How to Become a Court Reporter in Connecticut

A court reporter is also referred to as a court stenographer, real-time writer, or certified shorthand reporter (CSR).

Their role involves transcribing every spoken word during legal proceedings, such as trials.

This underscores the significant contribution of a court reporter to the functioning of the justice system.

For those interested in pursuing a career as a court reporter in Connecticut, obtaining a license is a pivotal step.

In the following sections, I will outline the essential pathway to licensure, so continue reading to learn more!

Complete Your Education as a Court Reporter in Connecticut

Attaining a license necessitates the completion of a recognized training program.

Furthermore, the chosen program must receive approval from the Connecticut Board of Court Reporting.

To enroll in such a program, you need to:

• Be 18 years old
• Have obtained a high school diploma or a GED equivalent

The training programs encompass various areas of specialization, including:

• CART/Captioning
• Judicial Reporting
• Scoping/Proofreading
• Professional Transcription
• Office Assistant
• Court and Realtime Reporting

Options range from certificate and diploma programs to associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, all of which are accepted.

Here are some institutions you may consider for your training.

University of Connecticut

This university provides an Associate in Applied Science degree in Court Reporting Technology, tailored for individuals aspiring to become court reporters.

Enrollment is typically limited to the fall semester, and several graduation requirements are in place.

The primary requirement is to achieve at least a “C” grade in the following areas:

• All Court Reporting courses
• Any other courses mandated by NCRA’s Council

Additionally, students are expected to achieve a minimum accuracy of 96% in four separate 5-minute tests.

These tests encompass:

• 225 words per minute testimony (two-voice)
• 200 words per minute jury charge
• 180 words per minute literary

Furthermore, a mandatory 50-hour internship is required, with 40 hours dedicated to writing.

Obtaining Licensure as a Court Reporter in Connecticut

After completing your education, passing an examination is crucial to obtaining your license.

You have a window of 18 months from the completion of your training to achieve this.

During this period, you have the option to obtain a temporary license, although this option cannot be renewed.

You can choose to pursue one of the following certifications:

• NCRA’s Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification
• NVRA’s (National Verbatim Reporters Association) Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR) certification

Both of these certifications hold national recognition.

To secure the official license in Connecticut, you will also need to pass a skills exam, which can be administered by any of the following organizations:

• NCRA
• NVRA
• ACRA

This involves the following steps:

• Submission of the required fees
  • $200 for the license
  • $50 for the application
• Providing evidence of completing the training program
• Completion of the application form

The ACRA examination closely mirrors the NCRA and NVRA exams in structure.

The NCRA skills test is available for online completion, while the NVRA and ACRA exams require in-person attendance.

For those aiming to attain the Registered Professional Reporter designation, the associated fees are as follows:

• $120 for individuals without membership
• $95 for members
• $77 for student members

The NVRA examination incurs a fee of $125.

For individuals seeking the certified verbatim reporter title, a transfer fee of $50 can be paid if you are already a registered professional reporter.

The Certified Court Reporter (CCR) skills exam carries a fee of $75.

This exam comprises three distinct sections, each lasting five minutes.

To pass, you must achieve the word count requirements in these three domains:

• Literary transcription at 180 words per minute
• Jury charge transcription at 200 words per minute
• Testimony/Q&A transcription at 225 words per minute

Candidates are granted a 75-minute timeframe to transcribe their notes, with a minimum passing accuracy score of 95% in Connecticut.

An additional written knowledge exam is required for those pursuing the registered professional reporter certification.

This comprehensive assessment encompasses 120 questions spanning topics such as technology, professional practices, ethics, and reporting methodologies.

A minimum passing score of 70 is required, accompanied by the following fee structure:

• $220 for individuals without membership
• $195 for members
• $160 for student members

The NVRA examination carries a fee of $125.

Renewing Your Court Reporter License in Connecticut

After getting your certification, you need to acquire continuing education credits to ensure its current status:

• The RPR necessitates 3 credits every three years.
• The CRC mandates 3 credits every three years.
• The CVR requires 20 credits every two years.
• The CER/CET entails 30 hours every three years.

Each of these organizations provides ample recommendations to fulfill the obligatory minimums.

However, there’s merit in considering membership in the Connecticut Court Reporters Association (CCRA).

This association offers not only opportunities for ongoing education but also networking events and professional advocacy, all accessible for an annual fee of $125.

Court Reporter Earnings in Connecticut

After obtaining your license, you might naturally want to explore the potential earnings as a court reporter in Connecticut.

The average annual salary for professionals in this field in Connecticut is approximately $66,631.

A glance at the provided table below will offer a better grasp of the salary ranges within the court reporting profession in this state.

Court Reporter by State