A. Every applicant who seeks to be examined for enrollment as a certified shorthand reporter shall prove to the satisfaction of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters that he or she:

1. Is of legal age;

2. Meets the requisite standards of ethical fitness;

3. Has at least a high school education or its equivalent; and

4. Possesses a minimum level of court reporting proficiency which would allow the applicant to meet the examination requirements established in paragraph 1 of subsection B of this section. An applicant may satisfy such requirements by obtaining verification through a court reporting school official of the applicant’s level of proficiency, as outlined by the test application; by passing a preliminary proficiency examination, which has been approved by the Board; or by proving that the applicant has previously held any state or national shorthand reporting certificate or license.

B. The examination for certification in one or more authorized methods of shorthand reporting consists of two parts, designated Part 1 and Part 2 as follows:

1. Part 1 consists of the test as authorized by the Supreme Court consisting of the following requirements: demonstrated proficiency in reporting testimony and proceedings at a speed of not more than two hundred (200) words per minute in taking a question-and-answer type dictation and at a speed of not more than one hundred eighty (180) words per minute in taking literary materials which shall be designed to test the ability of an applicant to accurately prepare a transcript of testimony and proceedings that is reasonably free from spelling errors. The Board may not increase or decrease such minimum speed requirement, by rule or otherwise; and

2. Part 2 is the Oklahoma Written Knowledge test which consists of not less than twenty-five multiple choice questions relating to Oklahoma law and court rules, duties of certified shorthand reporters, and general court procedure. The examination shall be approved by the Supreme Court. A person who has tested with the Board and successfully completed the written knowledge portion of the examination shall be allowed to retain the credit for that portion for two (2) years from the date passed, and shall not be required to retake that portion during the two-year period.

C. An applicant who is academically dishonest when taking any authorized examination is disqualified and may not take the examination again until two (2) years have elapsed from the date of the examination at which the applicant was disqualified.

D. A certification issued under this section must be for one or more of the following methods of shorthand reporting:

1. Written shorthand;

2. Machine shorthand; or

3. Any other method of shorthand reporting authorized by the Supreme Court.

E. No person may engage in shorthand reporting in this state unless the person is a licensed or certified shorthand reporter or otherwise authorized by law or the Supreme Court.

Added by Laws 1970, c. 257, § 3, operative April 13, 1970. Amended by Laws 1978, c. 228, § 6, eff. July 1, 1978; Laws 1992, c. 1, § 3, emerg. eff. March 10, 1992; Laws 1994, c. 130, § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 1996; Laws 1995, c. 338, § 18, eff. Jan. 1, 1996; Laws 2003, c. 183, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2003; Laws 2005, c. 66, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2005; Laws 2010, c. 122, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2010.