Ala. Admin. Code r. 257-X-6-.03

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 257-X-6-.03 - CE Sponsors And Programs

(1) Continuing Education sponsors and programs, as used in this Section, shall mean the following:

(a) The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA);

(b) The National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA);

(c) The Alabama Court Reporters Association (ACRA) or any state court reporters association whose course or program has been approved for CE credits under the guidelines of the NCRA;

(d) Any computer users group whose program or course has been approved for CE credits under the guidelines of the NCRA;

(e) A city, county, state or federal judicial body responsible for coordination and presentation of CE courses or programs for its employees;

(f) A university or college course or adult education program that contributes directly to the court reporter's knowledge, ability or competence to perform his/her duties;

(g) Any other school, college or university, State agency, or any other person, firm or association that has been approved by ACRA to coordinate and present CE courses and programs in conjunction with this section.

(h) All courses approved by the Alabama State Bar for continuing legal education.

(2) All programs shall:

(a) Contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional skills and knowledge of the individual licensee in the practice of court reporting:

(b) Include one or more of the following subjects directly related to the court reporter's ability to produce accurate and timely transcripts:

1. English, including grammar, punctuation, general principles, spelling, vocabulary, etymology, usage, semantics, regional and minority dialects or colloquialisms, English history, and transcript styles;

2. Medical, including Greek and Latin derivatives, homonyms, abbreviations, surgical procedures, pharmacy, anatomy and physiology, and specialized medical fields, (i.e., neurology, dentistry, radiology, gastroenterology), with emphasis on terminology and techniques or concepts likely to be encountered during litigation;

3. Legal, including terminology, research techniques, presentations on the various subdivisions of law (i.e., criminal torts, domestic relations, corporate, admiralty, patent, environmental) and procedural law (i.e., depositions, trials, administrative proceedings) presentations by legal specialists or experts in the field, and the history of the American/world legal system;

4. Technical subjects presented by experts with emphasis on terminology and concepts encountered by the shorthand reporter during litigation (i.e., accident reconstruction, chemistry, construction, geology, insurance, maritime, aerospace, products liability, industrial and environmental pollution);

5. Technology related to new developments in the field of reporting (i.e., computer technology, computer techniques, video, telecommunications, equipment maintenance);

6. General litigation procedures as they relate to court, deposition and administrative proceedings (i.e., reporting depositions, court hearings, arbitrations, conventions and the court reporter's responsibility with regard to these proceedings, notary responsibilities, making exhibits, reading back, going on and off the record, review of statutes, rules related to the reporter);

7. Transcript preparation, including indexing of witnesses, exhibits, formats, dictating, editing and scoping, reference libraries and research techniques, and proofreading; and

8. Management, including financial, marketing, personnel, equipment maintenance, time and stress management;

(c) Be relevant to the needs of court reporters and also to the reporting service needs of the users;

(d) Be developed and presented by persons with education and/or experience in the subject matter of the program;

(e) Specify for whom the program is primarily designed, the course objectives, course content and teaching methods to be used; and

(f) Specify the number of CE hours that may be applied to fulfilling the CE requirements for renewal of the license.

(3) Each CE program shall provide a mechanism for evaluation of the program by the participants. The evaluation may be completed on-site immediately following the program, or an evaluation questionnaire may be distributed to participants to be completed and returned by mail. The sponsor and the instructor, together, shall review the evaluations and revise subsequent programs accordingly.

(a) An approved sponsor may subcontract with individuals and organizations to provide programs.

(b) CE credits may be awarded for home study courses and correspondence courses, provided they are courses administered by approved sponsors.

(c) All programs given by approved sponsors shall be open to all licensed court reporters and not be limited to members of a single organization or group.

(d) CE credit hours used to satisfy the CE requirements of another jurisdiction may be applied to fulfill the CE requirements of the Alabama Board of Court Reporting.

(e) License of Attendance. It shall be the responsibility of a sponsor to provide each participant in a program with a license of attendance or participation. The sponsor's license of attendance shall contain:

1. The name, address, and license number of the sponsor;

2. The name and address of the participant;

3. A brief statement of the subject matter;

4. The number of hours attended in each program;

5. The date and place of the program; and

6. The signature of the sponsor.

(f) The sponsor shall maintain attendance records for not less than five (5) years.

(g) The sponsor shall be responsible for ensuring that no renewal applicant shall receive CE credit for time not actually spent attending the program.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 257-X-6-.03

New Rule: Filed April 19, 2007; effective May 24, 2007. Amended: Filed July 23, 2010; effective August 27, 2010. Amended: Filed June 19, 2012; effective July 24, 2012.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVII, Issue No. 01, October 31, 2018, eff. 12/23/2018.

Author: Alabama Board of Court Reporting

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 34-8B-1 thru 34-8B-18.