according to specialty, court reporters usually complete a two- to four-year training program at a vocational or technical school. Along with learning how to use the specific court reporting equipment, students take courses such as English, vocabulary, and legal terminology.

Continuing education opportunities are also encouraged through associations such as the NCRA and the United States Court Reporters Association (USCRA).

In addition, some states require court reporters to take and pass a test in order to receive licensure. As a substitute for state licensure, the National Verbatim Reporters Association offers three national certifications to voice writers: Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR), Certificate of Merit (CM) and Real-Time Verbatim Reporter (RVR.

Plus some states require court reporters to be notary publics or require the Certified Court Reporter (CCR) designation, for which a reporter must pass a state test administered by a board of examiners.

Salary:

As for earnings, while the NCRA estimated that court reporters can earn an average of $60,000 a year or more, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that typical salaries range from $33,000 to $61,000 annually.

Job Outlook:

A career in court reporting offers a lot of possibilities. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment for court reporters to grow at a faster than average rate (25 percent) over the next few years.

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