CERTIFICATION

Iowa Code tit. XV, ch. 602, art. 3, pt. 1

in effect

Iowa Code § 602.3101 Board of examiners.

602.3101. Board of examiners. 1. A five-member board of examiners of shorthand reporters is established, consisting of three certified shorthand reporters and two persons who are not certified shorthand reporters and who shall represent the general public. Members shall be appointed by the supreme court. A certified member shall be actively engaged in the practice of certified shorthand reporting and shall have been so engaged for five years preceding appointment, the last two of which shall have been in Iowa. Professional associations or societies composed of certified shorthand reporters may recommend the names of potential board members to the supreme court, but the supreme court is not bound by the recommendations. A board member shall not be required to be a member of a professional association or society composed of certified shorthand reporters. 2. The supreme court shall appoint the administrator of the board. 3. The supreme court shall supervise the board and may review, approve, modify, or reject any board action, procedure, or decision. The supreme court may adopt rules to implement this subsection. 83 Acts, ch 186, §4101, 10201; 2006 Acts, ch 1129, §4; 2010 Acts, ch 1159, §8; 2017 Acts, ch 133, §6

Iowa Code § 602.3102 Terms of office.

602.3102. Terms of office. Appointments shall be for three-year terms and each term shall commence on July 1 of the year in which the appointment is made. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the supreme court. Members shall serve a maximum of three terms or nine years, whichever is less. 83 Acts, ch 186, §4102, 10201

Iowa Code § 602.3103 Public members.

602.3103. Public members. The public members of the board may participate in administrative, clerical, or ministerial functions incident to giving the examination, but shall not determine the content of the examination or determine the correctness of the answers. 83 Acts, ch 186, §4103, 10201

Iowa Code § 602.3104 Meetings.

602.3104. Meetings. The board of examiners shall fix stated times for the examination of the candidates and shall hold at least one meeting each year at the seat of government. A majority of the members of the board constitutes a quorum. 83 Acts, ch 186, §4104, 10201

Iowa Code § 602.3105 Applications.

602.3105. Applications. Applications for certification shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the board and the board shall not require that the application contain a photograph of the applicant. An applicant shall not be denied certification because of age, citizenship, sex, race, religion, marital status, or national origin although the application may require citizenship information. Character references may be required, but shall not be obtained from certified shorthand reporters. 83 Acts, ch 186, §4105, 10201; 89 Acts, ch 296, §80; 2015 Acts, ch 84, §1

Iowa Code § 602.3106 Fees — appropriation.

602.3106. Fees — appropriation. 1. The supreme court shall set the fee for certification examinations. The fee shall be based on the annual cost of administering the examinations and upon the administrative costs of sustaining the board, which shall include but shall not be limited to the cost for per diem, expenses, and travel for board members, and office facilities, supplies, and equipment. 2. The fees collected are appropriated to the judicial branch and shall be used to offset the expenses of the board, including the costs of administering the examination. 83 Acts, ch 186, §4106, 10201; 93 Acts, ch 85, §3; 2013 Acts, ch 45, §1

Iowa Code § 602.3107 Examinations.

602.3107. Examinations. The board may administer as many examinations per year as necessary, but shall administer at least one examination per year. The scope of the examinations and the methods of procedure shall be prescribed by the board. A written examination may be conducted by representatives of the board. Examinations in theory shall be in writing and the identity of the person taking the examination shall be concealed until after the examination papers have been graded. For examinations in practice, the identity of the person taking the examination also shall be concealed as far as possible. Applicants who fail the examination once may take the examination at the next scheduled time. Thereafter, the applicant may be allowed to take the examination at the discretion of the board. An applicant who has failed the examination may request in writing information from the board concerning the examination grade and subject areas or questions which the applicant failed to answer correctly, and the board shall provide the information. However, if the board administers a uniform, standardized examination, the board is only required to provide the examination grade and other information concerning the applicant’s examination results that is available to the board. 83 Acts, ch 186, §4107, 10201

Iowa Code § 602.3108 Certification.

602.3108. Certification. The board may issue a certificate to a person of good moral character and fitness who makes application on a form prescribed and furnished by the board and who satisfies the education, experience, and examination requirements of this article and rules prescribed by the supreme court pursuant to this article. The board may consider the applicant’s past record of any felony conviction and the applicant’s past record of disciplinary action with respect to certification as a shorthand reporter in any jurisdiction. The board may deny certification if the board finds the applicant has committed any of the acts listed in section 602.3203 or has made a false statement of material fact on the application for certification. 2015 Acts, ch 84, §2

Source: Iowa Legislature (legis.iowa.gov)URL: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/iowaCode/sections?codeChapter=602&year=2026Fetched: 10/20/2026