How Certification Can Improve Your Reporting Reputation

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, a court reporter is not required to obtain any specific license or certification. The National Court Reporter’s Association (NCRA) sets national certification standards for court reporting, but Virginia courts look to the Virginia Court Reporting Association (VCRA) for experience, education, and certification standards when hiring court reporters. As such, although a certification is helpful, it is not required.

Canny court reporters will tell you that certification can greatly benefit your reputation and boost your chances of being hired, however.

credentialsThe Primary Certification Steps for Your Career Benefit

When deciding whether to pursue a certification, there are three options you may want to consider—all of which require extensive representation of your skills. They include choosing the commitment to pursue a certification degree, to work toward a certifiable diploma, or to submit certified letters of recommendation to prove your court reporting qualifications.

  • Degree certification. One of the ways to acquire a certification title is to provide proof that you have successfully completed an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in one of the following programs: court reporting, real-time reporting, or verbatim reporting.
  • Diploma certification. The second option for certification involves providing proof that you successfully completed an accredited diploma program from the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) or the National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA).
  • Recommendation certification. The third option to become a Virginia Certified Court Reporter involves proof of skill through accredited letters of recommendation from at least three current Virginia Bar members. These members need to be in good standing with the Virginia Bar, and the letters should attest to the quality of your abilities to effectively perform and complete the duties required of you.

Once you have established your primary credentials, you can then further your development by completing the last two certification steps.

Final Certification Steps

The way you confirm your worth as a court reporter is the same basic process that got you through high school and college: you do your homework and you pass a test. Only for a court reporter, those two tasks are someone specialized:

  • Acquire experience. This is the analogy for “homework.” Once you have gathered the necessary education to develop your court reporting skills, you must then gather accredited experience. In order to finish your certification requirements, you must be employed by a certified NCRA, NVRA (National Verbatim Reporting Association), or VCRA court reporting employer for at least two years, whereupon you’ll be expected to demonstrate satisfactory job performance.
  • Pass the examination. The final step in pursuing a certification title is to complete the necessary certification exam for your field. You must pass either the Registered Professional Reporter or Certified Verbatim Reporter exam to receive a court reporting certification in Virginia. Furthermore, if you do not pass the exam on the first try, you must continue to test at least once per calendar year until you succeed.

Once you have completed these steps, you can send the required documents and proof of completion (along with an application fee—currently $50) to the Virginia Court Reporter’s Association:

VCRA Certification Program
P.O. Box 3325
Portsmouth, VA 23701

Following verification of your documents, you will then receive notification of your certification status.

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NCRA Certification Benefits for Court Reporters

How an Advanced Certification Can Improve Your Career as a Court Reporter

Court reporting is a difficult job and requires exceptional listening, transcription, and perception skills. An attorney does not want to put his case into the hands of a court reporter who can only capture the gist of a deposition. In order for a transcript to be useful, it must be 100% accurate and 100% complete—it can’t be sorta correct or kinda done. In order to ensure integrity, attorneys need to be able to rely on diligence and experience from their court reporters.

This is where certification comes into play.

The NCRAcertified-seal-gold

The National Court Reporter’s Association (NCRA) is a national organization dedicated to the advancement of the court reporting profession. In addition to providing information and guidance to court reporters, it sets national certification standards for court reporting. Since 1937, the NCRA certification program has been nationally recognized and administered throughout the nation in order to ensure court reporters are qualified. In fact, 22 states (not including Virginia) use the NCRA program (NCRP) in lieu of state certification or licensing exams.

Certification Benefits

Virginia is a voluntary certification state when it comes to court reporting. In other words, court reporters in Virginia do not need to be certified in order to be hired. However, by choosing to participate in the NCRP, or a similar certification program, Virginian court reporters can strengthen their reputations and credibility. It’s not enough to just tell your clients and employer that you’ve got the skills—you need to be able to show them.

A proper certification can:

  • Showcase your skills. A certification from the NCRA will verify that you not only learned, but mastered, the qualifying skills to complete the rigorous program. Without a certification, employers may not be able to verify your skills—and their inability to verify may come with an inability to trust your skills.
  • Illustrate your determination. By volunteering to learn advanced techniques, you show a higher determination for excellence. Employers will know that you won’t just commit to doing the bare minimum—you’ll go above and beyond to make sure your skills (and their transcripts) are cutting edge.
  • Build recognition. An advanced certification brings with it an air of importance. Much like an advanced degree, a certification sticks out to employers and tells them that you’re a go-getter, rather than just another cookie-cutter applicant.
  • Enhance your career. Getting an employer to recognize your skills and determination is the stepping-stone you need to bypass other applicants and pave your way to a better career.

For information on court reporting certifications or to get in contact with a certified court reporter, call us at (703) 837-0076. We’re dedicated not only to providing superior information and service but also in making sure your court reporting experience is a success. Don’t hesitate; call now!

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RPR, CRR, and Other Types of Court Reporting Certifications

What Kinds of Certifications Should I Look for in a Federal Court Reporter?

Accredited_sealYou may have noticed a string of letters trailing after your court reporter’s signature, but never really looked past the official certification. However, there is a wide range of professional certifications that court reporters may hold, and each one can provide a significant benefit, depending on the types of cases you take.

Types of Professional Certifications Held by Court Reporters

If you have ever outsourced your reporting or transcription services, you know that there are many different skill levels depending on who does your court reporting. There are a few designations obtained through the National Court Reporters Association that can help attorneys determine who is most qualified to perform certain work, such as:

  • Registered Professional Reporter (RPR). One of the most basic reporting certifications is passing the RPR exam. This is a skills test on literary phrases, question responses, and jury charge material and must be given at a speed of up to 225 words per minute. Reporters must also pass general knowledge tests involving court reporting practices, professionalism, and technology platforms. In addition, reporters must complete three continuing education units every three years to maintain RPR status.
  • Registered Merit Reporter (RMR). RMRs carry all of the qualifications as RPRs, but RMRs have passed their speed skills tests with a score of 240 words per minute or better.
  • Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR). CRRs have additional skills in instant voice-to-text (known as realtime) transcription. These reporters are required to pass a test accurately transcribing in realtime at speeds up to 200 words per minute, and must complete three continuing education units every three years.
  • Certified CART Provider (CCP). Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is an assistive technology that allows hearing-impaired individuals to read spoken dialogue in real time. A CCP must be able to deliver realtime reporting in CART software at speeds between 180-225 words per minute, as well as completing three continuing education units every three years.

If you are looking for a court reporter to perform state, local, or federal government work, our reporters have a variety of experience and certifications to meet your needs. Please visit our Online Scheduler page to make a request.

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