Court Reporter Requirements - What Does It Take to Become a Court Reporter?

There are two types of people who are interested in court reporter requirements: those who are thinking about becoming court reporters, and those who thinking about hiring court reporters. Regardless of which category you occupy, knowing the full range of court-reporter requirements will aid you in your decision. Below, we take a look at the court-reporter requirements that are necessary to become a successful reporter.

Educational Requirements

The amount of time and education required to become a court reporter depends largely on the type of reporting one pursues. For example, real-time stenographic reporting requires roughly 33 months of study, including basic coursework, whereas proficiency in real-time voice writing requires roughly 24 months of study. Although different reporting disciplines require different lengths of study, all court-reporters begin by taking the same core courses, which range from the history of court reporting to workshop style courses that focus on typing speed.

Reporting Licensure

Becoming a court reporter is similar to becoming an attorney in that prospective reporters must pass a state test to officially practice court-reporting. However, reporters can often substitute state licensure with one of three national voice writing certifications offered by the National Verbatim Reporters Association: Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR), Certificate of Merit (CM), or Real-Time Verbatim Reporter (RVR). As with receiving state licensure, pursuing certification through the National Verbatim Reporters Association requires testing.

Post-Educational Qualifications

Just as attorneys can practice any area of law but typically specialize in a particular area, court-reporters can take on various reporting assignments but often specialize in certain types of depositions and court proceedings, such as those that focus on business matters, medical matters, religious matters, etc. If you work for an organization that needs to hire a court reporter, selecting a reporter familiar with your type of proceeding is the best idea.

Personal Requirements

If you think that quality court reporting subsists solely on education and qualifications, think again. As with many occupations, court-reporting demands certain aspects of one's personality, such as a capacity for boredom and a lack of bias. While movies and television dramas sensationalize legal proceedings and therefore the litigation support that surrounds them, court-reporters and other legal professionals more often than encounter legal proceedings that lack stimulation. They also encounter a variety of individuals whose beliefs and actions can be challenging to their sense of justice. A great reporter can weather these scenarios and deliver an unbiased, error free transcript.

In my research on depositions and litigation support, I've studied the importance of choosing legal professionals with the right pedigree.

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