What Is a Stenographer?

Stenographers use specialized equipment to quickly and accurately transcribe spoken words into text. They often work in courtrooms.

To become a stenographer, you'll need special training. Keep reading to learn more about stenographers, how to become a stenographer, and what the best programs are for stenography.

What Is a Stenographer?

Stenography is a shorthand method of transcribing and taking notes. This is often done on a stenography machine, which allows for typing speeds of over 200 words per minute with high accuracy.

Stenographers are the people who use stenography machines to transcribe court proceedings, meetings, lectures, and other spoken events into written word.

Many stenographers are court reporters, meaning they are responsible for transcribing courtroom proceedings exactly as they happen so there is a written record of everything that happens.

However, stenographers may work in other fields as well. They may take notes in business or government meetings, or may create closed captions for television.

Stenographers need specific training since stenography machines take several years to learn. These machines have fewer keys than a typical keyboard, and words are created by pressing specific key combinations.

After a stenographer has created the original transcription, they must go over their work to correct any mistakes, fix any words the machine did not accurately recognize, and properly format their transcript.

Stenographers may work for the courts, law firms, corporations, or captioning companies, but a majority of stenographers are freelance workers or contractors.

How To Become a Stenographer

To become a stenographer, you'll need to complete a stenography education program and may need to obtain a license.

Stenographer or court reporter programs are usually offered as associate degrees or certificates, although a couple of bachelor's programs are available.

Associate and certificate programs can take two or three years to complete. Some programs base the length of the program on performance, that is, how quickly you are able to accurately transcribe.

These programs typically train students to use stenography machines, but also include courses on legal and medical terminology, English and grammar, and reporting procedures.

After you finish your stenography program, you may be required to become licensed or certified. This requirement varies among states and career paths.

Your state may require you to take a state-specific exam to obtain your license, or may require you to become certified by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).

The NCRA offers multiple certifications, but the one most states require is the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification.

To obtain this certification, you'll need to pass an online skills test and a written knowledge test. After becoming certified, you'll need to renew your certification every three years.

Top Schools for Stenography

A few colleges around the country offer programs for court reporting or stenography.

We've listed our top picks below, but you can find a full list of NCRA-approved programs through the NCRA website.

1. Alfred State College

Alfred State College is a public college in Alfred, NY. It's part of the State University of New York system and offers a certificate program and an associate degree program in court and realtime reporting.

The certificate program typically takes four semesters to complete and is available both on campus and online.

The Associate of Applied Science degree requires the same courses as the certificate as well as some general education courses and an internship.

The associate program totals 64 credits and takes, on average, four semesters plus a summer session to complete.

Students are required to meet the standards of each theory and speed building course before they are able to move on to the next course in the series.

2. Anoka Technical College

Anoka Technical College is a public technical college in Anoka, MN. It offers an associate degree in judicial reporting and a certificate in broadcast captioning.

The Associate of Applied Science degree in judicial reporting prepares students to work as official court reporters. It's available in person and online and takes six semesters to complete.

The communication access realtime translation (CART) and broadcasting certificate is for students wanting to transcribe closed captions.

The certificate takes two semesters to complete and also includes a broadcast captioning and CART internship.

3. Arlington Career Institute

Arlington Career Institute is a private, for-profit career college in Arlington, TX. It offers a court reporting stenography program online.

This program prepares students for careers as court reporters, official judicial reporters, closed captionists, or CART providers. It takes 36 months, and while courses are online, there is an in-person externship requirement.

Arlington Career Institute also offers a 15-month court reporting voice writing program.

4. Key College

Key College is a private career college in Fort Lauderdale, FL, that specializes in court reporting. It offers an Associate of Science degree in court reporting.

The college employs industry-focused faculty to teach stenographic court reporting. Classes are available both on campus and online.

Students at Key College can also earn a certificate in digital court reporting. This certificate is also available on campus and online.

5. South Coast College

South Coast College is a private, for-profit technical college in Orange, CA. It offers a certificate program for court reporting.

This program trains students with real stenography machines and computer equipment under the guidance of experienced Certified Shorthand Reporters (CSRs).

Students who complete this program will be ready to become certified by the Court Reporters Board of California and transition into the professional world of court reporting.

Become a Stenographer

Stenographers use special technology to transcribe speech into written words. They often work as court reporters but may also transcribe meetings or create closed captions.

With the information above, you're set to decide if a career as a stenographer or court reporter is right for you.