Arkansas District Court Clerks Association

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CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

On November 19, 1988, the Arkansas District Court Clerks Association elected to begin a certification program, with assistance from the Arkansas District Judges Council and the Administrative Office of the Courts.  This program is designed to increase the knowledge of all district court clerks by providing basic information about duties and procedural issues that commonly confront district court personnel.  The Association promotes public trust in district courts, leadership through professional development and customer-oriented justice.

A minimum of three (3) educational seminars in addition to the annual conference will be provided each year. A seminar is held in February for members in the 2nd & 4th congressional districts with the same seminar repeating in November for the 1st and 3rd congressional districts.  A seminar is held in August for Chief Clerks only.  Deputy Clerks are not eligible to attend the Chief Clerks meetings.  The annual convention is held in April with the district clerks and district judges combined.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION

  • Complete a minimum of three full calendar years (January 1 through December 31) as a Chief or Deputy Clerk in a district court. (If you are hired mid-year, your service will not begin counting until the following January 1st.)
  • Complete a minimum of thirty (30) educational hours of training by attending creditable educational seminars provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts, Judicial Branch Education Division. Training may include seminars on substantive law updates, financial and accounting responsibilities of the clerk; procedural best practices, record retention, docketing requirements, as well as other responsibilities.
  • Complete a new clerks orientation. The new clerks orientation is only offered at the annual conference in April of each year. A new clerks orientation should be attend within the first two years of your employment as a chief or deputy district court clerk.
  • Be a current paid member of the Arkansas District Court Clerks Association while awaiting certification. To maintain a current member status, you must pay the annual dues on time and maintain your membership the entire time you are awaiting your certification. Service credit and educational hours will not be calculated for non-active non-paid members. Dues must be paid by March 1st of each year. Dues cannot be back-paid to obtain certification.

CERTIFICATION RULES

  • Each clerk must complete an attendance form for each conference listing each class/program that was attended. This form must be turned in at the registration table at the end of the conference.
  • The deadline for completion of all certification requirements is December 31st of each year in order to obtain your certificate at the following annual conference. Any requirements fulfilled after the deadline will have to wait until the next calendar year to receive their certificate.
  • If an uncertified clerk member leaves the court and is gone for less than one (1) year, the member may retain all previously earned requirements for certification purposes. If an uncertified member leaves the court and is gone for longer than one (1) year, the member must start the requirements for certification over.
  • Certifications are awarded by the Association’s Certification Committee. Certificates of achievement are signed by the Governor of Arkansas, Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, President of the Judges Council and President of the District Court Clerks Association.

TO MAINTAIN YOUR CERTIFICATION,
YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A MINIMUM
 OF EIGHTEEN (18) HOURS OF EDUCATIONAL TRAINING
 EVERY THREE (3) YEARS AFTER ORIGINAL CERTIFICATION.


If a certified clerk leaves and is later rehired, the member must earn at least one (1) 18 hour update
within a three (3) year period from the date of rehire to maintain his/her certification.