The requirements for becoming a stenographer differ depending on the jurisdiction in which he intends to work. In most places, however, a person who wants to work as a stenographer must first complete high school or obtain a general educational equivalent (GED) diploma. Many people who want to pursue this career after high school enroll in a court reporting or stenography program in college. In order to prepare for this career, some people may enroll in a transcription degree program. Some business, trade, or vocational schools, in addition to community colleges, offer programs for those interested in this field.
A stenographer is someone who works in the legal, medical, or scientific fields and is responsible for transcribing proceedings. People in this profession use a stenography machine to transcribe proceedings using a combination of typing and shorthand skills. Because proceedings and conversations must be transcribed precisely, accuracy is essential in this job. The stenographer is usually forbidden from paraphrasing or simply summarizing what he has heard, and he must also type quickly. In fact, a stenographer may be required to type at speeds of more than 200 words per minute.
A stenographer’s education may begin in high school. A person who is interested in this job should take high school classes to improve his grammar and spelling skills. Because typing is such an important part of this job, anyone interested in becoming a stenographer should take typing classes in high school. Unless they are part of his stenography training, he may find it beneficial to take typing classes through a community college or vocational school if he has not taken these classes or performed poorly in high school.
The courses that a person will take in order to become a stenographer will differ. However, most aspiring stenographers will study legal and medical terminology. Frequently, these programs also cover the most common types of stenographic software. A stenographer must also learn the steno language as well as how to operate a stenotype machine, which typically has 22 keys.
A person interested in becoming a stenographer may need to pass his or her jurisdiction’s exam after completing their training. After passing the test, the test taker may be awarded a license or certification. In some states, instead of becoming a stenographer, a person may need to become a notary public passing an exam.