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[E257]English Guide For Court Reporters

by Christine Harrell, Chr

A certified court reporter is anyone who has satisfied state requirements to practice the profession. The certification rules vary from state to state but generally involve passing some kind of proficiency test. California court reporters have to pass one of the most rigorous exams which includes tests on English proficiency plus legal and medical terminology.

Certified court reporters can acquire additional certifications to demonstrate exceptional proficiency or experience in the profession, opening up new career opportunities. These certifications have been established by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) and applicants must be a member of this organization.

There are three basic court reporting examinations.

Registered Professional Reporter (RPR): This is the entry-level program for certified court reporters and is a prerequisite for almost all other NCRA certifications. It is available to all members of the NCRA regardless of experience. It starts with a 90-minute written test that measures the applicant's knowledge of reporting and transcription practices. This is followed by three dictation and transcription exercises performed at speeds of 180 to 225 wpm that each must be completed with at least 95% accuracy.

Registered Merit Reporter (RMR): This advanced exam is available to certified court reporters who have passed the RPR and have three years of NCRA membership. It consists of a written test that covers advanced reporting and transcription concepts plus three dictation exercises performed at 200-260 wpm that must each be completed with 95% accuracy. Approximately 20% of RPRs continue toward their RMR.

Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR): After completing the RMR and being a NCRA member for at least six years, certified court reporters can attempt the most advanced certification. The written examination covers the most advanced areas of reporting and transcription as well as management, marketing, and other professional issues. Fewer than 3% of RPRs achieve this level of certification.

As the profession has changed, the NCRA has offered additional certifications that cater to specialized court reporting services. These certifications include:

-Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR)
-Certified Broadcast Captioner (CBC)
-Certified CART Provider (CCP)
-Certified Legal Video Specialist (CLVS)

Those who are interested in teaching court reporting to the next generation of reporters can pursue the Certified Reporting Instructor (CRI) and continue on to the Master Certified Reporting Instructor (MCRI). Reporters who prefer to act on an administrative level should acquire the Certified Program Evaluator (CPE) which qualifies them to evaluate and certify court reporter undergraduate programs.

A reporter who owns a court reporting agency will find they get a competitive edge if they obtain the Certified Manager of Reporting Services (CMRS).

Certified court reporters should always be on the lookout for professional development opportunities. These programs have provided a nationally-recognized standard of professional competence since 1935 and are well worth pursuing for the success-oriented reporter.

Court reporters have been kept pretty busy in recent years. Unlike attorneys, whose numbers continue to swell with each law school graduating class, there have not been as many new court reporters on the scene in the past decade – which means those who have chosen this career are finding themselves busier than ever.

However, higher education is not the only source of this growing demand. Several other factors, drawn from our society at large are also playing a role in the growing caseload being experienced by court reporters.
Reasons why the caseload is growing as we prepare to enter 2009:

• We are becoming more litigious. As a society, we are suing each other at a much higher rate than at any time during our history. The more court cases (coupled with the lack of growth within the court reporting industry) that are brought to trial, the more reporters that are required.

• More disputes over money. We are also in the midst of more disputes over money than years past. Again, our society has moved to one where individuals will enter into a court case not with the intention of righting a wrong or winning a decision, but rather obtaining a cash settlement. This philosophy has fueled a large majority of new cases brought to trial over the past decade.

• More divorce cases. We are still seeing a large percentage of U.S. marriages end in divorce. While there is rarely a comprehensive court trial involved in these matters, there are enough depositions and motions that require the service of court reporters to make it a factor in increased caseload.

• The economy. More law firms are likely to use court reporters during tough economic times for a variety of different purposes. Bringing on a qualified transcription expert or document indexer (both services provided by a court reporting service) will help the company provide their clients with outstanding service, without having to bring on someone full-time (and pay for their insurance, training, etc.).

• The rise of the video deposition. Court reporting services in the 21st century have to offer more than simply written transcriptions. Advances in computer and DVD technology have both opened the door to videography as a means of recording depositions and other court-related matters. Rather than eliminate the need for qualified court reporters, this has actually increased demand for those who have video-related skills and are also adept at transcribing video testimony into the written word.

As these trends continue, look for court reporting services to remain busy. The job may change, but the demand shows no signs of slowing down.

For court reporters, plus a WHOLE lot more, visit CourtReporterNet. CourtReporterNet is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

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Both Christine Harrell & Mark Etinger are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Christine Harrell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mortgage, Careers and Job Hunting and Personal Desktop. Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on becoming a , visit