Court Reporters Certification

Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring they know all information required to renew, by ensuring to utilize all resources available to them (i.e., our website, rules, renewal notices, slideshows, any communications submitted to them by staff, etc.).

• Under section 4.3(k)(9), courses completed prior to the first renewal period of the applicant cannot be used for renewal purposes.
  • For example: the new applicant completed the course on 07/01/24. They become certified on 07/01/25. Courses completed prior to 07/01/25 cannot be used for renewal purposes.
• Applicants cannot use the same CE course during the same renewal period.
• Renewals must be submitted online. We will email a reminder notice to the primary email address on file approximately 90 days before your expiration date. After you receive your renewal notice, you will be able to apply online for renewal of your certification.
  • Ensure to check your inbox (and spam folder) for your notice.
  • Applications cannot be submitted prior to receiving your renewal notice.
• Before starting your online renewal application, you must review the "Watch How to Apply for Renewal-Slideshow" on the home page of our website, for step-by-step/page-by-page instructions on the online renewal process, including the following:
  
  • How to properly search for & select CE courses, and
  • How to upload CE certificates
• If you have previously started a renewal application but did not finish it, you must withdraw it if:
  
  • you started your online application before your certification expired but didn't submit it before you expired. In this instance, you must withdraw the unsubmitted application, then start a new one if your certification has not been expired for a year or more.
  • you started your online application before your certification expired but didn't submit it before you expired. In this instance, you must withdraw the unsubmitted application and cannot submit new one if your certification has been expired for a year or more.
• Per section 152.2015 of the Government Code, you cannot perform work requiring a certification, registration, or a license if it has expired. You are considered renewed when your application is processed (i.e., approved), not when it is received. Due to the volume of applications received by our office, we strongly recommend that you submit your renewal application, all required documentation, and all applicable fees at least 30 days prior to your expiration date, especially during the holidays.
• When reporting your CE, do not report each session for the seminar you attended, we will obtain that from your certificate of attendance. You must only report (i.e., select) the name of the seminar you attended. You will find the title of the seminar on your certificate of attendance.
• Up to 4 hours of CE reported from your most recent CE compliance period can be carried over to your current renewal period as long as the CE was not in ethics or Texas rules.
  
  • To clarify, this means, if you reported14 hours of approved CE for your 2024 renewal, a maximum of 4 hours of non-ethics\TX rules CE can be used towards your 2026 renewal; however, you must select the course and upload the certificate again so that it is attached to your 2026 online renewal application.
• NCRA Programs. Under the JBCC Rules, all programs (i.e., conventions, conferences, seminars, online courses, etc.) must be JBCC approved. CSRs who participate in approved NCRA programs must submit copies of their certificates of attendance when applying for renewal; the transcripts issued by NCRA are not sufficient for CE documentation purposes.
• You are not considered renewed until your application has been processed. Once your paperwork is processed, an automated email will be sent to the primary address on file. You can track your status via our online system. We strongly recommend that you check your email (including your spam folder) and/or the online system, prior to reporting to work to ensure you are renewed. Providing services without a valid certification is a violation of the rules and may result in disciplinary actions. Staff will notify you via email if there are insufficiencies with your renewal that requires action on your end.
• Not receiving a renewal notice is not grounds for an extension of time or exemption from additional fees. It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you have all items and information necessary to timely renew your certification. To confirm your expiration date please refer to your certification card, registration certificate, or search for your information in our online system located on the home page of our website.
• Under the Commission's rules, you must maintain your CE documentation for 3 years. There are no provisions in the rules for a waiver from obtaining continuing education credit to renew your certification.
• Please submit all inquiries regarding your renewal via email to: courtreporting@txcourts.gov.
• To confirm receipt and track your application status, please refer to the online certification and licensing system. Log in to your profile, go to the link for viewing pending applications, and you can see your status there.