Online schools for court reporters offer degrees through two- and four-year options. Others offer certificates. The option you choose depends on the time you have to spend on training and the requirements of the state you will be working in. The folks at Court Reporter Schools recommend that you "check your state's guidelines for the appropriate court reporting training and education requirements." That way, when you are done with training, you will be able to go to work at once.
All court reporting programs help develop your speed and accuracy for reporting. According to Sage College, however, "Embarking in an online court reporting education without fully understanding what the educational process involves can lead to very disappointing and costly results." When searching for an online training program, it's important to know how material is delivered to the student, whether by video, audio, text or a combination. The most effective programs present material through a variety of media and offer opportunities for both individual and group participation.
Taking part in an online court reporter training program requires you to have certain equipment at your disposal. These may vary somewhat from program to program, but most courses require students to have access to a personal computer with high-speed Internet connectivity and a valid email address. Most programs also require a stenotype machine. You should also expect to buy the software and textbooks required for your specific training program.
The United States Department of Labor projects that employment for court reporters will grow by 18 percent between 2008 and 2018, "reflecting the demand for real-time broadcast captioning and translating." Its Occupational Outlook Handbook notes that the outlook for people with court reporter training is excellent, especially for those with certification.
On average, it takes 33 months to become a real-time stenographic court reporter.
The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) has certified more than 60 programs that offer courses in stenotype computer-aided transcription and real-time reporting. These programs require students to capture 225 words per minute.
It pays to do your research before choosing an online court reporter training program. The most important consideration before choosing a program is that it is accredited by the National Court Reporters Associate. If it is not, potential employers likely will not recognize it as a legitimate certificate.
Also note that getting your degree or certificate, online or otherwise, is not all it takes to start working in the field. According to Court Reporter Schools, "To become a certified court reporter, many states require reporters to acquire a state license after attending school. To obtain the license, you must be able to pass a series of tests related to verbatim reporting and accurate typing."