If you are looking to dive into an exciting new career, being a certified court reporter will definitely keep you on your toes. At the same time, this profession will provide you with an attractive compensation package. However, a West Palm Beach court reporter shared that the process of being one is not an easy feat. If you are dead set on achieving this lofty goal, here are five crucial steps that you need to take to heart. These steps ensure you’ll be well on your way to join the elite field of court reporters!

Step 1: Work on Your High School Diploma

If you are looking to enter a court stenographer program, you need a high school diploma or GED. These two are prerequisites so you can enter this field. Though there may be no specific high school classes to prepare you for this high-pressure work, you can master your talents.

A West Palm Beach court reporter gives some valuable tips to prepare you for your journey. Here’s what you can do as early as a high school student if you are dead set on being a court reporter:

• Take typing classes to build your speed for later adaption in stenography tech.
• Include business class to keep abreast of industry jargon.
• Read a lot of materials from online news to books so you can increase your vocabulary.
• Watch courtroom dramas to familiarize yourself with the law lexicon.

Step 2: Complete a Court Reporting Certificate or an Associate’s Degree

After high school, you need around 33 months to become a certified court reporter. Thankfully, many technical schools and community colleges offer associate degree programs in court stenography. You can also opt for a professional court reporting certificate. These programs are crucial for your success for the following reasons:

• They train you in using computer-aided stenography and transcription.
• The schools educate you on various concepts required to perform the job.
• You learn how to perform steno on legal, medical, and other technical terminologies.
• Because of nonstop practice while in school, you can reach a transcription speed of 200 to 225 words per minute.

A West Palm Beach court reporter shared that some schools require a typing test and basic English exam before you begin. Remember, you have to take your studies seriously if you want to succeed. You need constant practice to hone your typing skills because you need to learn the fine art of documenting two people talking simultaneously. Moreover, you must expand your vocabulary as this will help you when you begin your career. Above all, as a court reporter, you need to spell correctly and document the right information.

Step 3: Master Steno Theory

While you are in school, prepare enough money to purchase your own stenography machine. A manual one costs around $100 to $300. A veteran West Palm Beach court reporteradvised that you can try to look for a cheaper one in the second-hand market. You must give your steno machine a kitschy name because it will be your new found BFF. So you can achieve super-fast typing skills, practice relentlessly. As the wise adage goes: practice makes perfect. The more you “pound” your machine, the faster you’ll graduate.

As you spend your time in school, prepare to learn a new “language!” As a newbie in the field, one of the first things you have to master is called steno theory. Simply put, this is the shorthand language of stenography. Learning this art form ensures you can document everything accurately. Apart from writing, you must hone the art of listening. Both skills are crucial to your duties as a future certified court reporter. After all, you’re not only required to prepare a document, but you must do so with precision and accuracy.

Step 4: Obtain the Necessary Licenses to Practice

So you’ve pulled all-nighters, studied hard, and finally graduated from school. Ah, the sweet taste of success! But, hold your horses. You’re not done yet. Although you may be finished with the rigorous requirements of court reporting school, do note that some states require certification to work.

Today, a West Palm Beach court reporter revealed no uniform licensing practices are upheld for court reporters. In some states, you must pass an exam and get a Certified Court Reporter Credential. In the meantime, other states also mandate that you must be a notary public.

Noteworthy, states that allow the use of voice recorder transcription permit the use of the National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA) certificate as a substitute for a license. The reason for this is this certificate is more stringent. It requires the following:

• Certified Verbatim Reporter
• Certificate of Merit and Real-Time Verbatim Reporter

Step 5: Take Further Certifications for Career Growth

Once you obtain your license to practice, you can start looking for a job. For best results, it is better to jump straight into the basic certification route and conquer those exams. With these certifications, you can command higher pay. There are two ways to get this done.

1.   Get a certification from the United States Court Reporters Association (USCRA)

The requirements to get the Federal Certified Realtime Reporter (FCRR) designation include the following:

• Become a member of the USCRA (you don’t have to be a federal court reporter to qualify).
• Take a 5-minute dictation test at 18- to 200 words per minute.
• Pass the qualifying exams to receive the designation.

2. Get a certification from the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)

Do note that there are three credentials you can obtain from the NCRA. These are the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR), Registered Merit Reporter (RMR), and Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR). Under each category are different requirements. The most basic is the RPR, while the highest is the RDR. Check out the requirements for each credential below:

RPR

1. Membership with the NCRA is required.
2. You must pass a 105 multiple-choice test.
3. Do three practical skills test.
4. You must accumulate 3 continuing credits over a 3-yr period to maintain status.

RMR

• You must hold RPR status to be eligible to apply.
• Must be a member of the NCRA for at least three years.
• Pass three written examinations.
• Acer three practical skills test.

RDR

• You must possess an RMR status to be eligible to apply.
• Your membership with the NCRA must be for at least 6 years.
• Pass one comprehensive written test.

Be a West Palm Beach Court Reporter Today!

As a court reporter, you will take verbatim written documentation of legal proceedings, depositions, and the like. After creating your steno record, you have to translate everything into plain text. You are also required to format to show who is speaking, edit the work, and verify accuracy. Later on, you will be asked to file your final transcripts with the court clerk while furnishing copies to judges, jurors, lawyers, and parties concerned. Think you’ll enjoy this kind of job? Then it’s time to start studying to join our fold!