There is currently a massive shortage of court reporters throughout the country, and since more than 70 percent of working court reporters in the United States are over the age of 46, the shortage is only going to get worse in the next few years. Court reporters, who ensure that an accurate transcript of deposition or courtroom

proceedings is created to protect the rights of all parties, are an integral part of the justice system.
Here are four reasons you should consider becoming a court reporter, either for your first profession or a mid-life change.

1.    Training is shorter and less expensive than other specialized professions.

While many specialized professions require either a college degree then post-graduate education or a diploma from a trade school followed by years of apprenticeship, your training to become a certified court reporter can be completed in as little as six months (depending upon the method you choose and whether you pass the certification exam on your first attempt). Digital court reporting takes the least amount of time, followed by voice writing. Training to obtain certification as a stenotype reporter takes the longest amount of time, with an average of two years. Many court reporting training courses now take place online and, compared to the cost of a four-year degree, court reporting school is a bargain. Some new reporters spend as much money purchasing their equipment as they do for tuition.

2.    Flexible Hours and Travel

Freelance court reporters can choose the number of deposition assignments they accept from the agencies they contract with to create a full-time, part-time, or sometime income. This flexibility makes court reporting an ideal career for caregivers or parents who wish to work only when the kids are in school. Courtroom-based reporters’ schedules are more rigid, but generally offer more vacation days and paid holidays than the corporate world. Some court reporters even travel throughout their state or region of the country taking depositions or recording hearings.

3.    Consistent Demand

Court reporting as a profession originated in ancient times, when court reporters were called scribes. The technology changes over time – for example, court reporters no longer take down the record using manual shorthand – but as long as there are courtrooms and lawsuits there will be a need for court reporters to serve as impartial guardians of the record.

4.    High Income Potential

The median salary for a court reporter in a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics study was $49,500 per year. Depending on the type of court reporting one chooses and whether a reporter pursues a realtime certification, that number can easily be doubled.

If you’re interested in learning more about court reporting schools, here are links to schools compiled by the three main court reporting certification organizations.
NCRA:  https://www.ncra.org/home/students-teachers/Schools-and-programs/ncra-approved-court-reporting-programs
NVRA:  https://nvra.org/nvra-education-resources-listings
AAERT:  https://www.aaert.org/page/ApprovedSchools