Court Reporting Schools: How to Select the Best One for You
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Are you fascinated by the legal system but have no desire to become an attorney? Are you an attentive listener with the ability to exercise a high degree of concentration? Do you want to work in a fast paced, exciting career with a multitude of job opportunities and excellent pay? If you’ve answered “yes” to these questions, a career as a court reporter could be the right fit for you. While a court reporter career does not require a four-year college degree, specialized training is necessary. The best place to get this specialized training is through court reporting programs at a court reporter school.
There are many court reporter schools to choose from. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, court reporting training is offered by more than 100 postsecondary vocational schools, technical schools and colleges. Of these, the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) has certified at least 60.
Selecting a certified or accredited court reporting school will ensure you receive the very best in court reporting training programs, whether online or in a campus classroom. Accredited schools must meet high educational standards to maintain their accreditation. Receiving your court reporting training at an accredited court reporting school ensures your court reporting certification will be valued in the workplace.
The best court reporting schools offer online programs as well as campus classroom options. An obvious benefit of online court reporter training programs is flexibility. These programs allow you to navigate the court reporting coursework on your own schedule. If you are changing careers and currently working full time, an online court reporter school may be your best options. You’ll be able to complete your coursework in the evenings, on the weekends, whenever it is most convenient for your schedule.
If you are not currently employed full time and have the ability to take classes during the day, or are employed but are able to attend classes at night, you may benefit from attending a campus classroom court reporter training program. Some people learn best in a structured setting and with face to face interaction with their professors and peers. If this sounds like you a campus classroom court reporting school – rather than an online one – should be selected.
The costs of court reporting training programs vary. Training can take as little as a year for some basic programs to 33 months or more for others. Tuition and fees will obviously be higher for the programs that take a longer amount of time to complete. However, these more intense training programs may also lead to a higher starting salary when you begin your career. Other costs to consider include those for books and equipment.
Whether you’ve selected an online court reporter school or a campus classroom program, you may also need to select an area of specialization. Stenographic court reporting involves using a stenotype machine to record official proceedings in real time. Electronic court reporting involves using electronic equipment to record court proceedings. Voice-writing court reporting involves repetition of statements made during official proceedings into a specialized microphone.
Now that you have some basic insight into choosing the best court reporting school for you, please peruse our resources to help you locate the best court reporting schools online and in your state.
