The Certified Reporting Instructor credential is for current or aspiring court reporting educators, and no other certification or NCRA membership is needed to take it. This page gathers the verified exam facts from the National Court Reporters Association, free practice sets by topic, worked explanations and a study plan you can follow alongside the official course.

CRI Exam at a Glance

What changed for CRI in 2026

• Oct 24, 2026: Exam fee (CRI Education) changed to $440 NCRA members / $516 nonmembers (plus $55 required textbook) (previously $440 NCRA members / $516 nonmembers (plus $55 mandatory textbook)).^[2]
• Oct 24, 2026: Number of questions (RPR Written Knowledge Test) changed to 120 questions (100 scored) (previously 120 multiple-choice questions (100 scored)).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Exam fee (RPR Written Knowledge Test) changed to $181 student / $220 reporter member / $253 non-member (previously $181 student member / $220 reporter member / $253 non-member).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Delivery (RPR Written Knowledge Test) changed to Pearson OnVUE online proctoring or Pearson Test Center (previously Pearson VUE test center or OnVUE online proctoring).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Testing window (RPR Written Knowledge Test) changed to Dec 1–20, 2026; Jan 4–25, 2027 (then Mar 1–20, Apr 5–23, Jun 1–20, Jul 1–19, Sep 1–20, Oct 1–18, 2027) (previously Jan 4–25, 2027 (later windows: Apr 5–23, Jul 1–19, Oct 1–18, 2027)).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Score release (RPR Written Knowledge Test) changed to Preliminary pass/fail after the test; official scores 2–4 weeks after the window closes (previously Preliminary pass/fail at test; official scores in 2–4 weeks after window closes).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Renewal changed to Maintain NCRA membership + 3.0 CEUs per 3 years (previously Keep NCRA membership + 3.0 CEUs every 3 years).^[3]

What the CRI is and how it works

According to National Court Reporters Association, “Written Knowledge Tests have 120 questions but only 100 are used to calculate a candidate's official score.”^[1]

The CRI is issued by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) for people who teach, or plan to teach, court reporting. Candidates do not need to hold any other certification or be an NCRA member to take it.

There are two parts. The first is the CRI Education course, a five-week online asynchronous course that is required for all CRI candidates. The fee is $440 for NCRA members and $516 for nonmembers, plus a $55 required textbook. You must pass the course with a score of 80 or better.

The second is a written knowledge test, delivered through Pearson OnVUE online proctoring or at a Pearson Test Center. The test has 120 questions, but only 100 are used to calculate your official score. You must pass with a scaled score of 70 or better. The NCRA lists the fee as $181 for students, $220 for reporter members and $253 for non-members. Upcoming test windows include Dec 1–20, 2026 and Jan 4–25, 2027, followed by Mar 1–20, Apr 5–23, Jun 1–20, Jul 1–19, Sep 1–20 and Oct 1–18, 2027. You get a preliminary pass/fail result after the test, and official scores are emailed 2–4 weeks after the window closes.

The credential is effective for 3 years from the date you complete the last requirement. To renew, you must maintain your NCRA membership and earn at least 3.0 CEUs over a 3-year period. Retake rules and any fee changes are set by the NCRA, so check the official pages before you register.

Worked examples: how to reason through CRI questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What role does continuous improvement play in real-time captioning methods for CRI certified professionals?

1. It is optional and only necessary during certification renewal
2. It drives ongoing enhancement of practices, processes, and outcomes through systematic evaluation
3. It applies only to new professionals in their first year
4. It focuses exclusively on cost reduction

Answer: B. It drives ongoing enhancement of practices, processes, and outcomes through systematic evaluation

Explanation:

The correct answer is that continuous improvement drives ongoing enhancement of practices, processes and outcomes through systematic evaluation. It is a working habit, not a one-off task. In real-time captioning, that means reviewing output, collecting feedback and adjusting your methods regularly.

The option calling it optional and tied to certification renewal is wrong because improvement is part of everyday practice, not a paperwork step. The option limiting it to new professionals is wrong because experienced people need it just as much, as tools and standards change. The option about cost reduction is wrong because cutting cost is at most one possible result, while the real aim is better quality and outcomes.

Rule to remember: when an answer says a professional practice applies only at one moment, to one group or for one narrow goal, it is usually a distractor. Good practice is ongoing, applies to everyone and is measured by results.

Example 2

Question: What does the term 'syllabic intensity' refer to in court reporting speed building?

1. The volume at which dictation is delivered
2. The average number of syllables per word in a dictation passage
3. The number of strokes per minute a reporter produces
4. The difficulty of punctuation within a passage

Answer: B. The average number of syllables per word in a dictation passage

Explanation:

Syllabic intensity is the average number of syllables per word in a dictation passage. A passage full of long, multi-syllable words packs more to write into each word than one made of short words, so it is harder at the same speed.

Volume of delivery is wrong because loudness affects how easily the material is heard, not how dense it is. Strokes per minute is wrong because that measures the writer's output, not a property of the passage itself. Difficulty of punctuation is wrong because punctuation may add to the challenge of a passage, but it is not what this term measures.

Rule to remember: when you choose or grade practice material, separate properties of the text, such as syllable density, from properties of the delivery or the writer, such as volume and stroke rate. Matching speed alone does not make two passages equally hard.

Example 3

Question: In a steno classroom, what is a recommended approach for handling a student who is consistently disruptive during dictation practice?

1. Publicly correct the student during class to deter future disruptions
2. Have a private conversation to understand the cause and agree on a behavioral plan
3. Immediately remove the student from the course
4. Ignore the behavior to avoid conflict

Answer: B. Have a private conversation to understand the cause and agree on a behavioral plan

Explanation:

The best approach is a private conversation to understand the cause and agree on a behavioral plan. Disruption during dictation often has a reason behind it, such as frustration, stress or something outside class, and a private talk lets you find it and set clear expectations with the student.

Publicly correcting the student is wrong because embarrassment tends to harden the behavior and damages trust with the whole class. Removing the student from the course immediately is wrong because it skips every earlier step and is a last resort, not a first response. Ignoring the behavior is wrong because it leaves the problem in place and is unfair to classmates trying to concentrate.

Rule to remember: address problems early, privately and with a plan. Understanding the cause comes before any escalation, and the aim is lasting change that protects both the student's dignity and the class.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material, because it sets what you are actually being tested on. Read the NCRA's CRI page and the written knowledge test information, and note the dates of the test windows so you can work backward from the one you want.

Next, take the full practice test once with no notes to see where you stand. Do not worry about the score. Write down each topic where you missed questions or guessed.

Then work through the topic sets one at a time, starting with your weakest areas. Teaching-focused sets such as Instructional Design & Delivery, Curriculum Design & Development and Student Assessment & Mentoring suit the instructor side of the credential. Court Reporting Technology, Machine Shorthand Theory and Transcription Standards & Accuracy cover the reporting side. After each set, read the explanation for every question you missed and for any you got right by luck, and write the general rule in your own words.

Alongside the course, use short sets to reinforce what you just covered. In the last days before your window, repeat the sets you missed most and take the full practice test again. Our questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions, so use them to find gaps, not to predict the test.

Sources & last verified

1. National Court Reporters Association — number of questions, exam fee, delivery, testing window (official source). “Written Knowledge Tests have 120 questions but only 100 are used to calculate a candidate's official score.” Verified Oct 24, 2026.
2. National Court Reporters Association — passing score, exam fee (official source). “You must pass the course with a score of 80 or better.” Verified Oct 24, 2026.
3. National Court Reporters Association — passing score, validity, renewal, delivery (official source). “You must pass with a scaled score of 70 or better.” Verified Oct 24, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.