Many community colleges and technical institutes offer postsecondary certificate programs for court reporters. Many states require court reporters who work in legal settings to be licensed by a state or certified by a professional association.
Education
Many court reporters receive formal training at community colleges or technical institutes, which have different programs that lead to either a certificate or an associate's degree in court reporting. Either degree will qualify applicants for many entry-level positions. Certification programs prepare students to pass the licensing exams and typing-speed tests required by most states and employers.
Most court reporting programs include courses in English grammar and phonetics, legal procedures, and legal terminology. Students also practice preparing transcripts to improve the speed and accuracy of their work.
Some schools also offer training in the use of different transcription machines, such as stenotype machines or steno masks.
Graduating from a court reporting program can take between 2 and 5 years.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Many states require court reporters who work in legal settings to be licensed or certified by a professional association. Licensing requirements vary by state and by method of court reporting.
The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) offers certification for court reporters, broadcast captioners, and Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) providers. Currently, 22 states accept or use the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification in place of a state certification or licensing exam.
Digital and voice reporters may obtain certification through the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT), which offers the Certified Electronic Reporter (CER) and Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET) designations.
Voice reporters may also obtain certification through the National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA). As with the RPR designation, some states with certification or licensing requirements will accept the NVRA designation in place of the state license.
Certification through the NCRA, AAERT, and NVRA all require the successful completion of a written test, as well as a skills test in which applicants must type, record, or transcribe a minimum number of words per minute with a high level of accuracy.
In addition, all associations require court reporters to obtain a certain amount of continuing education credits in order to renew their certification.
For more information on certification, exam, and continuing education requirements, visit the specific association's website. State licensing and continuing education requirements can be found by visiting the state association's or state judicial agency's website.
Training
After completing their formal program, court reporters must undergo a few weeks of on-the-job training. This typically includes additional skills training as well as training on the more technical terminology that may be used during complex medical or legal proceedings.
Important Qualities
Concentration. Court reporters must be able to concentrate for long periods. They must remain focused on the dialogue they are recording, even in the presence of auditory distractions.
Detail oriented. Court reporters must be able to produce error-free work, because they create transcripts that serve as legal records.
Listening skills. Court reporters must give their full attention to speakers and capture every word that is said.
Writing skills. Court reporters need a good command of grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation.