Rule 303. Certification and Examination.
(a) All persons elected or appointed as judges shall be members of the bar of this Commonwealth or shall attend a certification course, which shall be at least forty (40) hours in length, and earn a passing score of seventy percent (70%) on the certification examination prior to assuming office, as set forth in 42 Pa.C.S. § 3112—§ 3114 and Pa.R.J.A. 601(a).
(b) The content of the certification course shall include, but shall not be limited to, the requirements set forth in 42 Pa.C.S. § 3113(b) and any other provision of rule or law as determined by the Board in accordance with these rules.
(c) The certification course shall be scheduled with sufficient frequency to ensure that, once elected or appointed, a judge may qualify to assume office at the earliest opportunity in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S. § 3113(a).
(d) The certification course shall be open to any interested person, in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S. § 3114.
(e) Certification course attendees shall not be charged a fee to attend the certification course and shall be provided instructional materials at no cost. 42 Pa.C.S. § 3117. The Board shall determine what constitutes appropriate instructional material.
(f) Certification course attendees are responsible for all costs and expenses related to their attendance beyond those enumerated in 42 Pa.C.S. § 3117.
(g) The Board shall offer a certification examination within thirty (30) days of each certification course.
(h) The Board shall offer any person who does not successfully pass the examination referenced in paragraph (a) an opportunity to sit for the examination again prior to the next certification course. Thereafter, if the person has not successfully passed the examination, he or she will have the opportunity to sit for the examination again following the conclusion of the next regularly scheduled certification course. The Board may limit the number of times unsuccessful candidates may retake the exam without first retaking the certification course.
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