shorthand reporting, or being appointed district court reporter, without a CSR certificate, and protects the CSR title; it applies to official and freelance reporters. Exceptions (54-3104): temporary appointment of an uncertified district court reporter who must apply for certification within 30 days; magistrates division staff who record by electronic tape recorder, stenomask or similar device; a deposition taken by a non-CSR if the party or attorney certifies no CSR was available; and salaried agency hearing reporters. Shorthand reporting is defined as making written symbols in shorthand or machine shorthand, so voice writing is outside the statute. A one-year temporary permit (renewable once) is available to reporters licensed in another state or graduates of an NCRA-approved school (54-3109); certification by endorsement (54-3109A) is available to out-of-state licensees who passed one of the listed exams and worked as a CSR for three of the last five years, and IDAPA deems RPR holders to meet the endorsement exam requirement. Violations are misdemeanors (54-3118).

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.