MAY I APPLY TO BOTH EXAMINATIONS?
MAY I INCLUDE/SHARE ANOTHER APPLICANT’S E-MAIL ADDRESS ON MY APPLICATION?
HOW ARE THE EXAMINATIONS ADMINISTERED?
WHAT KIND OF TESTING ENVIROMENT IS RECOMMENDED?
WHAT ARE THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS?
WHAT IS THE TESTING PROCEDURE?
WHAT HAPPENS IF I LOSE INTERNET CONNECTION DURING MY EXAMINATION APPOINTMENT?
WHAT IS THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AFTER I SUBMIT AN EXAMINATION APPLICATION?
HOW FAR IN ADVANCE CAN I SCHEDULE MY EXAMINATION APPOINTMENT WITH PROCTORU?
HOW CAN I PRACTICE FOR THE EXAMINATION?
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM TOO SICK TO TEST ON THE DAY OF MY EXAMINATION APPOINTMENT?
HOW DO I REQUEST REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS?
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY EXAMINATION RESULTS?
MAY I APPLY TO BOTH EXAMINATIONS?
Yes. We encourage qualified applicants to apply for both examinations. However, you should read each examination announcement, including the minimum qualifications to compete, before submitting any application. Each examination requires submission of a separate application. Be sure to complete the education and employment fields of the application in full, including months/years of employment and hours worked per week. Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications to compete will be disqualified based solely on the application information submitted. If you are disqualified, you will not be refunded the application processing fee or credit/debit card service fee.
MAY I INCLUDE/SHARE ANOTHER APPLICANT’S E-MAIL ADDRESS ON MY APPLICATION?
As examination scheduling requires a unique e-mail address for each applicant, do not include another applicant’s e-mail address in the examination application. However, if you are also applying for both the Court Reporter and Senior Court Reporter examinations, include the same unique e-mail address in each application.
SHOULD I INCLUDE THE SAME E-MAIL ADDRESS ON MY APPLICATIONS IF I FILE FOR BOTH THE COURT REPORTER AND SENIOR COURT REPORTER EXAMANATIONS?
Yes. If you are also applying for both the Court Reporter and Senior Court Reporter examinations, include the same unique e-mail address in each application.
HOW ARE THE EXAMINATIONS ADMINISTERED?
Both sections of each examination are administered on-line monitored by a live proctor provided by ProctorU and using our vendor’s (Realtime Coach) platform. Please note that the Office of Court Administration does not provide technical support, equipment, software, or office space to applicants.
WHAT KIND OF TESTING ENVIROMENT IS RECOMMENDED?
You will need a private, quiet area with internet access that meets the mandatory technical requirements. You should position yourself with the room door behind you and visible from your camera, and windows in front of you. You will not be permitted to speak during the examination. Remove anything that can make noise, including animals, from the room. Your desk should be clear except for ONE monitor and ONE keyboard or ONE laptop. If your exam is interrupted for any reason beyond ProctorU or Realtime Coach’s control, email UnifiedCourtSys@nycourts.gov with both your note and transcript files attached. If you share your internet with others, it is recommended that they disconnect from all video games and streaming before your examination begins.
As you will not be permitted to leave your room once the examination begins, including going to the restroom, please take care of any personal needs prior to your examination appointment.
WHAT IS THE PROCTOR’S ROLE?
The proctor will verify your identity, ensure you are following our examination procedures and ensure that you do not cheat on the tests. If you speak during the examination (except in response to the proctor), leave the room, move outside the range of your camera, etc., the proctor will file a report. Any violation of the testing procedures is grounds for disqualification from the examination.
Proctors are NOT trained on steno machines or their operation.
DOES THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION, REALTIME COACH OR PROCTORU PROVIDE ANY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE?
Please note that the Office of Court Administration and its vendors do not provide technical support, equipment, software, or office space to applicants. Before taking the actual examination(s), applicants should review the Testing Instructions and Technical Requirements; Troubleshooting Recommendations; and participate in practice examinations offered by the vendor.
WHAT ARE THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS?
Please refer to Appendix A in the Testing Instructions and Technical Requirements.
Troubleshooting Recommendations
WHAT IS THE TESTING PROCEDURE?
Please read Testing Instructions and Technical Requirements.
The above link contains detailed instructions on all three mandatory uploads that much be performed to complete your exam:
- Upload your notes file
- Upload your transcript file
- Copy and paste your transcript into the transcript area
CRITICAL NOTE: If you skip any of the three steps above, your exam will result in automatic failure.
Realtime Coach offers videos on testing their system: Realtime Coach Tips & Tutorials (www.myRealtimeCoach.com)
WHAT HAPPENS IF I LOSE INTERNET CONNECTION DURING MY EXAMINATION APPOINTMENT?
In the unlikely event you lose internet connection during the examination, notify your proctor immediately so they can attempt to re-open the examination for you. NOTE THAT THE TIMER WILL CONTINUE TO COUNTDOWN WHILE YOU ARE DISCONNECTED.
If the proctor can re-open the examination for you, you may continue the exam and be able to submit your examination normally.
If the proctor is unable to re-open the examination for any reason, including running out of time, and you still wish for your examination to be reviewed/scored, remain connected with the proctor as you e-mail the Office of Court Administration at UnifiedCourtSys@nycourts.gov your notes and transcript files.
It is important that you stay connected with the proctor so deletion of all your examination files as well the e-mail you sent to us with your notes and transcript attached are verified.
To help avoid losing the internet connection, please follow Realtime Coach’s and ProctorU’s test recommendations such as a wireless internet connection, checking bandwidth prior to logging in for the examination, shutting off all unnecessary programs on your computer, using the suggested browsers, and taking the proctored practice examination.
WHAT IS THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AFTER I SUBMIT AN EXAMINATION APPLICATION?
After submitting your examination application to the Office of Court Administration, it takes up to five business days to receive an e-mail from our vendor, Realtime Coach (RTC), with instructions on how to register for practice examinations. Shortly after the 30-day open-filing period is closed by the Office of Court Administration, Realtime Coach will e-mail you scheduling instructions for the examination.
If you have not received a registration confirmation email from Realtime Coach after five business days of submitting your examination application, please contact RTC directly.
Note that if you are competing in both the Court Reporter and Senior Court Reporter examinations, you will receive separate e-mails for each examination.
HOW FAR IN ADVANCE CAN I SCHEDULE MY EXAMINATION APPOINTMENT WITH PROCTORU?
All exams, without exception, must be scheduled 72 hours in advance of the preferred date and time within the testing window.
HOW CAN I PRACTICE FOR THE EXAMINATION?
You can practice for the performance portion of the examination by accessing the practice files at www.myrealtimecoach.com. Use the email address you put down on your application to log in to My RealtimeCoach. You may repeat the practice test as many times as you need to become comfortable with the site layout, the testing steps, and attaching files. You can also schedule a complimentary proctored practice test. This will help you ensure your equipment (i.e., webcam, microphone, wired headset, and internet connection) is working properly before the actual exam.
You can find sample questions for the written component of the exam at: CourtReporter_Exam_WrittenQuestions.pdf (nycourts.gov) and
SeniorCourtReporter_Written_Exam_Questions.pdf (nycourts.gov)
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM TOO SICK TO TEST ON THE DAY OF MY EXAMINATION APPOINTMENT?
You must notify the Office of Court Administration at UnifiedCourtSys@nycourts.gov within 24 hours of the on-set on your illness. You must submit medical documentation within 72 hours of the on-set of symptoms to the same e-mail address from a medical professional verifying that you are ill. The documentation must state the date which you are able to report to work or take the examination. The documentation must be signed by a medical professional and contain a phone number for us to verify the veracity of the documentation. Medical test results, without accompanying letter from a medical professional, are unacceptable.
HOW DO I REQUEST REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS?
If you require accommodations due to a documented disability, you must indicate that you require accommodations by clicking the correct radio button on the examination application(s). You must submit your request for accommodation, complete with supporting documentation by a qualified professional, to UnifiedCourtSys@nycourts.gov no later than five days following the submission of your examination application. In your e-mail, you must indicate your disability and the kind of accommodation(s) which you are requesting. Failure to follow the aforementioned procedure, including deadline, will result in automatic denial of your request.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY EXAMINATION RESULTS?
Results are typically e-mailed to applicants within four to six months.