How To Become a Court Stenographer in 5 Steps

Court reporters, generally, produce transcripts of legal proceedings that become the official record of those proceedings.

It doesn't take much more than a two-year associate degree to enter this fulfilling and rewarding career.

If you enjoy the legal field but don't want to invest the time and money to go to law school, becoming a court reporter might be right for you.

Keep reading to find out what you need to do to become a court reporter and how you can get started in this exciting, fast-paced career.

Becoming a Court Stenographer

Court stenographers, also called court reporters, have a relatively challenging and fast-paced job that's also very fulfilling.

Read on to learn more about this exciting career and how you can get started relatively quickly with only a few years of training.

Job Duties

Generally, court reporters attend legal proceedings that require verbatim transcripts, such as depositions, hearings, and trials.

They use stenography machines and digital recording devices to provide a transcription of spoken dialogue at these proceedings.

They also report on the speaker's gestures and other body language where relevant, such as if the person nods in response to a question.

Within a brief time frame after the proceeding has concluded, they produce a written transcript and provide copies to the relevant parties.

At trials and other courtroom proceedings, they also index and organize any exhibits presented by either of the parties.

Work Environment

A court reporter's work environment can be extremely varied depending on whether they work freelance or for a specific employer.

For example, some court reporters work exclusively for one law firm. They likely transcribe depositions that take place in that firm's offices.

Freelance court reporters may travel to a variety of different legal offices, courthouses, and other government buildings to do their work.

While they do need to travel to remote locations, they might also complete their work from a home office if they work freelance.

This career can have a pretty flexible schedule if you work freelance, but can be very stressful due to the intensity of some legal proceedings.

Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of court reporters will grow 3% from 2022 to 2032.

This rate of growth is about average for all occupations throughout the country, with most openings coming from others exiting the field.

States employing the most court reporters include California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Indiana.

States with the highest concentrations of available jobs include Indiana, West Virginia, Florida, North Dakota, and Georgia.

Court reporters are most highly concentrated in large metropolitan areas, such as Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago.

Related Careers

The most closely related career to court reporting is simultaneous captioning, which uses much of the same equipment.

Simultaneous captioners can often work from home and don't need to travel, which can be attractive to court reporters.

Some court reporting programs also cover the training necessary to be a simultaneous captioner.

Court reporters who know two or more languages might also find work as an interpreter or translator, either live or in writing.

Medical transcriptionists also do similar work to court reporters, although their work is specific to the healthcare field rather than the legal field.

If you're interested in becoming a court stenographer, follow the steps listed below.

Step 1: Earn Your High School Diploma or the Equivalent

To enroll in a court reporter associate degree program, you typically need at least a high school diploma.

If you didn't earn your high school diploma, most programs also accept an equivalent diploma, such as a GED.

While in high school, taking classes in touch-typing, dictation, and other related classes will help prepare you for your future career.

Step 2: Complete an Associate Degree Program

Associate degree programs in court reporting are typically offered by community colleges or vocational institutes.

These programs typically take two years of full-time study to complete, although you might be able to earn your degree more quickly.

Many of these colleges offer these programs online so you can earn your degree on your own terms without sacrificing your other responsibilities.

Step 3: Work as an Intern

Not all associate degree programs include an internship component, but if yours does, you should definitely take advantage of it.

Working as an intern gives you hands-on experience that you just can't get through classroom study, even with simulation exercises.

On top of that, you'll get lots of guidance and advice from the licensed court reporter who supervises your internship.

Step 4: Meet Your State's Licensure Requirements

Each state has different licensure requirements for court reporters. In addition, courts may have their own requirements.

Getting a license typically requires proof that you've earned an associate degree and sometimes work in a supervised setting.

You may also be required to complete a skills test or written test before you're granted a license.

Step 5: Obtain Additional Certifications

Many court reporters get additional certifications to increase their value to potential clients � especially if they're working freelance.

The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) offers the most popular certifications that can really advance your career.

Additionally, there are many states that use NCRA certification in place of a state written exam for licensure.

Learn About Becoming a Court Reporter Today

If you want to become a court reporter, get on the path to a fulfilling career with an associate degree from an accredited program.