CRR Certified Realtime Reporter exam-day guide
CRR Certified Realtime Reporter · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. A photocopy or a photo on your phone is not accepted. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted (driver's license, passport, state ID) and whether a secondary ID is required.
Admission / confirmation notice
Print your registration confirmation or test admission document and bring it in case the site staff need to look you up. Check whether the provider requires a printed copy or accepts a digital one - confirm with the provider.
Your stenotype machine, in working order
Test the writer the day before: keys, paper/paperless feed, display, and battery. Clean and service it before test day so you are not troubleshooting hardware under time pressure.
Backup writer or backup plan
Many candidates bring a second machine or a known-good backup. Confirm with the provider whether a backup writer is permitted in the testing room or must stay in a locker/bag.
Cables and connections
Bring the cables you actually use for realtime output (USB/serial, adapter dongles) plus a spare of anything fragile. Test the exact cable set you plan to use.
Steno paper / paperless supplies
Extra paper rolls or ribbons if your machine uses them, plus any tools you normally need. Confirm with the provider whether supplies can be on the desk during the test.
Headphones or earplugs
Useful for audio playback and for blocking room noise during writing segments. Confirm with the provider whether personal headphones/earplugs are allowed in the testing room.
Power strip and extension cord
Outlet access at test sites varies. A short power strip with a surge protector protects your equipment if the room is crowded.
Water and a light snack
Bring these for before/after the test and for any scheduled break. Ask the provider in advance where food and drink may be kept and whether they are allowed at the workstation.
Layers and comfortable clothing
Testing rooms are often cold. Dress in layers and wear something you can write in comfortably for extended seated periods.
Written directions, parking, and arrival plan
Know the building, room number, and parking situation before the morning of. Build in extra time for security screening or check-in lines.
A short pre-test warm-up plan
Have a 5–10 minute warm-up routine (practice dictation, finger drills) you can do before check-in without disturbing other candidates.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook or test-day instructions and confirm the exact start time, address, room, and check-in window. Note any stated equipment restrictions and ask the provider about anything unclear rather than assuming.
Do a full dress rehearsal: write several minutes of dictation on the same machine, cables, and setup you will use on test day, and produce realtime output end to end. Note anything that hesitates or drops.
Resolve logistics - travel time, parking, overnight arrangements if needed, and who is covering any work or family commitments that morning.
Charge every battery and pack the bag from the checklist in one pass. Put a spare cable and, if allowed, a backup writer in the bag now, not in the morning.
Do a light review only - warm-up drills, your usual briefs, and your setup routine. Avoid heavy new material or late-night practice that leaves you fatigued.
Confirm the alarm, lay out clothing and ID, and get a normal night's sleep. If you are traveling, confirm the reservation and set two alarms.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive at the site earlier than you think you need to. Go straight to check-in rather than practicing in the parking lot.
At check-in, present the ID and confirmation document, follow the proctor's instructions on what may enter the room, and set up your equipment carefully and slowly once you are at your station.
Run your normal setup routine - machine position, cables, height, headphone check - and do a brief warm-up if the proctor permits it. Do not rush the first minute of writing; settle into your rhythm.
Follow the proctor's directions exactly on breaks, playback, and when to stop writing. If equipment fails, raise your hand immediately and keep the failure documented rather than trying to fix it silently.
Rules to check
Bring original, unexpired government-issued photo ID in the name on your registration. The exact list of accepted IDs and whether a second form is required varies - confirm with the provider before test day.
Follow all proctor instructions about what may be on the desk and in the room. Phones, smart watches, and other devices are typically required to be silenced and stored; confirm the provider's specific device policy.
Breaks are usually only at designated times and may be limited in number. Because you are leaving a timed, equipment-based test, ask the provider in advance how unscheduled breaks are handled and whether they affect your testing time.
Arrive within the stated check-in window. Candidates who arrive after the cutoff may be denied entry or have their test canceled - confirm the provider's late-arrival policy rather than assuming you will be admitted.
Do not attempt to record, photograph, or reproduce the dictation material or test content in any way. Treat all test material as confidential.
Scoring, passing standards, and any retake or appeal procedures are set by the provider and are not negotiable on test day. Confirm the current passing criteria and score-report timing with the provider before you sit.
If equipment malfunctions, notify the proctor immediately and follow their instructions; do not leave your seat or attempt repairs in a way that could be read as a conduct violation.
Any accommodation you need must normally be requested and approved before test day. Confirm with the provider well ahead of time if you require extra time, a separate room, or other accommodation.