By Dana Prince

If you are currently weighing the pros and cons of going back to school so that you can attain the skills and knowledge necessary to start a new career in the area of court reporting, schools out there can prepare you for a career in this potentially lucrative career field. It could be very worthwhile for you to keep weighing the pros and cons while researching your educational options. 

There are many court reporter program offerings available to those fresh out of high school (you must be at least aged 18 or older to be a licensed court reporter in the USA) and it is also a popular career choice for mature students as well. Beyond court reporting credentials, many who choose this vocation also choose to become notary publics as well. An interest in the legal field as well as strong English and technical skills are necessary for this vocation. 

Getting a great job without a formal education is increasingly difficult. In many areas, the only individuals that are not licensed are those who are grandfathered in because they’ve been doing the job they’re doing for many years. Getting a formal education in court reporting isn’t just a good idea, it’s a necessity in most places. 

In terms of what can be learned in court reporter schools, not only can you learn skills to help you build speed and accuracy on stenography school equipment, but you can also learn how to parlay those court reporter skills into other areas as well. Beyond the obvious career choice of working in a court of law, you could use these skills in positions in government offices as well as the corporate world and even in the world of television, too. 

Closed captioning skills, known as captioning, particularly of live television broadcasts requires the skills of a court room reporter who can quickly work to bring information on an “as it happens” basis to those who are hearing impaired.   Captioning is one of the fastest growing segments of this vocation due to the increasing technology. It’s one of the most lucrative options and presents great options for those who want to telecommute from home, rather than work in an office or a court room. 

Areas that are taught in court reporting schools could include: 

  • Using stenography equipment
  • Courtroom procedures
  • Legal terminology
  • Voice writer / steno mask skills
  • Transcribing live events
  • Transcribing taped events
  • Legal videography
  • Practicing for building speed and ensuring accuracy
  • Building on English and grammatical skills
  • Captioning, for those who choose closed captioning careers rather than courtroom work
  • And more 

Is it Expensive to go to Court Reporting School? 

Tuition fees for court reporting school will vary, depending on many factors. There are two year and four year programs and there are varying fees depending on where the school is located as well as what sort of training you’re taking. Any school that has a website will send you a free quotation for tuition as well as provide you with in depth details about their offering. 

Worried you’ll have to save up for years to afford court reporting school? You may qualify for loans and grants to help you pay for this education, which will help you get a job that’s both lucrative and interesting.  Court reporting schools often offer flexible learning schedules for those who can’t attend school full-time and will often provide helpful assistance to students that need help with planning for tuition, with extra assistance, with accelerated learning programs, and for job placement as well. 

Learning is Important!  

After your education is complete and you’re employed as a court reporter, learning isn’t over. You’ll be required to continue your education on a regular basis in order to maintain your credentials. Continuing education credits, also known as CEU’s in the court reporting field can be acquired through several methods, such as through workshops, seminars, and courses. Once you’ve become trained, you’ll probably want to join a court reporter’s association where you live. This will enable you to stay up to date on the field as well as maintain your credentials. 

The world of court reporting is expanding as technology advances so it’s important for those in this profession to consider continuing education so that they continue to build marketable skills. Learning is definitely powerful and it helps you find a career that you find interesting as well as lucrative. If you’re interesting in the world of law, have exceptional communication and concentration skills, and love to work in a fast-paced environment, court reporting is a career that might be perfect for you.

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