What Is Required To Become A National Court Reporter
When you think about a job in the court system, you usually think about becoming a lawyer or judge, but there are so many more positions available that can place you right in the middle of the action. One of the most common jobs in the court room is a court reporter. While most people understand the job of a court reporter is to take down everything that is said during the trial, you may not know what it takes to actually become a court reporter.
Education
In order to become a court reporter, you would need to get a certificate or associate's degree at a community college. This allows you to obtain the education and knowledge needed to pass the licensing exam. Another requirement that is often asked for includes a speed typing test. Court reporters have to be able to type quickly in order to keep up with everything being said in the court room. Some courses that can help with the job include legal terminology, English, phonetics, and legal procedures. In many states, you must be licensed by the National Court Reporters Association before you can get a job with a national court reporting firm.
In order to become a Registered Professional Reporter you must pass a 3-part skills test and a written test. At times, you may be asked to complete some additional coursework to continue your license. This depends on your state and your employer.
Training
Before heading to the court room to start working, you must learn how to prepare transcripts and capture what people are saying. This can take a lot of practice. Once you have the hang of doing so, you will then start doing some on-the-job training. This allows you to get a firsthand look at what you will be doing. This also shows your employer if you have what it takes to do the job. Even if you get the licenses and pass the tests, you must show you can do the actual work.
Pay
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median annual income for a court reporter is $48,160. Most court reporters are paid by the time in which they are spent transcribing, but there are some freelance reporters who sell their transcripts by page. This is another avenue in which they can make money from their skills. Most court reporters tend to work full-time, but freelance reporters have the ability to set their own schedules.
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