When choosing a court reporting academy, make sure that the school’s training programs are recognized by licensing or certification authorities in the jurisdiction where one wishes to pursue a court reporting career. After determining whether the academy of court reporting’s course offerings are legitimate, inquire about course costs, schedules, and whether the courses taught address the skills required for the type or types of court reporting that a student wishes to pursue.
The requirements for working as a court reporter differ depending on the jurisdiction. In addition, there are a variety of techniques used in court reporting, each of which can be taught in a different way. In some cases, an aspiring court reporter will need to enroll in a court reporting academy in order to learn a specific technique. On-the-job training is another possibility. Before enrolling in a court reporting academy, applicants should ensure that they are familiar with the various methods of recording courtroom speech and activity so that they can choose the best training options.
Students should check to see if a court reporting academy has been approved to operate by the government agency that oversees school approval in the jurisdiction where it operates. Another good idea is to inquire about the school’s reputation and whether or not court reporters have an opinion on the quality of instruction provided. Potential applicants should also think about how much a court reporting school’s tuition is and whether there are any scholarship or financial aid programs available. Finally, prospective students should learn how a school schedules its classes. If a school does not offer classes at times and locations that are convenient for an applicant, he should look into other options.
In the United States, formal education is not always required to become a court reporter, though maintaining one’s certification as a court reporter may necessitate obtaining continuing education hours. Continuing education courses may be offered by a court reporting academy, a professional society, or court reporting equipment vendors. If you need to renew your court reporter certification, check with your certifying body to see if a course is approved for certification renewal. It’s important to keep in mind that courses and schools approved by one certification body may not be approved by another, so double-checking approval before enrolling in a course is crucial.