Licensing by state / Missouri

Court reporter licensing in Missouri

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

State credential required

Yes

Credential

Certified Court Reporter (CCR)

Issued by

Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners, Supreme Court of Missouri (Supreme Court Rule 14)

How you qualify

Pass the Missouri certification examination administered by the Board (Rules 14.04 and 14.05); the speeds and format are set in the Board's regulations, which this session could not open (NCRA's table lists 180 literary, 200 and 225 Q&A). Alternatively, a holder of an NCRA RPR or NVRA CVR in good standing is certified without the skills exam after passing a written exam on court reporter duties, court procedure and general legal terminology (Rule 14.06, amended effective September 1, 2023). Applicants must be 18 and of good moral character.

NCRA RPR accepted

Yes

Fees

Not yet verified

Renewal

Annual fee required to maintain certification (referenced in Rule 14.09(e)); the amount is set by Board regulation and was not available to this session.

Continuing education

At least ten credit hours of Board-accredited continuing education each reporting year, July 1 through June 30; excess hours carry over one year; no CE required in the year of initial certification; reporters with 40 years of practice or age 60 who are excused from the annual fee are exempt (Rule 14.09, effective May 1, 2020).

Rule 14.07 bars a circuit judge from appointing as official court reporter anyone who has not passed the Missouri exam or been admitted without exam under Rule 14.06, and limits temporary appointments to six months unless the reporter becomes certified. The Rule 14 text read in this session does not address freelance deposition reporters, so whether the CCR is legally required for depositions is not confirmed here; NCRA's table nonetheless lists Missouri as mandatory with RPR and CVR accepted. Certified reporters may use the abbreviation C.C.R. Grandfathered certificates issued before July 1, 2002 remain valid. The application fee is paid to the Clerk of the Supreme Court and is nonrefundable (Rule 14.04). The Board's regulations and fee schedule are on courts.mo.gov, which refused this session's requests.

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.