Is it hard to become a court reporter?

How long does it take to become a court reporter?

• Answer:

  Eighteen to 48 months. 18 months for the bright, talented student going to school full time and giving a great effort, including practicing skills whenever possible. In addition, a history of having had music lessons for a fingered instrument such as a piano, and a knack for language and vocabulary might make an 18-month completion possible for a very few students. Many court reporting schools are based on an initial 24-month plan of study. Some students must continue practicing longer than such a basic program in order to reach the speed required by the school to be considered as having completed the program. 36 months is probably the average time for the student who brings with him or her average motor skills and some previous exposure to vocabulary and language learning, and who practices as often as assigned (daily). 48 months for the student who continues to persevere in spite of less-than-optimal finger/hand/motor skills, or who had no previous skills in vocabulary and/or exposure to language learning, or whose practicing time is limited by constraints such as occasional part-time work, family responsibilities, or perhaps a very short interruption in schooling due to an emergency. Successful completion of court reporting school comes easier to some than to others. By all accounts, it's considered a rather difficult course of training. Much time is required for practicing. It can be very frustrating to a student who feels that he or she is not advancing in speed and/or accuracy. These performance plateaus are common, however, and eventually resolve, with persistence. Attrition (dropping out) is common. Talk to your recruiter, counselor or other school personnel and/or advisors before and during your journey. They want you to succeed, and their experience and knowledge can help you stay on track.