Court Reporting: Certificate of Achievement

Description

The Court Reporting Program is designed to provide students with the academic foundation and technical training to be certified shorthand reporters. The Program prepares students to take the California Court Reporters’ Board examination for certification. The listed courses meet the requirements of the Court Reporter’s Board of California.

The Program offers a Certificate of Achievement and an Associate in Science in Court Reporting. For an Associate in Science degree, additional general education requirements must be met. Upon passing school requirements for state certification, students will be eligible to take the Certified Shorthand Reporter examination.

Academic courses completed in adult education or a private court reporting school are not transferable.

To earn an Associate in Science Degree in Court Reporting, students must complete: (1) all court reporting course requirements with a minimum grade of “C” in each course; (2) 39-49 units of General Education Graduation Requirements with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; (3) achieve a minimum of 200 WPM shorthand speed; and (4) have a demonstrated keyboarding speed of 45 WPM.

Earnings Potential

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for court reporters and simultaneous captioners was $60,380 in May 2021. Despite limited employment growth, about 2,000 openings for court reporters and simultaneous captioners are projected each year, on average, from 2021 to 2031.1

1 “Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 8 Sept. 2022. www.bls.gov/ooh. Accessed 19 April 2023.

Program Requirements

For Court Reporting Program Requirements, see course requirements. Please note: This link goes to the Taft College Catalog, an external website. Plan to return to the Taft College website.

State Requirements

The Court Reporters Board of California issues a certificate upon successful completion of the following requirements and passing of the state examination. The apprenticeship hours are embedded within the program.

Requirements Hours
English and Vocabulary 240
Medical 120
Legal 150
Transcript Procedures 25
Apprenticeship Training 60
Technology 60
Resource Materials 5
Total Minimum Prescribed Academic Hours 660
Total Machine Shorthand and Transcription Hours 2300

Program Learning Outcome

Students completing their course of study will be able to:

  1. Effectively perform routine court reporting duties.
  2. Pass the California Court Reporters Board Examination for Licensure.
  3. Apply appropriate ethical behavior in the profession.
  4. Exhibit professional qualities and attitude.

For more information:

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