Pursuing a career as a court reporter can be both rewarding and lucrative, as the position of court reporter is typically a well-paid one. This career does require some specific training. Some states require licensure for court reporters to practice in their court systems. Certification is not required by federal law, but it is a good idea, because finding a position as a court reporter is much easier with the proper certification.
Required Education
The amount of education required to become a court reporter varies depending on the specialization the reporter pursues. The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) has provided certification for several court reporter programs at schools across the country. In order to graduate from one of these programs, the court reporter must be able to capture at least 225 words per minute. This is the standard required by the federal government, making it a good mark to set for certification.
Available Certifications
Again, certification is not technically required to become a court reporter, but in a way it is required because you will have a hard time finding a job without it. Also, improving the level of certification you hold makes it more likely that you will get a good, high-paying positions.
The NCRA gives the certification of Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) to anyone who graduates from one of the certified schools and completes a four-part examination in court reporting. The exam is not required to graduate, but most reporters choose to pursue it.
Court reporters who wish to show that they have greater experience or competency than those just starting in the field can gain further certification through the NCRA. Some of these include Registered Merit Reporter (RMR) and Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR). These are specifically designed for court reporters. Those who wish to expand their expertise and job opportunities can pursue further certifications designed for those who caption television or other media programs for those who are hard of hearing. These certifications include Certified Broadcast Cautioner (CBC), Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR), and Certified CART Provider (CCP).
The NCRA is not the only organization offering court reporter certifications. The United States Court Reporters Association offers a voluntary certification designation based on an exam that tests the real-time skills of these reporters. This qualifies a reporter for the Federal Certified Realtime Reporter (FCRR) certification, and this is only available to reporters working in Federal courts.
The American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT) is another organization that offers certification for court reporters. It is based on a two-part exam with both a practical and written portion. This certification is called Certified Electronic Court Reporter (CER) and requires at least two years of court reporting experience to qualify.
Licensure
Besides certification, some court reporters will pursue licensure in their states, if it is required. The typical designation of a state licensed court reporter is Certified Court Reporter (CCR). Those looking for a license that will transfer easily from state to state can purse one through the National Verbatim Reporters Association. These are Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR), Real-Time Verbatim Reporter (RVR), and Certificate of Merit (CM). Each of these certifications can be used in place of state licensure in the states where licensure is required and the voice method of court reporting is allowed.
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Court Reporting services located in Washington and New York. Offering a broad array of products and services including court Reporter services, document, case management, videographer services and more.
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