Sec. 154.103. EXAMINATION. (a) The examination for certification in one or more of the authorized methods of shorthand reporting consists of two parts, designated Part A and Part B.

(b) Part A consists of five minutes of two-voice dictation of questions and answers given at 225 words per minute, five minutes of dictation of jury charges given at 200 words per minute, and five minutes of dictation of selected literary material given at 180 words per minute. Each applicant must personally take down the test material, either in writing or in voice, and must prepare a transcript of the material taken down. The minimum passing grade for each section of Part A is 95 percent. A dictionary may be used during Part A. Each applicant has three hours to complete the transcription of Part A. If an applicant finishes before the three hours have elapsed, the applicant may review the transcript but may use only the test material taken down by that applicant to review the transcript. An error is charged for:

(1) each wrong word;

(2) each omitted word;

(3) each word added by the applicant that was not dictated;

(4) each contraction interpreted by the applicant as two words;

(5) two words interpreted by the applicant as a contraction;

(6) each misplaced word;

(7) each misplaced period that materially alters the sense of a group of words or a sentence;

(8) each misspelled word;

(9) the use of the plural or singular if the opposite was dictated; and

(10) each wrong number.

(c) Part B consists of objective questions relating to elementary aspects of shorthand reporting, spelling, and grammar. The minimum passing grade for Part B is 75 percent. A dictionary may not be used during Part B.

(d) An applicant who cheats on the examination is disqualified and may not take the examination again until two years have elapsed from the date of the examination at which the applicant was disqualified.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.70, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 562, Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 1999.

Transferred, redesignated and amended from Government Code, Subchapter C, Chapter 52 by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 42 (S.B. 966), Sec. 1.04, eff. September 1, 2014.

Redesignated from Government Code, Subtitle K, Title 2 by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1236 (S.B. 1296), Sec. 21.001(21), eff. September 1, 2015.