How to Become a Court Reporter in Tennessee

A court reporter, also known as a court stenographer, real-time writer, or certified shorthand reporter (CSR), is responsible for transcribing every spoken word during legal proceedings such as trials.

This role holds significant importance within the justice system, capturing accurate records of proceedings.

Individuals aspiring to become court reporters in Tennessee need to obtain a license, and I will now provide a detailed path to achieve licensure.

Fulfill Your Education Requirements as a Court Reporter in Tennessee

To become licensed, completing a recognized training program is a prerequisite.

These programs must be approved by the Tennessee Board of Court Reporting.

To enroll in such a program, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have graduated from high school or possess a GED

The training programs cover various areas, including:

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

Prospective students must ensure that the curriculum has been approved by the Council on Approved Student Education (CASE).

Subjects covered should include:

• Applied Writing I
• Medical Terminology
• Legal Terminology
• Civil and Criminal Law Terminology
• Realtime Reporting I
• Realtime Reporting II

These programs typically fall within the postsecondary non-degree level.

Certificate, diploma, associate’s, and bachelor’s degree programs are all acceptable.

Below are some educational institutions in Tennessee offering court reporting training.

Downey Adult School

This school is a publicly funded institution that provides a court-reporting certification program.

This certificate program typically spans a duration of 2 to 4 years.

Students pursuing this certification are mandated to complete a rigorous curriculum comprising 1,110 hours of coursework and training each year to meet graduation requirements.

Upon successful completion of this certification, graduates are qualified to work as a Certified Shorthand Court Reporter.

It’s worth noting that Downey Adult School holds accreditations from both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges as well as the Council on Occupational Education, ensuring the quality and credibility of the program.

Green River College

This esteemed college provides prospective court reporters with two distinct degree programs.

The first is a two-year Associate’s degree program in Realtime Transcription, requiring 149 credit hours.

The second option is a four-year Bachelor’s degree program in Realtime Reporting: Court Reporting & Captioning, involving 180 credit hours.

It’s noteworthy that all the court-reporting degree programs offered by Green River College have received accreditation from the National Court Reporters Association, ensuring their quality and industry relevance.

Charles A. Jones Career and Education Center

This educational institution provides a Court Reporting certification program designed to be completed within a 99-week timeframe.

Graduates of this program are qualified to sit for the licensure examination, and upon successful completion of the exam, they can commence their careers as court reporters.

Become Licensed as a Court Reporter in Tennessee

Upon completing the requisite education, passing an examination is essential for obtaining a license.

There is an 18-month window from the completion of training to pass the exam.

During this period, a temporary license can be acquired, but it cannot be renewed.

Two nationally recognized certifications are available:

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

For the actual Tennessee license, passing a skills exam is necessary.

This can be conducted through either NCRA, NVRA, or ACRA (Alliance of California Reporters and Captioners).

The process involves:

• Paying the appropriate fees ($200 for the license, $50 for the application)
• Providing proof of completion of the training program
• Submitting the application form

The skills test for ACRA is quite similar to both NCRA and NVRA exams.

The NCRA skills test can be taken online, whereas the other two must be taken in person.

Costs for certification exams vary, with discounts often available for members of the respective associations.

Renewing Your Court Reporter License in Tennessee

License renewal is a standard requirement, and this applies to court reporters in Tennessee.

The Board mandates annual license renewal by September 30th.

A reminder email is typically sent around August 1st.

A grace period until November 30th is provided, beyond which unrenewed licenses expire.

Renewal fees depend on the timing:

• $200 for on-time renewals
• $240 until September 31st
• $280 by November 30th

Five hours of continuing education are obligatory each year for renewal, and any extra hours can carry over to the following year.

These hours must be earned through recognized organizations like NCRA, NVRA, and ACRA.

Court Reporter Salary in Tennessee

For those curious about court reporter salaries in Tennessee, the median annual income stands around $56,832.

Here is a breakdown of cities within the state with the highest median salaries for this profession.

Court Reporter by State