Licensing by state / Oklahoma

Court reporter licensing in Oklahoma

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

State credential required

Yes

Credential

Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR)

Issued by

Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters (supervised by the Oklahoma Supreme Court; administered through the Administrative Office of the Courts)

How you qualify

Two-part state exam (20 O.S. 1503; Board Rule 4): Part 1 skills tests of two-voice Q&A at 200 wpm and jury charge or literary at 180 wpm, five minutes each, 95 percent accuracy; Part 2 the Oklahoma Written Knowledge Test of at least 25 multiple-choice questions on Oklahoma law, court rules, CSR duties and court procedure, 70 percent to pass. A candidate who proves passage of the NCRA RPR exam (or an equivalent test authorized by the Supreme Court) may skip the skills parts but must still pass the Oklahoma Written Knowledge Test (Rule 4(D), effective January 1, 2022).

NCRA RPR accepted

Yes

Fees

Fee schedule approved in 2023 OK 63, effective June 9, 2023: skills part Testimony and Proceedings (Q&A) $60.00, skills part Literary Materials $60.00, Written Knowledge Test $30.00, complete exam $150.00; application for admission by reciprocity $150.00; annual certificate renewal fee $30.00; delinquent payment fee $100.00; continuing education penalty fee $100.00; continuing education suspension fee $100.00; retired status reinstatement fee $100.00. The published order also shows a non-resident exam schedule of $85.00 per skills part and $200.00 for the complete exam.

Renewal

Annual. Renewal form and fee due by February 15 each year; a certificate not renewed is administratively suspended on that date and revoked if not reinstated by April 15 (Board Rule 19).

Continuing education

Four hours of Board-approved continuing education per calendar year (20 O.S. 1502; Board Rule 20); compliance report due February 15 (Rule 22). Exemptions available for age 65, full-time military duty, or medical condition with Board approval.

20 O.S. 1503(E): shorthand reporting in Oklahoma requires a license or certification or other authorization by law or the Supreme Court; the statute does not carve out freelance reporters. Certification is by method: machine shorthand, steno-mask shorthand, or another method authorized by the Supreme Court (1503(D)); practicing with a method for which the reporter is not certified is a ground for discipline. Passing credit for an exam part is kept for two years. Certified reporters may administer oaths and take depositions. The Board is subject to the Oklahoma Sunset Law and was re-created to continue until July 1, 2026 (20 O.S. 1501). NCRA's state table lists Oklahoma as Mandatory with a 200 wpm Q&A skills test.

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.