There are a growing number of workers today who are looking for
non-traditional employment that gives them the flexibility to stay at home with their families. Empowered work at home moms
are a growing segment of the workforce and are being joined by a lot of work at home dads.
Becoming a certified
court reporter is a lucrative career and the need for qualified reporters is growing rapidly. A substantial percentage of
today's reporters are independent contractors who work for court reporting agencies out of their homes. Although this
is a popular choice for home-based workers, it requires you to plan ahead.
Stenographers, Transcriptionists and
Court Reporters
These three professions seem similar on the surface. They all transcribe the spoken word into written
documents. However there are significant differences among them.
Stenographers take dictation using shorthand or
stenotype machines. They type their notes into a steno machine, which is connected to a computer, which translates the steno into words to create a document. These documents are
court proceedings or depositions but may also include meeting minutes or other records.
Transcriptionists listen
to recordings and transcribe them into reports. They use equipment that allows them to stop, start, and rewind the recording
so are not necessarily transcribing in real time. Most are medical or legal transcriptionists and have a strong understanding
of medical and legal terminology.
Court reporters document official proceedings including trials, depositions,
and corporate meetings. They can take notes in real time as stenographers and transcribe their notes later but some work from
recordings. Other court reporters use voice recognition software. In addition to working for the court system, they may work for lawyers, corporations,
television stations, or other employers.
Court reporting is more than just dictation. Reporters are official witnesses
that produce an unbiased document of a proceeding. A document prepared by a certified court reporter carries more weight than
the same document prepared by a paralegal or a transcriptionist, unless the transcriptionist is being supervised by a court
reporter or stenographer and certifies the transcript for them.
Education Requirements and Job Prospects for Court
Reporters
The court reporting profession is a demanding one that requires a substantial amount of professional
preparation. To get into this profession will require at least a 2-year degree and preferably a 4-year degree.
Job
prospects are sky-high as demand outstrips supply. The California State Labor Market Information Division reported that the
number of attorneys grew by 33% between 1993 and 2005 while the number of court reporters fell by 3%.
Salaries are substantial and court reporters are in demand everywhere in the US.
Work at Home Opportunities
Many court reporters are independent contractors who work out of their home either independently or through a court
reporting agency. Wireless and Internet technologies have made it easy to do these jobs remotely, even if they must "attend"
the event they are documenting.
However it is nearly impossible for an inexperienced court reporter to work as
an independent consultant. Reporters are expected to work at least two years in a supervised office position before they have
a realistic chance to work out of their homes.
If you can invest the time for the education and experience, you
can look forward to a rewarding and flexible home-based career.
A certified court reporter is anyone who has satisfied state requirements to practice the profession. The
certification rules vary from state to state but generally involve passing some kind of proficiency
test. California court reporters have to pass one of the most rigorous exams which includes tests on English proficiency plus
legal and medical terminology.
Certified court reporters can acquire additional certifications to demonstrate exceptional
proficiency or experience in the profession, opening up new career opportunities. These certifications have been established
by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) and applicants must be a member of this organization.
Registered Professional Reporter (RPR): This is the entry-level
program for certified court reporters and is a prerequisite for almost all other NCRA certifications. It is available to all
members of the NCRA regardless of experience. It starts with a 90-minute written test that measures the applicant's knowledge
of reporting and transcription practices. This is followed by three dictation and transcription exercises performed at speeds
of 180 to 225 wpm that each must be completed with at least 95% accuracy.
Registered Merit Reporter (RMR): This
advanced exam is available to certified court reporters who have passed the RPR and have three years of NCRA membership. It
consists of a written test that covers advanced reporting and transcription concepts plus three dictation exercises performed
at 200-260 wpm that must each be completed with 95% accuracy. Approximately 20% of RPRs continue toward their RMR.
Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR): After completing the RMR and being a NCRA member for at least six years, certified
court reporters can attempt the most advanced certification. The written examination covers the most advanced areas of reporting
and transcription as well as management, marketing, and other professional issues. Fewer than 3% of RPRs achieve this level
of certification.
As the profession has changed, the NCRA has offered additional certifications that cater to specialized
court reporting services. These certifications include:
Those who
are interested in teaching court reporting to the next generation of reporters can pursue the Certified Reporting Instructor
(CRI) and continue on to the Master Certified Reporting Instructor (MCRI). Reporters who prefer to act on an administrative
level should acquire the Certified Program Evaluator (CPE) which qualifies them to evaluate and certify court reporter undergraduate programs.
A reporter who owns a court reporting agency will find they get a competitive
edge if they obtain the Certified Manager of Reporting Services (CMRS).
Certified court reporters should always
be on the lookout for professional development opportunities. These programs have provided a nationally-recognized standard
of professional competence since 1935 and are well worth pursuing for the success-oriented reporter.
