Now is the perfect time for high school students unsure about committing to the time and cost related to attending a four-year traditional college to consider a career in stenographic court reporting or captioning.
The job opportunities are plentiful, schedules are flexible, and earning potential high. NCRA, the country’s leading organization representing stenographic court reporters and captioners, offers a free program to learn the basics of writing on a stenograph machine to see if this career choice could be the right path to a successful profession.
NCRA’s A to Z Intro to Steno Machine Shorthand program is an introductory course in stenography. It provides participants with the opportunity to learn the basics of writing on a steno machine. There is no charge to take the course, but participants must have access to a steno machine or an iPad they can use to download the iStenoPad app. Steno machines are available to rent through one of NCRA’s vendors.
The program is a hybrid course combining both live online instructor sessions with videos and dictation materials for self-paced practice. During the six-week program, experienced court reporters teach participants the alphabet in steno and how to write on a machine. Participants in the NCRA A to Z program are taught by volunteer professionals working in the court reporting and captioning arenas. These program leaders also share insights into the many aspects of court reporting and captioning that make it a viable profession, including good salaries, flexibility, interesting venues, and the increasing demand for more reporters and captioners to meet the growing number of employment opportunities available in the field.
“I encourage anyone looking for a rewarding, exciting, flexible career with endless opportunities for growth and earning potential, to consider a career as a stenographic court reporter or captioner,†said NCRA President Christine Phipps, RPR, a firm owner from North Palm Beach, Fla.
“You may find yourself seated on the floors of Congress capturing the official record or appearing in court each day to work with judges and attorneys to ensure all testimony and proceedings are accurately captured. If you love watching television, attending the theater, sporting events or other entertainment outings, then becoming a stenographic captioner could offer you the chance to work from home or put you ringside, field side, or even stage side to caption an event to provide accessibility to members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. The job also offers ample opportunities to travel internationally,†Phipps added.
“I love being a stenographer because every day is different than the one before. I get to hear a little snippet of all walks of life, everything from serial killers to Super Bowl football players. It’s fascinating!†said NCRA member Amy Doman, RPR, CRR, a freelance court reporter from Carmel, Ind.
“Each day I’m able to challenge myself to write better, cleaner, faster, and more efficiently; so, it never gets boring. Over the last 30 years, it has been a career that has served me through all phases of my life, from a young, hardworking professional to mother of young children, and now as a mom of college kiddos. I’m excited for the future of our profession,†she added.
Phipps said her first career was in banking, which paid the bills, but that she found the confines of corporate America were stifling, So she left at age 25 to complete her degree in court reporting.
Today, Phipps Reporting, based in West Palm Beach, Fla., has ranked on Inc. magazine’s top 5000 list for seven consecutive years. Her firm’s principals have been providing service to the legal community for more than 30 years. The firm delivers worldwide court reporting, videography, interpreting, and process services for clients that range from solo practitioners to Fortune 500 companies. Phipps Reporting is a certified Green Business with locations internationally and across the United States and has an expansive network of more than 2,000 court reporters and 500 affiliate firms.
“I am so fortunate that I chose a career in court reporting. It has enabled me to grow personally and professionally and taken me down the path to becoming a successful business owner with the ability to give back to others,†Phipps said.
A career in court reporting or captioning is also a viable choice for military members post service, their spouses, career changers, or college graduates who decide their chosen field was not the right one for them. If you are interested in taking the program online, please visit www.atozdiscoversteno.org. For information about the program read frequently asked questions or contact [email protected].
There is currently an increasing demand for more reporters and captioners to meet the growing number of employment opportunities available nationwide and abroad. Court reporters and captioners rely on the latest in technology to use stenographic machines to capture the spoken word and translate it into written text in real time. These professionals work both in and out of the courtroom recording legal cases and depositions, providing live captioning of events, and assisting members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities with gaining access to information, entertainment, educational opportunities, and more.
To arrange an interview with a working court reporter or captioner, or a current court-reporting student, or to learn more about the lucrative and flexible court reporting or captioning professions and the many job opportunities currently available, contact [email protected].