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Published on Feb 13, 2023
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
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Do you have an interest in legal proceedings, but you aren’t quite sure you want to pursue a career as a lawyer or paralegal? If so, you may want to take a look at the stenographer career path. Learn how to become a stenographer in this detailed career guide.
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A stenographer is someone who creates verbatim transcripts of everything that is said on the record in a courtroom using the shorthand writing style called “steno” on a steno machine. The work that court stenographers do is essential in the U.S. legal system because it holds people accountable for their own words.
Every case that is taken to court is unique in its own way, but they all share one thing in common: The outcome hinges upon finding the facts. Court reporting, or court stenography, is the practice of creating verbatim transcripts of everything that is said on the record in a courtroom, or in a legal proceeding that takes place outside the courtroom (e.g., legal deposition). The work that court stenographers do is absolutely essential in the U.S. legal system because it holds people accountable for their own words.
A court stenographer does the following tasks:
Court stenographers often work directly for local or state governmental agencies. However, many stenographers are self-employed freelancers who work on a contractual basis for various law firms and corporations.
It’s often thought that stenographers work only in courtrooms. Although they certainly do record court proceedings such as hearings and trials, sometimes they may also work in other locations. For example, they may be called upon to travel to various meeting sites where pretrial depositions are to be recorded.
If a career in court reporting sounds like a good choice for you and you’re still in high school, you can get started right now on the process of how to become a stenographer. Talk to your high school guidance counselor about your career aspirations and find out whether you can add a few more classes to help you prepare. Some good classes for aspiring stenographers to take include:
After high school, the next steps in how to become a stenographer include:
Although a bachelor’s degree isn’t a strict universal requirement, earning one can give you a competitive edge in the job marketplace. It will also help you prepare for your career by instilling critical thinking skills, expanding your vocabulary and enhancing your ability to concentrate for long periods of time.
A public policy degree is a good choice because it covers the fundamental principles of government, governmental processes, public policy, public administration and similar topics. You may have the option of attending as an online student, depending on the school you select.
The specific curriculum will vary from one school to the next, but in general, you may study any of the following topics:
You should have the opportunity to take a few electives during your time in college. You may wish to take some classes that will support your career goals, such as communications, literature and computer applications. Introductory courses in medical science, medical terminology and law can also be good choices, as court reporters must often deal with complex medical and legal terminology.
After you complete your public policy degree, the next step is to enroll in a court reporting training program or certificate program. You’ll need to choose a program that has been approved by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA). The NCRA maintains a list of approved programs on their website.1
The lengths and structure of these programs vary. Look for a certificate program, rather than an associate degree program. You may also want to choose a program that builds internships or externships directly into the curriculum, if any are available in your area.
Although there can be slight variations in the curriculum, you can generally expect to study the following topics during your time in court reporting school:
Once you’ve graduated from an NCRA-approved court reporting school, you’ll be ready to apply for state licensure, if applicable. Remember that not all states require court reporters to obtain a license, although many of them do. The requirements for obtaining a license will vary by state.
For example, you may need to provide your transcripts from your court reporting program in order to be eligible to apply for licensure. In some states, you may also need to obtain real-world experience in verbatim reporting, which might be accomplished with a provisional or conditional license. Typically, obtaining a full-fledged state license involves passing an exam.
Some employers may require a certification in addition to a state license. Even if an employer doesn’t require a professional certification, it can help you gain a competitive edge over other job applicants. (Note that a certification is not the same as a certificate.)
A certificate — such as one earned via a court reporting training program — demonstrates that you have completed certain educational requirements. In contrast, a certification demonstrates that you have met industry standards by passing a certification examination, typically administered by a professional organization or board.
In the court reporting field, the most reputable and widely recognized professional organization is the National Court Reporters Association. (You’ll recall that the NCRA also approves court stenography training programs.) The NCRA offers a number of certification options.
To start, you’ll want to pursue the Registered Skilled Reporter (RSR) certification option. The RSR certification is an entry-level certification intended for beginning stenographers who demonstrate the ability to record verbatim transcripts at 200 words per minute (WPM).
You do not need to be a member of the NCRA to take the RSR exam, although you will need to join within 30 days of passing the exam. The exam consists of three skills tests:2
After earning the RSR, you can work on improving your speed and accuracy, which can enable you to pursue the next level of certification: Registered Professional Reporter (RPR). Alternatively, if you can already meet the WPM requirements, feel free to skip directly to the RPR exam instead of taking the RSR exam first. The RPR exam consists of the following:3
Once you have a few years of work experience, you may wish to pursue the next level of certification: Registered Merit Reporter (RMR). Earning an RMR certification may open the door to promotion opportunities, such as moving into a supervisory position, although this is not guaranteed.
The RMR certification exam consists of the following components:4
The NCRA’s highest level of certification for court reporters is the Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR) designation. Earning this elite certification demonstrates that you have achieved highly advanced stenography skills. Only current RMR stenographers who have been members of the NCRA for at least five continuous years are eligible to sit for the RDR exam.
Unlike the previous skills tests, which measure only typing speed in WPM, the RDR certification exam is a 120-question written knowledge exam that covers the following content areas:5
You’ll learn everything you need to work as a court stenographer during your degree coursework and court reporting training program, as well as your on-the-job training (if applicable). However, to excel at your job, it can be helpful to cultivate the following characteristics and skills:
You can begin working toward your dream career as a court stenographer when you apply for enrollment at Grand Canyon University. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is pleased to offer the Bachelor of Arts in Government with an Emphasis in State and Local Public Policy degree program, which instills foundational competencies in law, governmental processes and public administration.
Retrieved from:
1National Court Reporters Association, NCRA-Approved Court Reporting Programs in December 2022
2 National Court Reporters Association, Registered Skilled Reporter (RSR) in December 2022
3 National Court Reporters Association, Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) in December 2022
4 National Court Reporters Association, Registered Merit Reporter (RMR) in December 2022
5 National Court Reporters Association, Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR) in December 2022
Approved by an instructor for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences on Jan. 25, 2023.
