How to Become a Court Reporter in Arizona

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 plays a vital function within the justice system. For those aspiring to pursue a career as a court reporter in Arizona, obtaining a license is a necessary step.

Below, I will outline the essential pathway to licensure.

Complete Your Education as a Court Reporter in Arizona

Becoming a licensed court reporter necessitates the completion of an accredited training program.

This program should be approved by the Arizona Board of Court Reporting.

To enroll, you must meet the following criteria:

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

Training programs are available in various specializations, including:

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

Future students should ensure that the curriculum is endorsed by the CASE (Council on Approved Student Education).

The curriculum typically encompasses subjects such as:

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

These programs are typically offered at the postsecondary level without conferring a degree.

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

There is just one educational institution in this state that offers an appropriate training program for future court reporters.

University of Arizona

This institution provides a comprehensive course covering court reporting, closed captioning, and CART.

The course is available online, allowing students to study at their own pace.

There are no specific enrollment prerequisites.

The objective of the course is to enable students to achieve a writing speed of up to 225 words per minute.

The program costs $6,104 for those not requiring a steno machine and $7,899 for those who do.

While enrolled, students have access to the CAT program, which they may need to purchase once they start professing.

Obtaining Licensure as a Court Reporter in Arizona

After completing your education, passing an examination is required to obtain a court reporter license.

This must be achieved within one and a half years of completing your training.

During this period, you can apply for a temporary license, which 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) certification

To acquire the official license in Arizona, you must also pass a skills examination.

This exam is offered by the following organizations:

• NCRA
• NVRA
• ACRA

The process involves:

• Paying the appropriate fees: $200 for the license and $50 for the application
• Providing proof of completing the training program
• Submitting the application form

The ACRA test closely resembles both the NCRA and NVRA exams.

While the NCRA skills test can be taken online, the NVRA and ACRA tests must be taken in person.

For those seeking the Registered Professional Reporter designation, the fees are as follows:

• $120 for non-members
• $95 for members
• $77 for student members

The NVRA exam fee is $150.

Aspiring certified verbatim reporters can transfer their Registered Professional Reporter designation by paying a $50 fee.

The Certified Court Reporter (CCR) skills exam costs $75.

This test comprises three sections, each lasting 5 minutes. To pass, candidates must achieve the required word count in these three areas:

• Literary at 180 words per minute
• Jury charge at 200 words per minute
• Testimony/Q&A at 225 words per minute

Candidates are given 75 minutes to transcribe their notes, and a minimum accuracy score of 95% is necessary for success.

A written knowledge exam is also administered for the registered professional reporter certification.

This exam consists of 120 questions covering technology, professional practices, ethics, and reporting practices.

A minimum passing score of 70 is required, and the fees are as follows:

• $220 for non-members
• $195 for members
• $160 for student members

The NVRA exam fee is $125.

Renewing Your Court Reporter License in Arizona

Like many licenses, a court reporter’s license requires periodic renewal.

In Arizona, license renewal is mandated annually on September 30th by the Board.

An email reminder is typically sent around August 1st. There is a grace period until November 30th, after which unrenewed licenses expire.

The renewal process involves the following fees:

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

To renew the license, individuals must complete 5 hours of continuing education each year.

Extra hours can be carried over to the following year.

Continuing education must be obtained through NCRA, NVRA, or ACRA.

Personal development classes are generally not accepted.

Court Reporter Earnings in Arizona

For those intrigued by the profession and curious about potential earnings, the median annual salary for court reporters in Arizona is about $60,548 a year.

The table below highlights cities within the state with the highest median salaries for this occupation.

Keep in mind the salary may differ based on where you live and the employer.

Regional Salary in Arizona

Court Reporter by State