Court Reporting FAQ:

Below are various subcategories of questions frequently received from court reporters in the state of Georgia. Please use the menu immediately below to select the appropriate category your question might fall under or feel free to browse the entire page.

• What is the continuing education requirement for Georgia certified court reporters?

  There are two requirements – a one-time class, called LEAP, for newly certified Georgia court reporters; and an ongoing training requirement of 10 hours per year.  
  CE Requirement for Newly Certified Court Reporters:  Each newly certified court reporter shall be required to take the first Learning Essentials About Professionalism (LEAP) seminar authorized by the Board after their certification.
  Annual CE Requirement:  Each certified court reporter shall be required to attend a minimum of 10 hours of approved training per calendar year.  However, any reporter issued an initial certificate is not required to acquire credit hours for that calendar year, except that every newly certified Georgia court reporter shall complete the LEAP seminar required hereinabove.

• Where can I find information about Georgia’s court reporter continuing education (CE) program?

  The best source of information is the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education (ICJE) Court Reporters website:  www.uga.edu/icje (click “Court Reporters”).  At the website, you will find:  the complete Continuing Education Manual for Georgia Certified Court Reporters, a list of preapproved Classes and Seminars, forms to apply for CE credit, and the answers to frequently asked questions.  At the same website, you can monitor your CE Credit Hour Status by viewing the number of hours you have completed toward your annual requirement.
  For questions that are not answered at the website, you are always welcome to email or phone the ICJE contact for court reporters (current contact info listed on the website).

• What is the website for CE information?

  ICJE Court Reporters CE Website:  www.uga.edu/icje (click “Court Reporters”).

• What is the purpose of the continuing education requirement?

  The short answer is:  to promote the highest possible standards in the court reporting field.  The CE requirement was enacted by the Board of Court Reporting of the Judicial Council of Georgia to provide for a diverse selection of continuing education options that will help each member of the Georgia court reporting community keep up-to-date with the tools, technology, knowledge and skills of court reporting.  Additionally, the Georgia CE program strives to encourage each reporter’s growth as a professional, to broaden the perspective and approach toward the responsibilities and functions of the profession, and to promote interaction and exchange of ideas among court reporters in a professional educational setting.

• What is the deadline for completing the annual 10-hour requirement?

December 31.  Evidence of completion of 10 hours of approved training must be submitted to ICJE by 12/31 each year to avoid suspension.  Thus, not only must classes be completed by the deadline, but they also must be submitted to ICJE – postmarked by 12/31 of the year – so that your record shows that you fulfilled the requirement.
For classes taken early in the year, don’t forget the 30-day class submission deadline.  CE requests must be submitted to ICJE within 30 days of class completion, or by December 31, whichever is earlier.
For last-minute (December) submissions, preapproved classes are highly recommended. 

• What happens if I miss the 12/31 CE deadline?

A certificate is automatically suspended for failure to meet the annual CE requirement.  Suspension is effective immediately upon noncompliance.  Thus, failure to submit paperwork that substantiates completion of 10 hours of approved CE training, postmarked by December 31, results in license suspension as of January 1.  A suspended certificate may be reinstated by curing the cause of the suspension before December 31 of the year in which the suspension occurs.  If the suspension is not cured by December 31, the certificate is automatically revoked.

• How do I become active again if my license is suspended for missing the CE deadline?

  Take the required training and submit the CE Request for Credit paperwork to ICJE as quickly as possible.  You will be notified when your hours are recorded and your CE requirement is complete.  It is common to experience about two to four weeks of turnaround time for processing delinquent CE submittals.  Your reinstatement also may be subject to license renewal and fee payment with the Board of Court Reporting (due by 3/31 but only after CE for the previous year is verified to be complete).

• If I miss the CE deadline, is there a way to file for an extension of time?

  Yes, but an “Application for Extension of Time” will be considered only after you are actually suspended.  The pertinent form is located in the “Forms” section of the CE Manual for Georgia Certified Court Reporters.  The CE Manual is available at the ICJE Court Reporters website.

• If my CE request is delayed for review by the CRTC or missing paperwork, do I get an extension on the suspension deadline?

No.  The CE deadline remains intact, even if processing is delayed for review by the CRTC or due to the need for additional required paperwork.  If you encounter a delay, you may need to submit alternate training to satisfy the CE deadline.
Preapproved classes are highly recommended for last-minute submissions because these classes were reviewed in advance and rarely result in a processing delay – just make sure your paperwork is complete!

• After I take a class, how do I submit it for CE credit?

Within 30 days after completing a continuing education class (or by 12/31 whichever is earlier), you must submit a Request for Credit to ICJE in order for your hours to be entered into your CE record.  A complete Request for Credit includes the following:
-- CRTC-1 Request for Credit form (available on website)
-- CRTC-2 Course Evaluation form (available on website)
-- Verification of Attendance issued by CE provider
-- Copy of course schedule or agenda (optional if the course was preapproved)
The CE request can be submitted by mail or fax.  The mailing address is:  ICJE Court Reporting, 123 Dean Rusk Hall, The University of Georgia, Athens GA 30602-6025.  Fax number is:  775-942-2758. 
Always keep a copy for your own records.

• How quickly do I need to send my CE request to ICJE?

CE requests must be submitted to ICJE within 30 days of completion of the CE class (or by the 12/31 CE deadline, whichever is earlier).

• How important is the 30-day class submission deadline?

Very.  The CRTC has asked ICJE to enforce the 30-day submission deadline.  Late submission may result in delay or denial of credit.  Timely submission benefits everyone by providing for better course evaluation feedback, making it easier to keep track of attendance records, and spreading the administrative workload to keep costs down.

• Why am I required to turn in a course evaluation for every class?

Your opinions and comments are very important to the CE program in Georgia.  The CRTC reviews your feedback on course evaluations to determine what is going right, what needs change, and what might be added to enhance the course offerings.  Course evaluation feedback definitely contributes to improvements in CE programming for Georgia court reporters.

• Will my CE provider automatically submit my attendance record to ICJE?

No.  It is the responsibility of each student to submit a CE request to ICJE in order for your class hours to be entered into your CE record.  The only way to ensure that you receive credit toward your Georgia CE requirement is to submit a Request for Credit to ICJE.  This is true of all classes without exception.

• Where do I send my CE request paperwork?

  Mail:
  ICJE Court Reporting
  123 Dean Rusk Hall
  The University of Georgia
  Athens GA 30602-6025

  Fax:  775-942-2758

• If I submit my CE request by fax, do I need to mail a copy as well?

  Generally, no.  Unless you are submitting close to the December 31 deadline, there is no need to send a back-up copy after a fax.  You will be able confirm your hours online at our website.   If, however, you submit a fax in December, you may not be able to confirm those hours until mid-January, well after the CE deadline.  In that situation, it is advisable to mail a backup – postmarked by 12/31 – just in case!

• How do I confirm that ICJE received my CE submission and recorded my training hours?

Your CE hours will appear on the CE Credit Hour Status link at the ICJE Court Reporters website within about 45 days (often much sooner) after your paperwork is submitted to ICJE.  At this link, you can view the hours you earned and your progress toward completing the CE requirements for the previous year, current year and next year.  The CE Credit Hour Status list is updated monthly, at the beginning of each month, and twice in December. 
If you prefer to receive an individual acknowledgment from ICJE, simply include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your CE submission. 
If you suspect that ICJE did not receive your submission, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.  Email is often quicker than telephone voicemail, but either method will work.

• How often is the CE Credit Hour Status list updated?

The CE Credit Hour Status list is updated at the beginning of each month, so roughly every 30 days.  If your CE submission is received by mid-month, it should appear in the update at the beginning of the next month.  If it arrives late in the month, it may or may not appear with the next update depending on the backlog of data processing. 
In general, you should find your hours updated at the beginning of the first or second month after you send your submission to ICJE. 
In December, prior to the 12/31 CE deadline, the hours are updated a second time mid-month, before the ICJE offices close for the University of Georgia year-end holiday.
In January, the update is usually the second or third week in the month, due to a backlog of holiday mail.  However, all mail postmarked by 12/31 is processed prior to compiling the CE-deadline suspension list.

• How do I check whether I fulfilled my CE requirement for the year?

You can view your CE Credit Hour Status at the ICJE Court Reporters website.  The CE Credit Hour Status list shows how many hours you earned for last year, this year, and next year.  This list is updated monthly, usually by the first full week in the month.

• Help!  I waited until December to finish my CE training.  I do not want to get suspended.  How do I find out if ICJE received my last-minute CE submission?

In December, prior to the 12/31 CE deadline, the CE Credit Hour Status list on the website is updated a second time mid-month, before the ICJE offices close for the University of Georgia year-end holiday.  If your CE request comes in by about December 10, it should be covered on this update.  If your submission misses the mid-December update, you must wait until after the holiday mail is processed in January to confirm your hours.  Due to the backlog of holiday mail, the January update is usually posted the second or third week of the month.  However, all submissions postmarked by 12/31 will be processed before the CE Suspension List is compiled.
Last-Minute Recommendations:  1) Take a preapproved class, so you know it will be accredited.  2) Double-check your CE request paperwork to make sure it is complete.  Incomplete paperwork will delay processing and may result in suspension.  3) If you send a fax, follow it with a copy by regular mail postmarked by 12/31 – just in case.

• How do I contact ICJE (The Institute of Continuing Judicial Education)?

Mail:
ICJE Court Reporting
123 Dean Rusk Hall
The University of Georgia
Athens GA 30602-6025

Fax:  775-942-2758

Current email and telephone numbers are listed on the Court Reporters Info page of the ICJE website:  www.uga.edu/icje (click “Court Reporters”)

• How do I find a good CE class?

For a list of preapproved classes, go to:  www.uga.edu/icje   Click “Court Reporters” and “Classes and Seminars.”  This list is updated continually as each new class is approved, so feel free to check back often.

• How do I find out whether a class is preapproved?

Check the ICJE Court Reporters website list of preapproved Classes and Seminars: http://www.uga.edu/icje/CEpreapprovals.htm   

• How do I obtain preapproval for a CE class?

Formal preapproval is available to all CE providers, who must submit copies of their course materials for review.  A CE provider can apply at the ICJE Court Reporters website:  www.uga.edu/icje (click “Court Reporters” and “Information for CE Providers”).  The application process is simple – and free of charge!  Ideally, allow 90 days lead time, but often the process is much faster.  The class is posted on the CE calendar, also free of charge, within 72 hours of approval.
If you are a student and have a particular class in mind that would be beneficial for Georgia court reporters, by all means encourage the provider to apply for preapproval. 
There is no formal preapproval process for students.

• Can I get credit for a seminar if it is not preapproved?

Yes, but the class must comply with the criteria set forth in the CE Manual for Georgia Certified Court Reporters in terms of subject guidelines, paperwork submission requirements, provider recordkeeping, and so forth.  Generally accepted post-approvals are:  court reporting software classes taught by certified trainers, word processing, computer maintenance, legal classes, and language classes.  Additional criteria (also listed in the CE Manual) are required for home study courses. 
Processing may take a little longer than with preapproved classes.

• Do I need to submit extra paperwork for a post-approval CE request?

Yes.  If you took a CE class that was not preapproved, you must submit the standard CE request paperwork (CRTC-1, CRTC-2, and Verification of Attendance) and also the following information:   a course program/agenda which shows the actual hours of the educational sessions; names and qualifications of instructors; outline of subjects covered; and to whom the program was directed. 
Processing may take a little longer than with preapproved classes.

• Will I receive credit for courses taken through national or other state court reporting associations?

In most cases, yes.  There are rare instances when credit is not allowed according to the guidelines of the CE Manual for Georgia Certified Court Reporters.  For instance, tours, business meetings and home-study book reviews receive no CE credit in Georgia.

• Will I receive credit for training classes taught by my court reporting software provider?

In most cases, yes.  CR software training by a certified trainer is eligible for CE credit, so long as the provider complies with CE Manual guidelines for classes and recordkeeping.  Bear in mind that home study courses have additional accreditation criteria, also stated in the Manual.
If your class was not preapproved, make sure that you receive written verification of attendance, signed by the provider, which states the number of training hours that you completed.  No credit is given for meals and breaks.  When submitting your CE Request for Credit, be sure to include a copy of your training agenda and a list of subjects covered. 

• Can I get credit for a home study class?

Yes, but the CRTC has fairly strict criteria for accreditation of home study.  Should you find yourself unable to attend a live seminar, several correspondence courses have been preapproved for CE credit.  They are listed under the Classes and Seminars link at the ICJE Court Reporters website. 
The CRTC encourages attendance at live seminars whenever possible because of the added benefit of interaction and exchange of ideas among court reporters in a professional educational setting.

• What are the extra criteria for accreditation of home study, or correspondence courses?

A course must meet all of the general guidelines stated in the CE Manual for Georgia Certified Court Reporters, including the following minimum criteria for home study:
            -- Written verification from CE provider that student completed the course;
            -- Course included interactive feedback and/or testing;
            -- Providers maintain a record of student participation that can be confirmed separately by ICJE;
            -- Provider supplied quantifiable educational contact hours, i.e., CEUs or other nationally recognized unit of continuing education hours.

• Can I get credit for home-study book reviews?

No.  Although NCRA offers credit for home study book reviews, Georgia does not.  Other than book reviews, the vast majority of NCRA home study classes receive credit in Georgia.

• Can I get credit for self-guided study from my software manual?

No.  Verification of educational contact hours must be certified in writing by the CE provider who is in compliance with the standards and criteria set forth in the CE Manual.

• Can I repeat a class and still get CE credit?

Generally, classes repeated within 3 calendar years will not receive credit.  The pertinent date is the date of course completion as stated on the verification certificate.

• Can I get credit for attending a class where I am employed (or volunteer) to take notes?

No.  While it is always a good learning experience when you can concentrate on valuable educational content during a job, the CRTC gives CE credit for taking classes (when your purpose is to be the student), not for court reporting/CART employment or volunteer work.  Job experience is an undeniable bonus, but it does not qualify for CE credit.

• How many credit hours will I receive for a class?

For live court reporting seminars and adult continuing education, you will receive credit for the actual number of training hours that you attend.  No credit is given for meals, breaks or administrative sessions – only for educational contact hours.
            The CE Manual also explains how credit is calculated for other types of activities, such as college degree courses, court reporting school, national certificate designations, and service. For more specific information, please see the CE Manual section entitled “Course Accreditation…Credit Hours Allowed.”

• Besides court reporting seminars and adult continuing education, are there other ways that I can earn CE credit?

Yes.  The CE Manual explains several additional CE credit opportunities.  Examples are:  college degree courses, court reporting school, national certificate designations, teaching a court reporting class, and service. For more specific information and an explanation of how credit is calculated for these activities, please see the CE Manual section entitled “Course Accreditation…Credit Hours Allowed.”

• Can I apply my required LEAP class toward my annual CE hours requirement?

Yes, simply submit a standard CE request to ICJE within 30 days of completion of the course.  CE request forms are available at the ICJE Court Reporters website, but they probably also were given out at the LEAP class.  If you take LEAP during your first calendar year of Georgia certification (the only year for which you are not required to submit 10 hours), the LEAP hours can apply toward the following year’s requirement.

• If I earn more than 10 hours this year, can I apply the excess toward next year?

  Yes.  Up to 10 hours of excess credit will be applied one year into the future. 
  For example, extra hours completed in 2008 will apply toward the 2009 CE requirement until it is fulfilled (10 hours).  However, hours completed in 2008 cannot apply forward toward the 2010 requirement.

• I received 1.2 CEUs for my attendance at the NCRA annual convention.  How many CE credit hours is that in Georgia?

In Georgia, credit is given on the basis of educational contact hours (classroom hours) of training.  1.2 CEUs at NCRA translates to 12 educational contact hours, or 12 hours of CE credit on your Georgia requirement.

• What constitutes adequate verification of attendance?

Verification of educational contact hours must be certified in writing by the CE provider and can take the form of:
-- Certificate of Completion
-- CE transcript (NCRA, NVRA)
-- Letter with original signature from the CE provider
-- Attendance punchcard from a preapproved court reporting seminar
-- Final grade report or transcript from a college or university degree program

• Is my registration receipt adequate for verification of attendance?

No.  ICJE cannot grant CE credit for training unless you submit verification of actual attendance.  A registration receipt, hotel receipt, entrance ticket or name badge is not considered adequate verification of attendance.

• I attended a preapproved seminar, but I lost my attendance punchcard.  What can I do to obtain credit?

In this instance, you have two options.  Either of the following is acceptable verification for your Georgia CE credit record:
-- You can obtain a signed letter from the CE provider that verifies your hours of attendance at the training sessions; or
-- If you submitted a separate punchcard to one of the national associations (NCRA or NVRA) for the same seminar, you can send ICJE a copy of your national association transcript that shows your CE credit for the seminar.
ICJE cannot grant CE credit for training unless you submit adequate verification of attendance.  A registration receipt, hotel receipt, entrance ticket or name badge is not considered adequate verification of attendance.

If your question was not answered above, please contact Barbara Teskey (brteskey@uga.edu) for further information.