Oklahoma Supreme Court amends Rule 24 to add voluntary retired and inactive statuses for court reporters

On Oct. 13, 2025, the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma amended Rule 24 of the Oklahoma Rules of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters to establish voluntary retired certificate status and inactive status and to set related application and reinstatement procedures.

The order, filed in conference and shown 'as set forth on the attached Exhibit A,' states that 'The amended rule shall be effective immediately upon the date of issuance of this order.' The amendment allows 'a person enrolled in good standing as a certified shorthand reporter' to 'apply to the board to have his/her certificate placed in voluntary retired status' or on inactive status, and requires such applications to be made in writing to the Administrative Director of the Courts.

The text requires that any accrued certificate renewal fee, delinquent payment fee, continuing education penalty fee, or continuing education suspension fee be submitted with an application for retired or inactive status. The order also clarifies that 'if a court reporter certificate is current and in good standing, no fee is required to apply for retired or inactive status.' The rule specifies the board 'shall deny a request to place a court reporter on retired or inactive status if there are any current or pending complaints or formal disciplinary actions' or if the certificate is revoked or suspended pursuant to formal disciplinary action.

The amendment exempts holders of retired certificates from payment of certificate renewal fees and continuing education requirements but bars them from 'engag[ing] in the practice of court reporting in Oklahoma.' The same restriction is applied to those granted inactive status.

On reinstatement, the order provides that a retired or inactive court reporter who has not been actively employed elsewhere may apply to the board to have the certificate reinstated to active status within 12 months from the date the retired or inactive status became effective. The order reads that the reinstatement application 'shall be accompanied by' payment equal to the annual certificate renewal fee, payment of a reinstatement fee 'in an amount to be determined by the board and approved by the Supreme Court,' and 'proof of completion of 4 hours of continuing education within the 12 months immediately preceding the date of reinstatement request.'

The rule further states that a reporter whose certificate has been in retired status for more than 12 months is not eligible for reinstatement and must pass the Oklahoma certified shorthand reporter examination and meet other statutory requirements. For inactive-status holders who have remained certified in another jurisdiction, the rule permits reinstatement within three years from the effective date of inactive status; requests after three years require reciprocity or passage of the Oklahoma examination.

The order repeatedly directs that timely reinstatement applications be submitted in writing to the Administrative Director of the Courts and include proof of certification in good standing in another jurisdiction for the period of inactive status and documentation of temporary noncertified periods not to exceed 12 consecutive months.

The amendment is an administrative rule change that is effective immediately by order of the Supreme Court. It sets process, fees, and time limits for certified shorthand reporters seeking retired or inactive status and for those later seeking reinstatement.