1.1 The CET Credential, Exam Format & Eligibility
Key Takeaways
The CET knowledge exam has 157 multiple-choice questions, a 120-minute limit and an 80 percent passing score (AAERT certification page).
The CET practical exam is a 180-minute federal-format transcript of a four-channel mock proceeding, scored at 95 percent accuracy since March 26, 2026.
The July 2026 CET blueprint weights five domains: Grammar and Punctuation 30%, Transcript Format 25%, and 15% each for Legal Professional, Legal System and Terminology.
CET candidates must be eligible for a notary public commission and hold a high school diploma or equivalent; AAERT membership is not needed to test.
One $275 CET registration covers both parts; AAERT lists retake fees of $175 (knowledge) and $95 (practical).
The Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET) credential is awarded by the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT). AAERT describes the CET as the professional who "captures the record by transcribing digitally recorded court and non-court proceedings verbatim." That definition matters for every chapter of this guide: the CET does not operate the courtroom recording system (that is the Certified Electronic Reporter, CER, or the deposition-focused Certified Deposition Reporter, CDR). The CET turns the finished recording, the reporter's log notes and the case information into a certified, correctly formatted transcript.
AAERT was formally launched in March 1994, when about 75 practitioners met in Las Vegas, and its certification exams date from 1995. Federal courts may use AAERT-certified transcribers: the Guide to Judiciary Policy, Vol. 6, § 510.40.20 names "firms or individuals that have been certified by the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT)" among the professional transcription services a court may use.
Two exams, taken in order
| Part | Format | Time | Passing standard | Key facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge exam | 157 multiple-choice questions | 120 minutes | 80 percent | Must be passed before the practical |
| Practical exam | Transcript of a mock court proceeding recorded on four channels | 180 minutes | 95 percent accuracy | Federal format; title page, index page and certificate required; about 10 to 20 pages |
The two parts are taken on different days. If you fail the knowledge exam, you retake it before you can move on. If you pass the knowledge exam but fail the practical, you retake only the practical.
The practical passing score changed recently. AAERT lowered it from 98 percent to 95 percent for practical exams taken on or after March 26, 2026. Exams taken before that date, including any appeal of those exams, are still scored at 98 percent. Older study materials that quote 98 percent are therefore out of date for new candidates.
What the knowledge exam covers
AAERT's certification page says the knowledge exam covers "transcript formatting and proofreading, transcription software and equipment, general legal procedures, ethical and professional behavior, and vocabulary." The formal Table of Specifications (blueprint), updated June 29, 2026, sets the weights:
| Domain | Weight | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Working as a Legal Professional | 15% | Ethics, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, NDAs, HIPAA, professional behavior, multi-channel playback, equipment troubleshooting and maintenance |
| 2. Grammar and Punctuation | 30% | Proofreading vs. literary editing, spelling, capitalization, numbers, [sic], clauses, abbreviations, and every major punctuation mark |
| 3. Transcript Format | 25% | Federal District Court format, title/index/proceedings/certificate pages, headers, colloquy, Q and A, parentheticals, exhibits, special procedures, verbal content, transcriber responsibilities |
| 4. Legal System | 15% | Types of proceedings and cases, order of proceedings, Federal read and sign, life cycle of a case, parties and witnesses, dockets, venue, case law, jury selection |
| 5. Terminology | 15% | Legal, Latin and medical terms commonly heard in proceedings |
Grammar and punctuation is the single largest domain. Format is second. Together they are 55 percent of the knowledge exam, and they are also most of what you are graded on in the practical.
The blueprint lists its references: AAERT's Best Practices Guide, Black's Law Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, NCRA Advisory Opinions, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Guide to Judiciary Policy. AAERT stresses that the exams "are not based on any single reference" and that candidates should study from the blueprint.
AAERT publishes sample audio and graphic question types, and its equipment list requires wired headphones for the CET knowledge exam as well as the practical.
How the exams are delivered
- Knowledge exam: since March 26, 2026, it runs on the AAERT Knowledge Exam Platform. You can test online (a proctor checks your ID and room, then the session is recorded through the Guardian secure browser) or in person at more than 300 Meazure Learning test centers in the United States. A proctored practice session is available.
- Practical exam: still delivered through Realtime Coach, with live online proctoring through ProctorU. Both an unproctored practice (to learn the platform) and a proctored practice (to test your setup) are available.
- AAERT says registration and scheduling can take 5 to 10 business days, and a registration is valid for six months from purchase.
Eligibility, fees and keeping the credential
To sit for the exam (AAERT certification FAQ):
- be eligible for a notary public commission, and
- hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.
One year of reporting or transcription experience, or a court reporting course, is recommended but not required. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen, and you do not need to be an AAERT member to test. If you pass, you must become a Professional Member within 30 days to receive the certification.
Fees (AAERT registration and fee pages):
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| CET registration (knowledge + practical) | $275 |
| Knowledge exam retake | $175 |
| Practical exam retake | $95 |
| Recertification, with three consecutive years of membership | $100 |
| Recertification, without three consecutive years of membership | $300 |
Renewal: keep annual Professional-level membership current and recertify every three years by submitting 3.0 CEUs (30 hours, at 0.1 CEU per hour of instruction) and paying the renewal fee. Membership dues and certification renewal are separate processes.
The 2026 CAPTUR merger
In May 2026, AAERT and STAR (the Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting) members ratified a merger that forms CAPTUR, the Council for the Advancement of Professionals, Technology, and Unbiased Reporting. AAERT's merger FAQ says existing AAERT certifications "remain valid, recognized, and fully transferable," with no change to numbers, expiration dates or renewal requirements. AAERT continues to exist legally within CAPTUR so that state rules that recognize AAERT certifications still apply. CET registration was still running through aaert.org when this guide was checked (September 2026). Confirm the current registration link before you pay.
How to use this guide
The chapters follow the official blueprint. Chapters 2 and 3 cover the legal-professional domain. Chapters 4 to 7 cover grammar and punctuation, chapters 8 to 13 cover transcript format, chapters 14 to 16 cover the legal system, and chapters 17 and 18 cover terminology. Test yourself as you go with the free AAERT CET practice questions.
A candidate passes the CET knowledge exam but scores 93 percent on a practical exam taken in May 2026. What happens next?
The candidate passes, because the practical passing score is 90 percent
The candidate fails the practical and needs to retake only the practical exam
The candidate must retake both the knowledge and the practical exams
The candidate passes, because practical scores between 90 and 95 percent are rounded up
Which blueprint domain carries the largest share of CET knowledge exam questions?
Transcript Format, at 35 percent
Working as a Legal Professional, at 25 percent
Terminology, at 20 percent
Grammar and Punctuation, at 30 percent
Which pair of requirements must a candidate meet to sit for an AAERT exam?
Be eligible for a notary public commission and hold a high school diploma or equivalent
Hold current AAERT Professional membership and one year of transcription experience
Complete an AAERT-approved school and hold U.S. citizenship
Hold a CER credential and complete 3.0 CEUs
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.