AAERT (AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ELECTRONIC REPORTERS
AND TRANSCRIBERS) CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION
COMPREHENSIVE 200-QUESTION EXAMINATION
Table of Contents
Section Domain Approx. Page
Questions Reference
Section Working as a Legal Professional 40 Page 3
1 (Ethics, Confidentiality,
Professional Behavior)
Section Digital Reporting (Equipment, 70 Page 12
2 Software, Annotation, Audio)
Section Legal Procedures & Vocabulary 70 Page 28
3
Section Transcript Production Standards 20 Page 45
4
Section 1: Working as a Legal Professional
This section covers ethical obligations, confidentiality requirements
(including HIPAA), and professional behavior standards for digital
reporters and transcribers.
1. According to the AAERT Code of Ethics, what is the certified
electronic reporter's foundational obligation in every proceeding?
,A. Assist the retaining attorney in presenting the strongest possible case
B. Remain an impartial, non-party capture specialist whose sole
allegiance is to creating a complete and accurate record
C. Advise the court when a witness appears untruthful
D. Represent the interests of the court administration that scheduled
the proceeding
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The reporter serves the record, not any party. Impartiality is
the anchor of admissibility and credibility. Advocacy, credibility
judgments, and loyalty to a scheduling entity all compromise the
neutral role.
2. A digital reporter assigned to a trial discovers the plaintiff's lead
attorney is her brother-in-law. What is the correct action?
A. Continue without comment because in-laws are not blood relatives
B. Disclose the relationship to the presiding officer and the parties
immediately and withdraw from the assignment
C. Continue but promise herself she will stay neutral
D. Mention it casually to the defense team after the trial concludes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A close family relationship with counsel creates a conflict of
interest that must be disclosed so the parties can decide. Quietly
promising neutrality or disclosing after the fact leaves the record's
integrity open to challenge.
,3. Which course of conduct best describes the "appearance of
impropriety" standard for digital reporters?
A. Avoiding only conduct that is formally illegal
B. Keeping misconduct confidential so it never appears improper
C. Avoiding not only actual misconduct but also situations a reasonable
observer could view as biased or improper
D. Allowing casual social contact with parties because friendliness is
never improper
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ethics rules target the appearance as well as the act. A
reporter seen chatting privately with a party could undermine
confidence in the record's neutrality even if no actual bias exists.
4. Under HIPAA, a digital court reporter may disclose a patient's
medical information without consent only when:
A. The information is relevant to the case
B. The information is required by law or for a legal proceeding
C. The patient is not present in the room
D. The attorney requests it verbally
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HIPAA permits disclosure of protected health information
when required by law, such as during legal proceedings. However,
reporters must still ensure information is handled and stored securely
to prevent unauthorized access.
, 5. What is the primary purpose of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
in the context of digital reporting?
A. To prevent the reporter from working for competing companies
B. To legally bind the reporter to maintain confidentiality of case
information
C. To ensure the reporter receives payment for services
D. To establish the reporter's rate of pay
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NDAs are legal contracts that prohibit the sharing of
confidential information obtained during the course of work. Digital
reporters often sign NDAs to protect sensitive case details from
unauthorized disclosure.
6. A digital reporter is offered a gift by an attorney after completing a
lengthy deposition. According to AAERT ethics guidelines, the reporter
should:
A. Accept the gift because it is a customary token of appreciation
B. Accept the gift only if it is under $50 in value
C. Politely decline the gift to avoid any appearance of impropriety
D. Accept the gift but report it to the court administrator
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Accepting gifts can create an appearance of impropriety or
favoritism, even if the reporter remains impartial. AAERT ethics
guidelines discourage accepting gifts that could compromise or appear
to compromise the reporter's neutrality.
AND TRANSCRIBERS) CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION
COMPREHENSIVE 200-QUESTION EXAMINATION
Table of Contents
Section Domain Approx. Page
Questions Reference
Section Working as a Legal Professional 40 Page 3
1 (Ethics, Confidentiality,
Professional Behavior)
Section Digital Reporting (Equipment, 70 Page 12
2 Software, Annotation, Audio)
Section Legal Procedures & Vocabulary 70 Page 28
3
Section Transcript Production Standards 20 Page 45
4
Section 1: Working as a Legal Professional
This section covers ethical obligations, confidentiality requirements
(including HIPAA), and professional behavior standards for digital
reporters and transcribers.
1. According to the AAERT Code of Ethics, what is the certified
electronic reporter's foundational obligation in every proceeding?
,A. Assist the retaining attorney in presenting the strongest possible case
B. Remain an impartial, non-party capture specialist whose sole
allegiance is to creating a complete and accurate record
C. Advise the court when a witness appears untruthful
D. Represent the interests of the court administration that scheduled
the proceeding
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The reporter serves the record, not any party. Impartiality is
the anchor of admissibility and credibility. Advocacy, credibility
judgments, and loyalty to a scheduling entity all compromise the
neutral role.
2. A digital reporter assigned to a trial discovers the plaintiff's lead
attorney is her brother-in-law. What is the correct action?
A. Continue without comment because in-laws are not blood relatives
B. Disclose the relationship to the presiding officer and the parties
immediately and withdraw from the assignment
C. Continue but promise herself she will stay neutral
D. Mention it casually to the defense team after the trial concludes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A close family relationship with counsel creates a conflict of
interest that must be disclosed so the parties can decide. Quietly
promising neutrality or disclosing after the fact leaves the record's
integrity open to challenge.
,3. Which course of conduct best describes the "appearance of
impropriety" standard for digital reporters?
A. Avoiding only conduct that is formally illegal
B. Keeping misconduct confidential so it never appears improper
C. Avoiding not only actual misconduct but also situations a reasonable
observer could view as biased or improper
D. Allowing casual social contact with parties because friendliness is
never improper
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ethics rules target the appearance as well as the act. A
reporter seen chatting privately with a party could undermine
confidence in the record's neutrality even if no actual bias exists.
4. Under HIPAA, a digital court reporter may disclose a patient's
medical information without consent only when:
A. The information is relevant to the case
B. The information is required by law or for a legal proceeding
C. The patient is not present in the room
D. The attorney requests it verbally
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HIPAA permits disclosure of protected health information
when required by law, such as during legal proceedings. However,
reporters must still ensure information is handled and stored securely
to prevent unauthorized access.
, 5. What is the primary purpose of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
in the context of digital reporting?
A. To prevent the reporter from working for competing companies
B. To legally bind the reporter to maintain confidentiality of case
information
C. To ensure the reporter receives payment for services
D. To establish the reporter's rate of pay
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NDAs are legal contracts that prohibit the sharing of
confidential information obtained during the course of work. Digital
reporters often sign NDAs to protect sensitive case details from
unauthorized disclosure.
6. A digital reporter is offered a gift by an attorney after completing a
lengthy deposition. According to AAERT ethics guidelines, the reporter
should:
A. Accept the gift because it is a customary token of appreciation
B. Accept the gift only if it is under $50 in value
C. Politely decline the gift to avoid any appearance of impropriety
D. Accept the gift but report it to the court administrator
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Accepting gifts can create an appearance of impropriety or
favoritism, even if the reporter remains impartial. AAERT ethics
guidelines discourage accepting gifts that could compromise or appear
to compromise the reporter's neutrality.
