Judicial Branch Certification Commission

• Registration of Court Reporting Firms
• Renewal of Court Reporting Firms
• Continuing Education for Court Reporting Firms
• Late Renewals
• Reinstatement of Court Reporting Firms
• Criminal History
• Fees

Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring they know all information required to become registered and 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.).

A court reporting firm and its affiliate offices must register online with the Commission.

A court reporting firm may not use the title or designation "court recording firm," "court reporting firm" or "shorthand reporting firm" or any abbreviation, title, designation, words, letters, sign, card, or device tending to indicate that the firm is a court reporting firm or shorthand reporting firm, or offer services as a court reporting firm or shorthand reporting firm, unless the firm and its affiliate offices are registered with the Board.

Prior to applying for registration of your firm, you must create the online profile for your firm. We strongly recommend using an email address created specifically for the firm instead of a designated individual's email address. This will prevent the need to update the profile as employee's change.

Registration of Court Reporting Firms

To register your court reporting firm, you must:

1. Submit the Application for Registration. To apply online, please go to the online certification and licensing system on our home page. 
   • The registration form must state whether the firm or office or any officers, directors, or managerial employees have been finally convicted of a felony or misdemeanor other than a minor traffic offense or juvenile offense.
2. pay all required fees via the online licensing system.

Court Reporting Firm Renewals

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.

To renew your registration, you must:

1. Submit the Application for Renewal. 
   • To apply for renewal, please go to the online certification and licensing system on our home page.
   • Login to your online profile.
   • Click Renew on the What Do You Want to Do menu of your profile.
     • Do not click the option for CE Approval Request as that is not the correct form for renewal purposes.
2. Complete 10 hours of JBCC approved CE.
   • The 10 hours must include 2.5 hours in ethics and/or Texas rules.
   • Under section 6.9 of the JBCC Rules, a firm principal may carry forward to the next certification period up to 4 hours of approved continuing education. Special category CE (i.e., ethics/TX rules) cannot be carried forward.
   • Applicants cannot use the same CE course during the same renewal period.
3. Submit copies of CE documentation for completed CE programs by uploading them to your renewal application. The following information must be included on your certificates of completion:
   1. 1. The JBCC assigned program number.
      2. The name of the course provider.
      3. The title of the course.
      4. The date you completed the course.
      5. The number of hours you completed.
      6. The list of sessions you completed.
      7. The signature of the course provider.
4. Pay all required fees. Please see the Fees section of this page for information on amounts due, acceptable forms of payment, etc.
   • Renewal fees are waived for firms with CSR's owning more than 50% of the firm and that maintain actual control of the firm.

Previously Existing Court Reporting firms with at least 50% CSR ownership must do the following:

1. Submit an email to the court reporting department, prior to applying for renewal, requesting to have your registration type changed to reflect you are at least 50% CSR owned.
   • If this is not done, the system will require you to pay the renewal fee when you apply online.
2. Please allow staff at least 2 business days to make the change and respond to your request before submitting your renewal.

Continuing Education for Court Reporting Firms

Under the JBCC Rules, at least one person with management authority over a shorthand reporting firm must complete at least 10 hours of JBCC approved continuing education during each certification period. The 10 hours must include a minimum of 2.5 hours in ethics, Texas rules, or both. Please refer to section 4.0 of the JBCC Rules for more information on continuing education and requirements.

Late Renewals

An entity whose registration has been expired for 90 days or less may renew for 1½ times the normally required renewal fee.

An entity whose registration has been expired more than 90 days but less than one year may renew for twice the normally required renewal fee.

Exceptions will not be granted, and fees will not be waived, refunded, or transferred.

Firms expired 1 year or more, please refer to the Reinstating an Expired Firm Registration section below.

There are no provisions in rule or statute to extend expiration dates.

Reinstating an Expired Court Reporting Firm Registration

Previously Existing Court Reporting firms with at least 50% CSR ownership must do the following:

1. Submit an email to the court reporting department, prior to applying for reinstatement, requesting to have your registration type changed to reflect you are at least 50% CSR owned.
   • If this is not done, the system will require you to pay the application fee when you apply online.
2. Please allow staff at least 2 business days to make the change and respond to your request before submitting your reinstatement application.

To apply for reinstatement of your firm registration, you must do the following:

1. Login to your existing certification profile in the online licensing system
• If you do not know your login credentials, follow the instructions in section XIII of the pdf Guide to Using the Online System located on the home page of our website to obtain your login name and reset your password.
• If you've never created an online profile, email staff so they can provide the instructions you need to create one. Once your profile is created, proceed to the step below.
2. Click the button to apply for reinstatement and follow the instructions accordingly.
3. Pay the reinstatement application fee. 
   • The remaining amount due will be assessed via a staff generated invoice so the total you pay will equal all missed renewal fees and all late renewal fees.
4. After you've paid the invoice, you must email the court reporting department to confirm, as they are not alerted otherwise. This will help to prevent an unnecessary delay with your application.

Should you have questions not addressed online, please submit inquiries to courtreporting@txcourts.gov. 

Criminal History

Criminal History FAQ's

All new applicants, and those renewing their registrations, are required to undergo electronic Fingerprinting through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) using the service code for this department.

• Fees for these services are paid at the time your fingerprints are taken.
• The results of the DPS and FBI fingerprint searches will be sent directly to the Commission.
• Please refer to the Certification & Licensure Criminal History FAQ's page for additional information. 
• You do not need to have your fingerprints retaken once you have been fingerprinted with our service code. Upon receipt of your application and required payment, staff will request a new criminal history report, and the results will be sent directly to the Commission.
• Refer to section 3.5 of the JBCC Rules for additional details on this requirement.
• Under section 3.5 (a) of the JBCC Rules, an initial or renewal application may be denied, and a regulated person may be disciplined, if the person's criminal history or other information indicates that the person lacks the honesty, trustworthiness, or integrity to hold the certification, registration, or license.

Please be aware that we must have an application from you before we can provide the instructions, service code and disclosure language that is required to make your fingerprinting appointment.

• When you submit your application for registration online, an automated email confirmation will be sent to your primary email address.
• This automated email will contain the code and instructions you need to get fingerprinted.
• Please check your inbox (and spam folder) for this correspondence.
• Do not rely on information or forms that you receive from a source other than the JBCC. Doing so may result in your having to be re-fingerprinted, and thus delays in processing your application.

Registration

Registration certificates will be issued by regular mail, to the primary mailing address on file.

Once you’re registered, you will receive an automated email from our system advising that your new registration application has been approved. Please check your inbox (and spam folder) for this correspondence. Once you receive this email, or you get your registration certificate in the mail, or verify your registration online, whichever comes first, you may begin to provide court reporting firm services. 

Fees

All fees are non-refundable. However, if you have a fee dispute you must submit it to courtreporting@txcourts.gov for resolution. 

Application Fee for Firm Registration: $200.00

Court Reporting Firm Renewal Fees

Timely Renewal: $200.00

Expired 90 days or less: $300.00

Expired 91 days to 1 year: $400.00

Acceptable forms of payment: Credit card or Debit Card

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