WHAT IS INVOLVED IN A COURT REPORTER PROGRAM?
To become a court reporter, you will need to learn and hone your listening and concentration skills; become proficient in legal, medical and technical terminology; understand the application of spelling, grammar and punctuation in transcriptions; gain speed, accuracy and expertise in transcription work; and become adept at using court reporting technology.
These skills are all components of degree programs for aspiring court reporters. In addition to general education coursework and courses focused on Speedbuilding, Machine Shorthand Theory and Judicial Court Reporting, the best court reporting programs also include internship opportunities where degree-seekers can put their skills to practice and further define their career goals.
When you choose to pursue a court reporting career, you can also expect to enter the workforce quickly. It typically takes about two years to complete the curriculum and earn a degree in court reporting.
WHAT CAREER OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AFTER STUDYING COURT REPORTING?
After earning a degree in court reporting and passing required certifications or state licensing requirements, court reporting professionals have a variety of career options from which to choose. Some people opt for careers with local courts and government agencies, while others would rather work as freelancers, taking on only certain court reporting engagements.
In addition to traditional stenography jobs in courtrooms and taking depositions for legal cases, skilled and trained court reporters are also in demand for all types of events. In fact, you can find court reporters at corporate meetings, sporting events, press conferences and more.
Some court reporters enjoy working as closed-captioners for broadcast television or Internet broadcasts, or as CART (Communications Access Realtime Reporting) stenographers, providing specialized reporting services for people with hearing loss. Court reporters are not limited to working in their own geographical regions; it’s a career with job opportunities around the globe. Some court reporters even work entirely from their own homes.
The career outlook for court reporting professionals is stable. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there should be approximately 2,000 openings for qualified court reporters every year in the coming decade.
Skilled court reporting professionals can also earn comfortable wages. According to BLS data as of May 2021, the median annual wage for people working as court reporters was $60,380. Those in the highest ten percent earned more than $103,270/year. Compensation can vary based on geographical location, as well as on the chosen type of court reporting role (freelancing or working as an employee for a business or government agency.)
PREPARE FOR YOUR FUTURE CAREER WITH A DEGREE FROM GENERATIONS COLLEGE
Choosing to study court reporting means you will be trained for a skilled role, one that has significant flexibility and growth potential. Generations College offers on-campus and fully-accredited online degree programs for court reporting, making it easier for busy adults to earn their college degrees while still managing other responsibilities. Contact us to learn more about our programs and services. If you’re ready to start your training to become a court reporter, apply online today!