Court Reporting Certificate

5 Semesters - 55 Credit Hours - 75 Academic Weeks

Program Objective: Completers of the Certificate in Court Reporting program are educated for interesting and challenging positions of responsibility and trust as official, freelance, legislative and government reporters, and realtime reporters. They are employed by law firms, court reporting agencies, the government, universities and other educational bodies, and private businesses. Many court reporters work in the freelance field and are self-employed. This skill is used in a variety of occupations within the legal field as well as CART for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Students receiving their Certificate in Court Reporting must complete all classes as well as all graduation requirements.

Graduation Requirements and Program Outcomes

To be eligible for a Certificate in Court Reporting, a student must meet the following requirements: 

1. Earn 55 hours of credit for court reporting, which includes courses in theory, skill development, and other academic areas (See #7 below).
2. Pass nine 5-minute dictation tests from unfamiliar material with at least 95 percent accuracy in the following categories: three 180 literary tests, three 200 jury charge tests, and three 225 two-voice testimony tests following the college’s exit speed requirement policy; 
3. Transcribe simulated CSR/RPR/CVR skills tests at 180 literary, 200 jury charge, 225 testimony with no more than 3.75 hours transcription time (75 minutes per test); 
4. Transcribe a simulated Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR) or Realtime Verbatim Reporter (RVR) test at 180-200 words per minute for five minutes; 
5. Produce a ten-page, first-pass transcript with 95 percent translation within two hours using CAT software; 
6. Complete a practicum (internship) consisting of 60 actual hours of writing time on the shorthand machine and transcribe at least 50 pages from the internship experience; 
7. Pass Court Reporting English, Personal Finance, Advanced Communications, Introduction to Realtime Technology, Court Reporting Processes and Development, Technology I, Advanced Transcript Production, CSR/RPR Preparation; and Courtroom/Court Reporting Practicum.

Students who repeat an SB (skill development) course or exceed the standard time frame may be required to take electives each semester. Electives may include skill development courses or additional English\communications courses. 

Students must achieve an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all courses completed.