It typically takes two to four years to learn the basic skills to become a court reporter. The minimum speed needed to become certified is 225 words per minute, which is the requisite speed for approval by the American National Court Reporters Association. Candidates usually attend specialized certificate courses at private business schools, or sometimes associate’s or bachelor’s degree programs at accredited colleges or universities. Distance learning and online training courses are also available. After additional on-the-job training and experience, many court reporters then move on to real-time reporting.
Upon completion of formal training, court reporters engage in continuous practice in order to improve their skills. Most employers require various certifications for their court reporters. Some states require court reporters to be notaries public in addition to being a Certified Court Reporter (CCR). The National Court Reporters Association offers the title Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) to those who pass a four-part examination and participate in continuing education programs. A reporter may obtain additional certifications that demonstrate higher levels of competency such as Certified Real-time Reporter (CRR).
Required skills of a court reporter are excellent command of the language being spoken, attention to detail, and the ability to focus for long periods at a time. The most highly skilled court reporters can provide transcription in real time and have significant earning potential.