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How to Become a Court Reporter: Education and Job Training Requirements for Becoming a Court Reporter

Published Aug 18, 2009

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Court Reporters make detailed records of what is said during court proceedings using specialized equipment designed to record or quickly input spoken words. Court Reporters learn the necessary skills through educational programs or on-the-job training. Licensing for Court Reporters is required in some states.

Court Reporter Career Summary

Court Reporters take written accounts of spoken words during judicial proceedings and other instances where conversations or speeches need to be recorded in a transcript. Court Reporters use stenography machines to create transcripts. They also use audio devices to record proceedings for transcription at a later point. Court Reporters might also be responsible for organizing and looking up information, maintaining the stenography dictionary and editing the transcripts. Some Court Reporters work outside the court room captioning speech for television or webcasts.

Education Required for Court Reporters

Although education requirements may vary, many Court Reporters complete training through programs certified by the National Court Reporters Association, www.ncraonline.org. Programs cover machine shorthand and stenography, speed building and keyboarding. Some programs offer courses in medical and legal terminology or computer-aided transcribing. Students are encouraged to reach industry-standard speeds of 225 words per minute with 95% accuracy.

Job Training and Certifications Required for Court Reporters

Many electronic Court Reporters receive training in audio-capture technology on the job by reading manuals, attending training sessions, working with trainers and observing experienced transcribers. Some states require Court Reporters to pass a licensing exam. Other states require reporters to earn Certified Court Reporter (CCR) designation. A few states require reporters to become notary publics. Additional certification is optional. The National Verbatim Reporters Association, www.nvra.org, offers three levels of certification, which may substitute for licensure in some states.

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