Court reporting is a fast growing career with numerous benefits for those who choose to pursue a career as a court reporter. It can be a difficult road to become one of the nation’s court reporters, however, so we’ve put together a little guide to give you an idea of what it takes to become a court reporter.
Commitment and Time are Required to Become a Court Reporter
The average certification program for court reporters takes about 33.3 months to complete. During that time, they learn to type incredibly fast, with amazing accuracy. They will also learn numerous other skills such as transcribing in order to extend help outside the courtroom to attorneys. It may differ by program, but on average, students must be able to capture 225 testimony words, 200 jury charge words, and 180 literary words per minute with a 95% accuracy rate in order to be certified.
There are Numerous Court Reporting Agencies
To officially become a court reporter, most will become part of a court reporting agency. America has three court reporting associations: The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), the National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA) and the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT). They all have different guidelines for certification. For example, the NCRA requires the ability to capture 225 words per minute, like most of the education programs.
It’s Not Just Typing in the Courtroom
Court reporting services span numerous skillsets. While many do report within courtrooms, a large percentage work specifically in transcribing and researching for other segments of the justice system. A court reporter has many avenues to decide from when looking for work after they have finished their education. Unlike some jobs, this job is very flexible location-wise; there are courts in every state.
Have you ever thought of becoming a court reporter? Do you think you have what it takes?
