For complete details on the certification requirements for the state of Arizona, visit the Court Reporter Program web site www.supreme.state.az.us/cr or call (602) 452-3878.
CERTIFICATION UPDATE CLARIFICATION
The Arizona Code of Judicial Administration 7-206(E)(4)(a)(ii) Court Reporter Standard Certification specifically states if a reporter has passed at least one of the three required skill components and the written knowledge test of the RPR by December 31, 2002, and provides documentation of this to the CCR Board by January 15, 2003, the reporter may be granted a provisional standard certificate. If granted provisional standard certification, the reporter will have until June 30, 2004, to pass the final two skills components of the RPR.
Therefore, a court reporter who currently holds temporary certification, must pass at least two skill components of the RPR and the RPR Written Knowledge exam prior to being considered for Provisional Standard Certification.
If a court reporter only passes one skill component of the RPR prior to their certification expiration, they do not qualify for certification. They may request a further extension of their temporary certification. However, the Board may or may not grant that request.
The intent of the CCR Board is to have every reporter pass the RPR in its entirety as quickly as possible. A reporter’s efforts in passing the RPR is an important factor the CCR Board has and will continue to consider when reviewing requests for provisional standard certification. Reporters should not expect that requests for provisional standard certification would automatically be granted.
SECTION 7-206: COURT REPORTER STANDARD CERTIFICATION
APPENDIX D
CONTINUING EDUCATION POLICIES
A. Purpose.
1. Court reporting is integrally related to the prompt, effective and impartial operation of the judicial system. Stenographic reporters are required to demonstrate a basic level of competency to become certified and practice in Arizona. Ongoing, continuing education (CE) is one means to ensure a certified reporter maintains continuing competence in the field of court reporting after certification is obtained. It also provides opportunities for court reporters to keep abreast of changes in the court reporting and legal professions and the Arizona judicial system.
2. Pursuant to A.R.S. §32-4005(B) and the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration 7-206(D)(5)(a) {Court Reporter Standard Certification,} the board shall make recommendations to the supreme court regarding policies and procedures to implement the provisions of certification of court reporters, including continuing education. These policies are intended to provide direction to certified court reporters, to ensure compliance with the statutory and administrative code regarding continuing education credits, and to provide for equitable application and enforcement of the continuing education requirements.
B. Applicability.
1. Pursuant to A.R.S §32-4023(D) and the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration 7-206(G)(4) {Court Reporter Standard Certification} all certified court reporters shall complete at least ten hours of approved continuing education each calendar year. The court reporter shall submit documentation of completion of the continuing education with the application for renewal of certification. Pursuant to A.R.S. §32-4023(A), a renewal period is for the calendar year, from January 1st to December 31st.
2. Effective Date. Beginning January 1, 2003, and for every renewal of certification after that date, all certified court reporters shall comply with these adopted policies regarding continuing education.
C. Responsibilities of Certified Court Reporters.
1. It is the responsibility of each certified court reporter to ensure compliance with the CE requirements, maintain documentation of completion of CE and to submit this documentation with the renewal application by the deadline date established by the board for renewal of certification.
2. Upon request, each certified court reporter shall provide any additional information required by the board when reviewing CE applications and documentation.
3. If an activity has not been pre-approved by the board, the board’s rejection of an activity completed by a court reporter and submitted with the application for renewal does not in any way diminish the responsibility of the reporter to comply with the ten hours of CE requirement. If a reporter is uncertain as to whether an activity will meet board approval, it is the responsibility of the reporter to submit the proposed activity for board review prior to completing the continuing education. The reporter shall make this application on a form approved and provided by the board and shall submit it with sufficient time to allow the board to consider the request at a regularly scheduled board meeting and to then notify the reporter of its decision, prior to the scheduled date of the activity.
D. Authorized Continuing Education Activities.
1. Each CE activity must be approved by the board. The board may approve CE activity upon request of an individual court reporter or an individual sponsor or entity wishing to administer a CE activity; or the board may preapprove specified CE activities.
2. CE activity shall address the areas of proficiency, competency and performance of stenographic reporting and impart knowledge and understanding of the profession of court reporting, the Arizona judiciary and the legal process and increase the participant's understanding of the responsibilities of a certified court reporter and the reporter’s impact on the judicial process. Therefore, CE activity shall include one or more of the following subjects:
a. English, including grammar and punctuation, vocabulary and etymology, proofreading and editing and regional and minority dialects, colloquialisms and commonly heard slang.
b. Medical terminology presented by subject matter experts on terminology and concepts commonly encountered by stenographic reporters including Greek and Latin roots, homonyms and sound-alikes, abbreviations, pharmacy, anatomy and physiology and specialized medical fields, (for example, neurology, dentistry, radiology, forensic medicine).
c. Legal terminology presented by subject matter experts on terminology and concepts commonly encountered by stenographic reporters including etymology, substantive law, procedural law, various subdivisions of law (for example, criminal, domestic, juvenile, civil, etc.) and how cases are processed and argued.
d. Other technical subjects presented by subject matter experts with emphasis on terminology and concepts commonly encountered by stenographic reporters (for example, accident reconstruction, chemistry, construction, workman’s compensation, products liability, etc.)
e. Court reporting technology including computer-aided transcription (CAT) skills: CAT equipment, hardware and software, DOS, ASCII and compressed transcript; computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets, database applications, windows and internet applications; equipment maintenance and computer-integrated courtrooms.
f. Realtime reporting including writing for realtime, communicating with the hearing impaired, working with an interpreter, Americans with Disabilities Act and realtime certification.
g. Certification tests, including the Registered Merit Reporter, Registered Diplomat Reporter, Certified Realtime Reporter and Certified Manager of Reporting Services. The board shall grant credit in accordance with the standards established by the NCRA.
h. Ethics for court reporters and court employees, including cooperation with lawyers, judges and fellow court reporters, professional attire, courtesy and impartiality to all litigants, information vs. legal advice and public relations.
i. The Arizona court system including the state and federal constitution, branches of government, Arizona court jurisdiction and responsibilities, Arizona tribal court system, resource materials including Arizona Revised Statues, Arizona Rules of Court, case law and administrative orders and rules; and current issues in the Arizona court system.
j. Role and responsibilities of the certified court reporter including the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration for court reporters.
k. Writing and editing skills including transcript style and setups, appropriate editing,
scoping, scanning and printing, writing for a notereader, scopist or editor; indexing of witnesses and exhibits, and transcript formats.
l. Research skills including utilizing reference materials and libraries and research techniques.
m. Management issues including public relations and customer service; accounting, time management, human resources, financial planning and planning for retirement or changing careers within reporting; office management, maintaining individual reporter's health and emotional adjustment, and stress management.
n. Persons developing and presenting CE activities shall have expertise in the curriculum, knowledge of adult education principles, and the ability to prepare and present educational material effectively. The education faculty presenting a CE activity should consist primarily of members of the court reporting, legal and judicial community; faculty from other disciplines are permissible when their expertise will contribute to the goals of a specific program. The CE activity shall specify for whom the program is primarily designed, the course objectives, course content and teaching methods. All CE activity shall be conducted in an organized setting free from distractions.
3. Pre-Approved Activities. Subject to the conditions specified in this policy, programs, seminars, and courses of study offered or approved by the following entities are deemed accredited by the board:
a. The NCRA;
b. Arizona Court Reporters Association (ACRA);
c. Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Education and Training (COJET);
d. United States Court Reporters Association (USCRA);
e. Arizona Courts Association (ACA);
f. National Association of Court Management (NACM); and
g. Arizona Board of Certified Court Reporters.
4. Sponsoring Entities. Unless a CE activity has been pre-approved by the board, entities wishing to administer a CE activity shall submit the proposed CE activity to the board for consideration prior to conducting the activity. The board may reject applications submitted after the CE activity has been completed or conducted.
a. At a minimum, the proposal shall meet all requirements of this policy and shall include the following:
(1) location, date and time of the proposed activity;
(2) proposed audience;
(3) course content, objectives, teaching methods and the evaluation method;
(4) names and qualifications of the faculty;
(5) written materials for the participants (a copy of the materials shall be included with the proposal); and
(6) number of CE credits the sponsoring entity is recommending the board grant for completion of the activity.
b. In addition, the proposal shall include a statement that the sponsor agrees to assume responsibility for verifying attendance of the participants; will provide a certificate of attendance for each participant who successfully completes the activity and that upon request of the board, will provide any additional information requested to assist the board in evaluating whether to approve the activity or to ensure compliance with this policy.
c. Activities approved by the board pursuant to this subsection are valid for the renewal period only, unless specifically renewed and approved for the board for a longer period of time. Sponsors wishing to conduct activities in a subsequent renewal period must submit the proposed activity to the board for review and approval, even if the activity has been approved by the board for a prior renewal period.
5. Serving as Faculty. Subject to board review and approval, a certified court reporter may receive CE credit for serving as faculty, an instructor, speaker or panel member of a board approved CE seminar directly related to the profession of court reporting. The board will grant CE credit for the actual presentation time, plus actual preparation time up to two hours for each hour of presentation time. The board will grant a maximum of five hours of CE credit for serving as faculty in any renewal period and a reporter may not receive credit for presenting a program repeatedly throughout the renewal period. A reporter may receive CE credit for actual presentation time for duplicate programs presented in subsequent renewals periods; but will not be granted CE credit for preparation time for those programs.
6. Authoring or Coauthoring Articles. Subject to board review and approval, a certified court reporter may receive CE credit for authoring or coauthoring an article directly related to court reporting, if the article is published in a state or nationally recognized professional journal of court reporting or law and if the article is a minimum of one thousand words in length. A maximum of one hour of CE credit may be earned for authoring an article or articles in any one renewal period. The board must approve the published article for the author to receive CE credit. The board shall not grant credit for the same article published in more than one publication or republished in the same publication in later editions.
7. University, College and Other Educational Institution Courses. Subject to board review and approval, a certified court reporter may receive CE credit for a course provided by a university, college or other educational institution if the reporter successfully completes the course with a grade of "C" or better or a "pass" on a pass/fail system. The board may approve the course for CE credit upon documentation from the requesting reporter the course is relevant to the profession of court reporting. Courses approved by the board will be awarded credit by multiplying the number of credit hours awarded by the educational institution by two, however, the maximum total of CE credits for completion of courses pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed 50 percent of the total number of CE hours required for the renewal period.
8. Self Study. Subject to board review and approval, a certified court reporter may receive CE credit for self study, including correspondence courses, procedure manuals, video and audio tapes, on-line computer seminars and other methods of independent learning. The self study must be from an approved program and written materials must accompany all self-study activities. The board will not grant credit for simply reading books, seminar or other printed materials. With the exception of self-study courses provided by the NCRA, all self study must be pre-approved by the board for CE credit; no credit will be provided if the request for approval is submitted after completion of the program. Except for NCRA courses, the board may grant a maximum of five CE credits for self study in any one renewal period.
9. Mentoring Activities. The board shall not grant credit for mentoring activities.
10. Minimum time. Each CE activity shall consist of at least 30 minutes of "actual clock time" spent by a registrant in actual attendance at and completion of an approved CE activity. "Actual clock time" is the total hours attended, minus the time spent for introductory remarks, breaks, meals and business meetings. After completion of the initial 30 minutes of CE activity, credit may be given in fifteen minute increments. A reporter may not use additional earned CE credits for subsequent renewal periods.
11. Maximum Credit. Unless the board has determined the CE activity is directly related to the court reporting profession, a reporter may not receive more than 50 per cent of the credit requirement for the renewal period through one activity. The board has determined the following activities are directly related to the court reporting profession; participation in these activities are pre-approved for 100 per cent of the CE requirements:
a. Realtime reporting seminars;
b. The RPR preparation classes offered by community colleges; and
c. Case catalyst and other courses provided by court reporting software vendors.
12. Conferences. Reporters may request CE credit for attendance at a conference relevant to the profession of court reporting. Subject to board review and approval, a reporter may receive 100 per cent of the CE credits for attendance at the conference, if the conference is directly related to the court reporting profession. The reporter must provide documentation of the specific sessions of the conference attended. The board shall not grant credit for attendance at general sessions of the conference.
13. Proration of CE. Reporters who are initially certified on or after July 1st of the calendar year shall complete a total of five hours of CE credit for that first certification period. In subsequent certification periods, the reporter must meet the ten CE hour requirement. This proration of CE credits does not apply to reporters who previously held certification, allowed the certification to lapse, and subsequently applied for and were granted certification partway through the renewal period. These reporters are subject to the full ten hour CE requirement.
14. Repeat of an Activity. Generally, the board shall not grant credit for reporters who repeat an activity within the same renewal period. The board may grant exceptions if the board determines the activity is directly related to the court reporting profession and duplication of the continuing education activity will enhance the certified reporter’s knowledge, skill and competency.
15. Documentation of Attendance or Completion. When attending or completing a CE activity, each reporter shall obtain documentation of attendance or completion from the sponsoring entity.
a. At a minimum, this documentation shall include the:
(1) name of the sponsor;
(2) name of the participant;
(3) topic of the subject matter;
(4) number of hours actually attended or the number of credit hours awarded by the sponsoring entity;
(5) date and place of the program;
(6) signature of the sponsor, or the documentation shall be an official document of the sponsoring entity; for example, a college grade report; official report from NCRA, etc.; and
(7) signature of the reporter, either in the space specifically provided on the form for this purpose, or the reporter may sign across the documentation (for example, the college grade report) to indicate attendance and completion at the activity.
b. A reporter shall not request and the board shall not grant credit if the reporter attends part, but not all of the provided activity.
c. Reporters requesting CE credit for self study shall submit documentation of completion on a form approved and provided by the board.
E. Non-Qualifying Activities.
1. The following activities, regardless of whether or not the activity is approved for COJET credit shall not qualify for CE credit for certified court reporters:
a. Programs completed for qualification for initial certification;
b. Programs with a primary focus on teaching nonverbal skills that are not directly related to court reporting.
c. Attendance or participation at professional or association business meetings, general sessions, elections, policymaking sessions or program orientation;
d. Serving on committees or councils or as officers in a professional organization; and
e. Activities completed as required by the board as part of a disciplinary action.
F. Board Decision Regarding Continuing Education Credits.
1. Upon a review of a request for CE credit, the board may:
a. Approve the CE credit;
b. Approve part, but not all of the requested CE credit;
c. Require additional information from the requester before making a decision; or
d. Deny the CE credit.
2. The program coordinator shall send a decision by the board to approve part, but not all of the credit, to require additional information or to deny the CE credit to the requester in writing. An individual may appeal the board’s decision by submitting an appeal, in writing, within fifteen days of notification of the board’s decision and may request in the appeal, to appear before the board at a regularly scheduled board meeting.
3. The certification of a court reporter who timely appeals a decision by the board regarding continuing education shall continue in force until a final decision is made by the board.
4. The board shall make the decision on the appeal in writing. The decision is final and binding.
G. Compliance and Non-Compliance.
1. The board may request additional information from an applicant for renewal of certification to verify compliance with the continuing education requirements. If the applicant fails to provide the requested information, the board may automatically deny the CE credit.
2. Pursuant to the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration 7-206 (H)(1)(c)(1) and (3); a certified court reporter who fails to meet the CE requirement, falsifies CE documents, or willfully misrepresents CE activities and attendance at CE activities is subject to any or all of the following actions by the board:
a A delinquent CE compliance fee of $ 25.00;
b. Denial of renewal of certification; or
c Disciplinary action.
3. In addition to the provisions of subsection (G)(2) above, the board may require a reporter who allows their certification to lapse on January 1st, to provide documentation of completion of the required number of CE credits for the prior certification year.
4. Extension or Waiver of CE requirements. A court reporter seeking renewal of certification who has not fully complied with the CE requirements may request an extension or waiver of the CE requirements under the following conditions:
a. The reporter shall submit a notarized statement to the board, explaining the facts regarding non-compliance and requesting an extension or waiver of the CE requirements. The reporter shall submit this notarized statement no later than the October 1st preceding the expiration of the reporter’s certificate on December 31st. Upon a showing of extenuating circumstances, the board may grant an extension of a maximum of 90 days to complete the CE requirements, or a waiver of part or all of the CE requirements for the renewal period for which the reporter is requesting.
b. The board shall determine extenuating circumstances determined on an individual basis. In reviewing the request, the board shall consider if the reporter has been unable to devote sufficient hours to fulfill the CE requirements during the applicable renewal period because of:
(1) full-time service in the armed forces of the United States during a substantial part of the renewal period;
(2) an incapacitating illness documented by a statement from a currently licensed physician;
(3) a physical inability to travel to the sites of approved programs documented by a statement from a currently licensed physician;
(4) being retired from court reporting and not performing any reporting services; or
(5) any other special circumstances the board deems appropriate.
c. A reporter whose certificate has been suspended or revoked by the board is not eligible to request a waiver or extension.
d. The requesting reporter is responsible for providing documentation in support of the request and for providing any additional information requested by the board.
|
BOARD OF CERTIFIED COURT REPORTERS MEMBER LIST (1999 - 2005) |
Mr. James E. Bouley
Freelance Court Reporter
Honorable Philip Hall
Judge
Honorable Jan Kearney
Judge
Ms. Jean L. Lea
Freelance Court Reporter
Ms. Sandra K. Markham
Official Court Reporter
Mr. Tyrone Mitchell
Attorney
Ms. Sandra McFate
Public Member
Ms. Jennifer Stadler
Official Court Reporter
Ms. Nancy Swetnam
Director, Certification and Licensing Division, Designee
RPR Deadlines
The Court Reporter Provisional Chart and the Court Reporter RPR Status Chart intend to provide clarification about the respective deadlines for passing the RPR in its entirety.
The link below is to Supreme Court Administrative Order 2003-47, Policies on Requests for Extensions of Temporary Certification Based on Extenuating Circumstances. If you would like a signed copy of this Administrative Order, please contact the Supreme Court Clerk's Office 602-542-9396.
http://www.supreme.state.az.us/orders/admorder/Orders03/2003-47.pdf
Proposed Change to Code of Judicial Administration
The Arizona CCR Board is proposing and recommending the following changes to the Code of Judicial Administration:
Court Reporters who currently hold a temporary certificate and who do not meet the qualifications for provisional standard certification and who have signed up for and paid for the RPR in November can apply to the CCR Board to extend their temporary certificate to January 30, 2003, at the same time as they apply for their provisional standard certification in November. In other words, for those court reporters who do not meet the criteria to apply for provisional standard certification under either E(3) or E(4) on page 8 of 27, but who have signed up for the November RPR and want to continue working through January while awaiting the RPR results and the next board meeting in January, they can apply for an extension through January 30, 2003, of their temporary certificate.
The provisional standard certification under E(4)(a)(ii), which is on page 8 of 27 in the "purple book," the board is recommending the date be changed from June 30, 2002, to December 31, 2002. No other portions of (i) or (ii) are being recommended to be changed.
Additionally, the CCR Board voted on a draft of continuing education guidelines. It will shortly be posted on the website and all court reporters are encouraged to look through that and make any comments to the CCR board before their October board meeting.
The proposed rule changes and guidelines for continuing education will now go forward to the presiding judges, the Arizona Judicial Council and will ultimately be adopted or rejected by the Supreme Court.
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA
In the Matter of:
COURT REPORTER CERTIFICATION Administrative Order
AND THE BOARD OF CERTIFIED No. 99- 4 6
COURT REPORTERS
Laws 1999, Chapter 335, Senate Bill 1324, effective August 6,1999, adds provisions to Title 32, Arizona Revised Statutes, regarding the certification and regulation of court reporters. A.R.S. § '12-4004 establishes the Board of Certified Court Reporters and specifies that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall appoint the nine members of the Board. A.R.S. § 32-4005 directs that "The Board shall recommend and the Supreme Court shall adopt rules to implement and enforce . . . " the statutory provisions regulating the certification and conduct of court reporters. A.R.S. § 32-4008 further provides that the Supreme Court, upon recommendation by the Board, shall adopt a fee schedule for the testing and certification of court reporters.
Now therefore, in accordance with the administrative authority vested in the Supreme Court by Article VI, § 3 and § 7 of the Arizona Constitution and in compliance with Title 32, Chapter 40, Arizona Revised Statutes,
IT IS ORDERED that the following are appointed as members of the Board of Certified Court Reporters, with terms beginning on August 6, 1999, and ending on the dates shown by their respective names:
- Ms. Nancy Swetnam, Chief Justice or Designee
Term Expires: January 1, 2005
- Hon. Rebecca W. Berch, Court of Appeals Judge
Term Expires: January 1, 2005
- Hon. Cindy K. Jorgenson, Superior Court Judge (Pima County)
Term Expires: January 1, 2005
- Ms. Sandra K. Markham, Official Court Reporter
Term Expires: January 1, 2004
- Ms. Jennifer Stadler, Official Court Reporter
Term Expires: January 1, 2003
- Ms. Jean L. Lea, Freelance Court Reporter
Term Expires: January 1, 2004
- Mr. James E. Bouley, Freelance Court Reporter
Term Expires: January 1, 2003
- Mr. Tyrone Mitchell, Attorney
Term Expires: January 1, 2004
- Mr. Jim Sawyer, Public Member
Term Expires: January 1, 2003
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Board shall propose rules to the Supreme Court to implement and enforce the statutory provisions regulating the certification and conduct of court reporters. These rules shall include a timetable for certification of court reporters and a fee schedule for examinations, certificate application and renewal.
Dated this 6th day of August, 1999.
THOMAS A. ZLAKET
Chief Justice