So you want to become a court reporter. Let us say “congratulations!” to you for selecting such an exciting and challenging career. As you probably know, court reporters provide an indispensable service within the justice system, recording vital information in legal and official proceedings. What you may not know is that court reporters earn an excellent wage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median yearly salary for a court reporter was $49,710 in 2008.
While a career in court reporting does not require a traditional four-year college degree, specialized court reporting training is required. Court reporting programs vary depending on school and area of specialization selected. A student wishing to become an electronic court reporter may be able to complete his or her training in less than a year. Programs for becoming voice-writing court reporters may take up to two years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average program length for the field of stenographic court reporting is 33 months.
The more semesters you spend in court reporter school and courses you are required to take, the higher your total tuition and fees will be over the course of your education. You will also be required to purchase educational materials such as books for your courses. If you’re obtaining your court reporting degree online, you’ll need a computer and Internet access. Other equipment purchases may also be required. You may need to purchase a stenographic machine, laptop computer and voice recognition software.
If you’re wondering how you are going to pay for your tuition, fees, books and court reporting training tools, take heart. There are many options available to you.
Financial Aid
The court reporting school you select may have financial assistance available. Check with student services, the financial office or the registrar’s office. You may even be able to apply for financial assistance online. Additionally, you may qualify for government subsidized financial aid programs from the U.S. Department of Education. Programs include grants, campus-based aid, Stafford loans and PLUS loans for graduate and professional degree students.
Bank Loan
If for some reason you do not qualify for aid through your school or the government, you can still consider an educational loan from your bank. Speak with a personal banker about the educational loans the bank offers. If you own a home, you might also consider taking out equity in the form of a home equity loan. You could then use this equity to fund your court reporter training.
Part Time Job
If you are not otherwise employed, consider picking up a part time job to help pay for your court reporting training. Online court reporting programs will allow you to complete your coursework around your job. Campus classroom court reporter school may require as few as four hours of classroom time a day (or night), enabling you to work at least part time.
Employer Assistance
If you are considering becoming a court reporter to advance in your current field, ask your employer if the company provides any educational assistance. Some companies will pay for a portion of their employee’s continuing education costs if they determine the coursework will help you do your job better or advance to a higher position.
A court reporting degree comes with costs. But the benefits of a career in court reporting far outweigh them. Check out our other resources to learn more about this exciting career and what to expect as a court reporter.
