- What This Credential Is (and Isn't)
- The Numbers at a Glance
- Path Order: Education, Then Two Tests
- Domain Weights and What Each One Demands
- Fee Math Without the Surprises
- Closed-Book Rules and Remote Proctoring
- Reading the 43% Figure Correctly
- Renewal Cheat Lines
- What Is Not Publicly Verified
- A Domain-Ordered Study Sequence
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The written test has 120 items (100 scored, 20 unscored), runs 110 minutes, and requires a 70% passing score.
- Production is the heaviest domain at 39%; Production plus Post Production equals 67% of the written exam.
- Complete the seven-module education first, then take the written and practical tests in either order within three years.
- NCRA reported a 43% written-exam pass rate across 44 scored attempts in 2025, which is not a whole-certification rate.
What This Credential Is (and Isn't)
Certified Legal Video Specialist is the NCRA credential for professionals who record, manage and produce legal video, most often video depositions. The acronym is shared by several unrelated credentials in other fields, so any fee, date or pass rate you find under a bare "CLVS" search may belong to something else entirely. Everything on this page applies only to the NCRA Certified Legal Video Specialist program. If you want the orientation basics first, see What Is CLVS Certification? or What Does CLVS Stand For?.
The certification has three components: a mandatory education sequence, a Written Knowledge Test (WKT) delivered through Pearson VUE, and a practical Production Exam administered by NCRA. This cheat sheet condenses the facts you need to hold in your head for each one.
The Numbers at a Glance
| Item | Fact |
|---|---|
| Written Knowledge Test format | 120 multiple-choice items |
| Scored vs. unscored | 100 scored + 20 unscored |
| Time allowed | 110 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Test provider | Pearson VUE (test center or OnVUE remote) |
| Practical exam | Production Exam, administered by NCRA |
| Education requirement | Seven modules, completed first |
| Completion window | Three years for all components |
| Renewal | 1.0 CEU per three-year cycle |
Because 20 of the 120 items are unscored pilot questions, you cannot tell which ones count. Treat every question as if it does, and do not burn minutes agonizing over an item that feels strangely worded. For a deeper breakdown of how scoring works, read CLVS Passing Score 2026.
Path Order: Education, Then Two Tests
The sequence matters. The seven-module education requirement must be completed first. After that, the written test and the practical test can be taken in either order. Plan the order around your strengths: if you work in a courtroom or deposition suite daily, you may prefer to take the practical exam while your hands-on habits are sharpest, then tackle the written test afterward.
- Complete the seven education modules.
- Schedule the Written Knowledge Test through Pearson VUE (test center or OnVUE).
- Schedule the Production Exam through NCRA.
- Finish every component within three years.
On prerequisites, no degree requirement, experience-hour requirement or reference requirement has been verified. Confirm current eligibility details directly with NCRA, and see CLVS Requirements 2026 for the fuller picture. Timing questions are covered in CLVS Exam Dates 2026.
Domain Weights and What Each One Demands
The written exam is organized into four domains. Production alone carries 39%, and Production plus Post Production accounts for 67%, so two-thirds of your score depends on what happens during and after the recording. The full domain-by-domain treatment is in CLVS Exam Domains 2026; here is the cheat-sheet version.
| Domain | Weight | Approx. scored items* |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Production | 19% | About 19 of 100 |
| Production | 39% | About 39 of 100 |
| Post Production | 28% | About 28 of 100 |
| Professional Practices | 14% | About 14 of 100 |
*Illustrative arithmetic applying each percentage to the 100 scored items; actual item distribution per administration may vary.
Domain 1: Pre-Production (19%)
Everything that happens before the record button is pressed. Questions here test whether you can prepare a deposition so the recording is usable and defensible.
- Understanding the engagement: who is requesting the video and for what purpose
- Equipment selection, setup planning and site preparation
- Logistics, scheduling and coordination with the court reporter and counsel
- Checking that equipment is functioning and backed up before the proceeding
Domain 2: Production (39%)
The largest domain and the one to master first. This is live capture of the proceeding.
- Framing, camera positioning and lighting for the witness
- Audio capture quality and monitoring during testimony
- Handling the oath, on-record statements and any interruptions
- Keeping an accurate record of what was captured and when
- Managing breaks, media changes and technical failures without compromising the record
Domain 3: Post Production (28%)
What you do with the recording once the proceeding ends.
- Media handling, labeling, duplication and secure storage
- Synchronizing video with the transcript where required
- Preparing copies and deliverables for the parties
- Preserving an unaltered original and documenting handling
Domain 4: Professional Practices (14%)
The smallest domain, but it contains questions that are easy to get right with careful reading.
- Impartiality and the role of the video specialist in the proceeding
- Confidentiality of recorded testimony
- Ethical conduct and professional responsibilities
Key Takeaway
Do not read the 14% for Professional Practices as an invitation to skip it. On a 100-item scored section, that is roughly 14 questions, which can be the difference between 68% and 72%. Cheap points are still points.
Fee Math Without the Surprises
NCRA publishes separate fees for each component, with different rates for reporter members, nonmembers and student members. Here are the figures to memorize.
| Component | Member | Nonmember |
|---|---|---|
| Written Knowledge Test | $220 (reporter member); $181 (student member) | $253 |
| Mandatory education | $350 | $450 |
| Production Exam | $325 | $425 |
| Optional hands-on training | $200 | $300 |
| Base total (excl. optional training) | $895 | $1,128 |
The base totals exclude optional hands-on training, membership dues, travel, equipment and retakes. Candidates who budget only for the headline $895 or $1,128 are often caught off guard by those excluded items, especially if the practical exam requires equipment you do not already own. Full cost analysis is in CLVS Certification Cost 2026, and whether the spend pays off is examined in Is the CLVS Certification Worth It?.
Closed-Book Rules and Remote Proctoring
The WKT is closed-book. No notes, no reference material, no second screen. If you choose OnVUE, the remote option, expect strict room rules: a clear workspace, a check-in process, and continuous monitoring. Run Pearson VUE's system test well before exam day, and prepare your room the night before rather than the hour before.
- Clear your desk of everything not explicitly permitted.
- Expect to photograph your room and workspace during check-in.
- Do not leave the camera frame during the exam.
- Know the 110-minute limit: that is roughly 55 seconds per item across all 120 questions.
The practical staged deposition is a separate event with its own format. Do not assume that written-test preparation covers it; the Production Exam tests whether you can actually run a recording, not whether you can describe one.
Reading the 43% Figure Correctly
NCRA reports a 2025 WKT pass rate of 43%, based on 44 scored attempts. Three cautions apply. First, it measures only the written test, not the full certification. Second, it is not a first-time-taker rate. Third, 44 attempts is a small sample, so the figure can swing noticeably from year to year. The production pass rate has not been publicly verified, so do not quote one.
For context on what that number does and does not tell you, see CLVS Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and How Hard Is the CLVS Exam?.
Renewal Cheat Lines
- Cycle: three years.
- Continuing education: 1.0 CEU per cycle.
- PDC allowance: up to 0.25 of that may be Professional Development Credit under NCRA rules.
- Annual cost: membership, or a $100 fee for nonmembers.
Track CEUs from the day you certify instead of reconstructing them in the final months. If you are weighing career impact, CLVS Jobs and CLVS Salary Guide 2026 cover who hires and how to think about earnings.
What Is Not Publicly Verified
A good cheat sheet is honest about its gaps. These items could not be confirmed from public sources, so check with NCRA rather than trusting a forum post:
- The exact duration of the practical Production Exam.
- The production pass rate.
- A 2026 revision of the exam outline: the currently linked outline file is labeled updated201704, and no 2026 revision has been verified.
That last point matters for study planning. If the outline you are reading dates to 2017, treat it as the best available guide to content and weighting, but supplement it with current equipment and workflow knowledge so that dated references do not trip you up.
A Domain-Ordered Study Sequence
Because Production and Post Production together make up 67% of the written test, schedule them first and give them the most hours. This is a sample ordering, not a prescription; adjust to your own gaps. For a fuller plan, see the CLVS Study Guide and the training overview at CLVS Training.
Production (39%)
- Walk through a full deposition recording from oath to close
- List failure modes: audio dropout, media change, interruption
Post Production (28%)
- Practice labeling, duplication and storage procedures
- Review transcript synchronization concepts
Pre-Production (19%)
- Build a setup checklist from scratch, then compare against the outline
Professional Practices (14%) and timed drills
- Review impartiality and confidentiality scenarios
- Take a full-length timed set against the 110-minute limit using the CLVS practice tests
Key Takeaway
Use practice questions to find which domain is actually costing you points, then reallocate your remaining hours there. Timed sets on the practice test site also help you internalize the pace of roughly 55 seconds per item.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Written Knowledge Test has 120 multiple-choice items, of which 100 are scored and 20 are unscored. You have 110 minutes, and the passing score is 70%.
Production is the largest at 39%. Production and Post Production together total 67%, so those two domains deserve the bulk of your study time. Pre-Production is 19% and Professional Practices is 14%.
The base total is $895 for members and $1,128 for nonmembers, covering the written test, mandatory education and the Production Exam. That excludes optional hands-on training, dues, travel, equipment and retakes.
No. You must finish the seven-module education first, but the written and practical tests can then be taken in either order. All components must be completed within three years.
No. NCRA's 2025 figure of 43% applies only to the written test across 44 scored attempts. It is not a whole-certification rate or a first-time rate, and the production pass rate is not publicly verified.