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Court Personnel Certification Exam Information
Increase in Exam Fees: The exam fee has been increased to $15.00 for all tests. This is payable by check or money order only (no cash or credit cards).
NEW Ethics Class Requirement:
Clerks taking either the Level I or Level II “Master Justice Court Clerk” Certification Exams are required to have at least 1-hour of Legal Advice and Ethics during the 16-Hour Seminar prior to testing. The Review classes on Day One of each seminar will include a 1-hour Ethics portion that will satisfy this requirement. Those who have already passed either exam are also strongly encouraged to take this course or another Legal Advice & Ethics course.
Level I Certification Exam:
Clerks taking the Level I Certification Exam will have the opportunity to choose between taking a Civil or Criminal version of the exam. You only need to pass one of the Level I exams to be a Level I certified clerk. Additionally, you only need to pass one of these Level I exams to qualify to take the Level II “Master Justice Court Clerk” Certification Exam. To be qualified to take the Level I Exam you must have attended or be currently attending a 16-Hour TJCTC Court Personnel Seminar (New or Experienced).
Level II “Master Justice Court Clerk” Certification Exam:
The Level II Certification Exam is now referred to as the “Master Justice Court Clerk Certification Exam.” This test distinguishes clerks who are well rounded and experienced in both substantive and procedural law (civil and criminal) who are able to assist Justices of the Peace and instruct new clerks through extensive knowledge of the court. The clerk will have a thorough knowledge of codes and ethics applicable to the Justice Court. It is recommended that clerks who take this class have 5+ years of experience and knowledge in both civil and criminal Justice Court matters.
Those who have previously passed the Level II Certification exam prior to FY 2012 will be issued new certificates with this distinction. There is no need to re-test if you have already passed the Level II Exam.
Level I and Level II “Master Justice Court Clerk” Certification Exam Review classes (Day 1 of Seminar):
These classes are designed for students serious about taking the certification exams. If you are enrolled in either class, you are required to download the study guide for the exam found below.* Please bring the study guide with you to school along with any questions about the material provided in the guide to the review session. You WILL NOT be admitted into the review class without presenting a copy of the study guide. Taking this class will also satisfy the 1-Hour Ethics requirement to take the exams.
*If you are unable to download the study guide, email Amanda Sharp at ac50@txstate.edu to request a hard copy be mailed to you.
Level I and Level II “Master Justice Court Clerk” Certification Exam classes (Last Day of Seminar):
These classes are designed for students signed up to take the certification exams. The class will consist of a short review session, 75 minutes to take the exam, and a post-test discussion. If you are enrolled in this class, you are REQUIRED to take the test. If you are enrolled in either class, you are also required to download the study guide for the exam found on the TJCTC website.* Please bring the study guide with you to school along with any questions about the material provided in the guide to the review session. You WILL NOT be admitted into the review class without presenting a copy of the study guide.
*If you are unable to download the study guide, email Amanda Sharp at ac50@txstate.edu to request a hard copy be mailed to you.
Exam Registration:
Testing during the Seminars: If you are registered for a 16-hour seminar and you wish to take a certification exam, you should have selected either the Level I or Level II “Master Clerk” Certification Exam class. You will need to bring $15.00 (payable by check or money order only- NO cash or credit cards) to the test as well as your study guide with any questions. This will be the only time the test is offered during the seminar, there is no need to send in an additional registration form if you are registered for the class.
If you are not enrolled in a Seminar:
If you are unable to attend a 16-Hour Court Personnel Seminar but still wish to take the test, there will be four testing dates in Austin at the TJCTC office. You must register for the exam online (Online Registration- My TJCTC Home). There must be a minimum of 10 clerks signed up to test for the test to take place. To register for the exams you must have attended at least one TJCTC 16-hour seminar (new or experienced) over your tenure as a justice court clerk. In order to make sure everyone obtains the 1-hour Ethics course that is required for testing this year, there will be a 1-hour Ethics and Legal Advice course prior to the administration of the test. The fee for the test is $15.00 and is payable by check or money order only- NO cash or credit cards. Please bring your payment with you to the test.
The testing dates are as follows (each session will begin at 10:00 AM):
November 29, 2011
January 25, 2012
March 13, 2012
June 12, 2012
Note: The Training Center will NOT provide for any expenses incurred by those who drive in to take the exam, you must make your own arrangements with the hotel if you wish to stay the night before. There is parking at the hotel for a fee and there is a garage across the street at St. David’s Church that charges $7.00 to park.
About the Exams:
The Level I Exam is 50 questions long and you will have the option to take a Civil or Criminal version of the exam depending on your preference. (Remember you only need to pass one version of the Level I exam.) The test consists of 35 multiple choice and 15 glossary word matching questions. You will be allowed 75 minutes to take the exam.
The Level II Exam is 80 questions long and consists of 59 multiple choice and 21 fill-in-the-blank questions (both civil and criminal). You will be allowed 75 minutes to take the exam.
Study Guides:
You are required to download or request a copy of the study guide from the Training Center and to bring the study guide and any questions about the material to the seminar. The study guides below are the updated 2011-2012 Study Guides.
Level_I_Civil_Study_Guide
: Level I Civil Study Guide
(PDF, 20.5 KB)This guide is aimed at helping a clerk learn the basic fundamentals necessary to become a Certified Justice Court Clerk. You will be directed to resources that will give you the information you will need to pass the exam. For the best chance of passing this (admittedly difficult) exam, we recommend:
- Read all materials recommended in this guide, reading them critically
- Discuss any questions/concerns about what they may mean with another clerk or judge
- Come to the review session at school, prepared with multiple questions to ask about the material
- Attack the test with confidence, knowing steps 1-3 have prepared you to succeed
DO NOT show up on the day of the review session expecting to learn every piece of information that will be on the test. If you do this, YOU WILL NOT PASS THE EXAM. It is imperative that you prepare in advance, learning the material you understand, and arriving with questions about the material you do not.
Level_I_Criminal _Study_Guide
: Level I Criminal Study Guide
(PDF, 32.1 KB)This guide is aimed at helping a clerk learn the basic fundamentals necessary to become a Certified Justice Court Clerk.
Master_Clerk_Certification_Study_Guide
: Master Clerk Certification Study Guide
(PDF, 28.0 KB)This guide is aimed at helping a clerk who is already certified at Level I study for, and pass, the Level II certification test. You will be directed to resources that will give you the information you will need to pass the exam. For the best chance of passing this (admittedly difficult) exam, we recommend:
- Read all materials recommended in this guide, reading them critically
- Discuss any questions/concerns about what they may mean with another clerk or judge
- Come to the review session at school, prepared with multiple questions to ask about the material
- Attack the test with confidence, knowing steps 1-3 have prepared you to succeed
The exam consists of civil and criminal questions, and has some multiple choice segments and some fill-in-the-blanks. Also, be advised, some of the questions do have substantive law issues. The committee elected to have some questions of this type on the test, because clerks frequently have screening responsibilities, research responsibilities, etc, that make it beneficial for a top-level clerk to have such knowledge.
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