AAERT CDR Certification Exam
Section 1: Professional ethics and
confidentiality
Questions 1–20
1. What is the primary responsibility of a Certified Deposition Reporter (CDR)?
A. Advise attorneys on litigation strategy B. Create and preserve an accurate,
impartial digital record C. Decide which testimony is admissible D. Determine the
outcome of a deposition
Answer: B.
Rationale: The reporter must preserve a clear, complete, accurate record without
favoring any party.
2. An attorney asks you to omit an unfavorable statement from the recording. What
should you do?
A. Delete it if both attorneys agree B. Edit the recording to shorten the deposition C.
Preserve the complete record and refuse improper alteration D. Ask the witness to
repeat the statement differently
Answer: C.
Rationale: Selectively deleting relevant testimony compromises the integrity of the
record.
3. You discover that you have a close personal relationship with a party to an
upcoming deposition. What is the best action?
A. Say nothing unless questioned B. Disclose the potential conflict to the appropriate
parties and follow applicable procedures C. Proceed because you are using digital
equipment D. Tell only the witness
Answer: B.
Rationale: Disclosure allows the parties to address possible conflicts and helps
preserve impartiality.
4. Which action best demonstrates impartiality?
A. Giving one attorney additional recording time B. Correcting the witness's
testimony to favor one side C. Applying the same professional standards to every
participant D. Accepting instructions from the paying attorney without question
,Answer: C.
Rationale: Professional neutrality requires consistent treatment and accurate recording
for all parties.
5. An attorney offers you an expensive personal gift after a deposition. What should
you do?
A. Accept it because the proceeding has ended B. Accept it if the other attorney does
not object C. Evaluate the applicable ethics rules and decline gifts that could
compromise or appear to compromise impartiality D. Accept it but do not tell anyone
Answer: C.
Rationale: Gifts can create actual or apparent conflicts of interest. Professional
conduct rules take priority over personal benefit.
6. What does confidentiality require of a deposition reporter?
A. Sharing interesting testimony with colleagues B. Protecting nonpublic case
information from unauthorized disclosure C. Posting deposition summaries online D.
Discussing testimony with friends if names are omitted
Answer: B.
Rationale: Case information must be safeguarded and disclosed only when authorized
or legally required.
7. You receive a request from an unauthorized person for a deposition audio file.
What is the best response?
A. Send it if the requester knows the case name B. Verify authorization before
releasing any material C. Send only part of the recording D. Ask another reporter to
send it
Answer: B.
Rationale: Access to case records must be based on valid authorization and applicable
legal requirements.
8. Which is the best practice when handling confidential case files?
A. Store them in an unrestricted shared folder B. Use access controls and secure
storage C. Keep every file permanently on a personal laptop D. Share passwords with
the legal team
Answer: B.
Rationale: Access restrictions reduce the risk of unauthorized access, loss, and
disclosure.
, 9. What is a nondisclosure agreement (NDA)?
A. An agreement requiring a witness to answer every question B. An agreement
establishing confidentiality obligations for covered information C. A court order
dismissing a case D. A transcript formatting standard
Answer: B.
Rationale: An NDA establishes contractual obligations concerning the handling or
disclosure of specified information.
10. A colleague asks you to share a confidential recording for personal study. What
should you do?
A. Share it if the colleague is experienced B. Share it after removing the first five
minutes C. Decline unless the sharing is properly authorized D. Upload it to a public
training website
Answer: C.
Rationale: Professional status alone does not authorize access to confidential
recordings.
11. What is a conflict of interest?
A. A disagreement about microphone placement B. A situation in which personal or
financial interests may compromise professional impartiality C. A witness's
disagreement with an attorney D. A technical interruption
Answer: B.
Rationale: Conflicts arise when outside interests could affect, or appear to affect,
objective professional judgment.
12. What should a reporter do when a party attempts to influence the recording
unfairly?
A. Cooperate to maintain the business relationship B. Change the recording without
informing anyone C. Maintain professional neutrality and follow applicable
procedures D. Stop recording permanently
Answer: C.
Rationale: The reporter's obligation is to preserve the record accurately rather than
satisfy improper requests.
13. Which is an example of unprofessional conduct?
Section 1: Professional ethics and
confidentiality
Questions 1–20
1. What is the primary responsibility of a Certified Deposition Reporter (CDR)?
A. Advise attorneys on litigation strategy B. Create and preserve an accurate,
impartial digital record C. Decide which testimony is admissible D. Determine the
outcome of a deposition
Answer: B.
Rationale: The reporter must preserve a clear, complete, accurate record without
favoring any party.
2. An attorney asks you to omit an unfavorable statement from the recording. What
should you do?
A. Delete it if both attorneys agree B. Edit the recording to shorten the deposition C.
Preserve the complete record and refuse improper alteration D. Ask the witness to
repeat the statement differently
Answer: C.
Rationale: Selectively deleting relevant testimony compromises the integrity of the
record.
3. You discover that you have a close personal relationship with a party to an
upcoming deposition. What is the best action?
A. Say nothing unless questioned B. Disclose the potential conflict to the appropriate
parties and follow applicable procedures C. Proceed because you are using digital
equipment D. Tell only the witness
Answer: B.
Rationale: Disclosure allows the parties to address possible conflicts and helps
preserve impartiality.
4. Which action best demonstrates impartiality?
A. Giving one attorney additional recording time B. Correcting the witness's
testimony to favor one side C. Applying the same professional standards to every
participant D. Accepting instructions from the paying attorney without question
,Answer: C.
Rationale: Professional neutrality requires consistent treatment and accurate recording
for all parties.
5. An attorney offers you an expensive personal gift after a deposition. What should
you do?
A. Accept it because the proceeding has ended B. Accept it if the other attorney does
not object C. Evaluate the applicable ethics rules and decline gifts that could
compromise or appear to compromise impartiality D. Accept it but do not tell anyone
Answer: C.
Rationale: Gifts can create actual or apparent conflicts of interest. Professional
conduct rules take priority over personal benefit.
6. What does confidentiality require of a deposition reporter?
A. Sharing interesting testimony with colleagues B. Protecting nonpublic case
information from unauthorized disclosure C. Posting deposition summaries online D.
Discussing testimony with friends if names are omitted
Answer: B.
Rationale: Case information must be safeguarded and disclosed only when authorized
or legally required.
7. You receive a request from an unauthorized person for a deposition audio file.
What is the best response?
A. Send it if the requester knows the case name B. Verify authorization before
releasing any material C. Send only part of the recording D. Ask another reporter to
send it
Answer: B.
Rationale: Access to case records must be based on valid authorization and applicable
legal requirements.
8. Which is the best practice when handling confidential case files?
A. Store them in an unrestricted shared folder B. Use access controls and secure
storage C. Keep every file permanently on a personal laptop D. Share passwords with
the legal team
Answer: B.
Rationale: Access restrictions reduce the risk of unauthorized access, loss, and
disclosure.
, 9. What is a nondisclosure agreement (NDA)?
A. An agreement requiring a witness to answer every question B. An agreement
establishing confidentiality obligations for covered information C. A court order
dismissing a case D. A transcript formatting standard
Answer: B.
Rationale: An NDA establishes contractual obligations concerning the handling or
disclosure of specified information.
10. A colleague asks you to share a confidential recording for personal study. What
should you do?
A. Share it if the colleague is experienced B. Share it after removing the first five
minutes C. Decline unless the sharing is properly authorized D. Upload it to a public
training website
Answer: C.
Rationale: Professional status alone does not authorize access to confidential
recordings.
11. What is a conflict of interest?
A. A disagreement about microphone placement B. A situation in which personal or
financial interests may compromise professional impartiality C. A witness's
disagreement with an attorney D. A technical interruption
Answer: B.
Rationale: Conflicts arise when outside interests could affect, or appear to affect,
objective professional judgment.
12. What should a reporter do when a party attempts to influence the recording
unfairly?
A. Cooperate to maintain the business relationship B. Change the recording without
informing anyone C. Maintain professional neutrality and follow applicable
procedures D. Stop recording permanently
Answer: C.
Rationale: The reporter's obligation is to preserve the record accurately rather than
satisfy improper requests.
13. Which is an example of unprofessional conduct?
