Circuit Court Clerk Examination

Potential circuit court clerk candidates in Breckinridge and Wayne counties must register for exam by Nov. 30, 2026

Register now at Circuit Court Clerk Exam.

Residents in Breckinridge and Wayne counties who want to run in the special election for circuit court clerk in 2027 must register for the required exam by noon EST Monday, Nov. 30, 2026. Hopefuls for the office must pass the Kentucky Circuit Court Clerk Examination to be on the ballot.

The Administrative Office of the Courts will administer the exam at 9 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 3, at the AOC in Frankfort.

Registration and exam materials are available on the right side of this webpage.  

Voters will elect circuit court clerks to fulfill the unexpired terms of Breckinridge County Circuit Court Clerk Cindy Rhodes, who is retiring effective Dec. 1, and Wayne County Circuit Court Clerk Patricia Lay, who retired effective Nov. 1. The elected circuit clerks will be voted in to serve until the end of 2030, when the regular election for each of Kentucky’s 120 circuit court clerks will take place. Until the elected circuit clerk takes office, the vacancies will be covered by circuit court clerks appointed by the local chief circuit judge. 

The clerk exam is offered prior to an election and when a vacancy is to be filled by appointment outside the election cycle.