How to Become a Certified Court Reporter

What is a Certified Court Reporter?

A court reporter’s job is to create verbatim transcripts of conversations, meetings, and other legal proceedings. Their main duty is to ensure a complete and accurate account of these events, so that it can become a secure legal record.


Reporting methods for court reporter can vary.  The most common method is that of stenography, however, other methods include voice writing, and electronic reporting.

Education and Training   

Over a hundred vocational and technical colleges and schools in the United States offer training to become a court reporter.  However, only about 70 of the programs are certified by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).  These certified programs require that students capture a minimum of 225 per minute, which is also a requirement for those seeking employment with the Federal Government as well. Be sure to find a school that offers the specific kind of court reporting that you want to go into. 

Many states require that a court reporter pass a test and earn a state license that is administered by a board of examiners.  There are however, certifications offered through the National Verbatim Reporters Association that can be used as a substitute for the state certifications.

There are other certifications that are available to court reporters that are not necessary to obtain prior to beginning work, but they can help reporters be more competitive in today’s job market, and to advance in their careers. These certifications include Registered Professional Reporter (RPR), Registered Merit Reporter (RMR), Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR), Certified Broadcast Caoptioner (CBC), and more.

Qualifications

In order to be a successful certified court reporter, you must possess excellent typing skills, as previously mentioned.  Additionally, you must have good listening and hearing skills, and English grammar and vocabulary skills. It is also necessary for those court reporters who will be working in courtrooms to have an understanding of legal jargon, as well as a working knowledge of the law.

You may also need to become a notary public prior to starting a career as a certified court reporter, as many states require this.

Employment/Job Outlook for Court Reporters

According to the United States Department of Labor, there were about 19,000 jobs for court reporters in 2006, and employment is projected to grow 25 percent in the next ten years.