How to Become a Court Reporter in Hawaii

A court reporter, alternatively known as a court stenographer, real-time writer, or certified shorthand reporter (CSR), plays a vital role by transcribing every spoken word during legal proceedings.

Their significant contribution is integral to the justice system.

For those aspiring to join this profession, securing a license is a necessary step, and in this article, I will outline the essential pathway to licensure.

Complete Your Education as a Court Reporter in Hawaii

Before pursuing licensure, completion of a training program is essential.

It’s imperative that the chosen program is approved by the Hawaii Board of Court Reporting.

To enroll in such a program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have graduated from high school or hold a GED

Training programs can specialize in various areas, including CART/Captioning, Judicial Reporting, Scoping/Proofreading, Professional Transcription, Office Assistant, and Court and Realtime Reporting.

Prospective students should ensure that their chosen curriculum has received approval from the Council on Approved Student Education (CASE).

This curriculum should encompass subjects such as Applied Writing I, Medical Terminology, Legal Terminology, Civil and Criminal Law Terminology, Realtime Reporting I, and Realtime Reporting II.

The training program is typically offered at the postsecondary level, spanning certificates, diplomas, associate’s, and bachelor’s degrees.

Let’s have a look at the schools with classes for future court reporters.

Hawaii Pacific University

This university offers a comprehensive online class for court reporting, closed captioning, and CART.

Enrollment has no specific prerequisites.

The program aims to develop writing skills up to 225 words per minute.

Costs vary depending on the need for a steno machine, ranging from $6,104 to $7,899.

Students gain access to the CAT program during enrollment but may need to purchase it for their professional careers.

Maui Community College

Offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Court Reporting Technology.

Enrollment takes place during the fall semester and has specific graduation requirements.

Graduates must score at least a “C” in all Court Reporting courses and any other courses mandated by NCRA’s Council.

Additionally, they need to achieve a minimum accuracy of 96% in four tests of five minutes each, involving different speeds and styles.

A mandatory internship of 50 hours, with 40 hours focused on writing, is also required.

Become Licensed as a Court Reporter in Hawaii

After completing your education, passing an exam is essential to obtain your license.

You have 18 months from completing your training to fulfill this requirement.

Obtaining a temporary license is possible as well, but it will expire at the end of this period.

This temporary credential cannot be renewed.

You have the opportunity to obtain either of the following certifications:

• NCRA’s Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification
• NVRA’s (National Verbatim Reporters Association) Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR)

Both certifications are nationally recognized.

To obtain your official Hawaii court reporter license, you must also successfully pass a skills exam.

This exam can be administered by organizations such as NCRA, NVRA, or ACRA.

The process involves:

• Payment of necessary fees: $200 for the license and $50 for the application
• Providing proof of graduation from the training program
• Completing the application form

While the ACRA test closely resembles the NCRA and NVRA exams, the NCRA skills test is available online, whereas the others require in-person attendance.

The fee for the exams varies based on membership status:

• NCRA RPR exam: $120 (non-member), $95 (member), $77 (student member)
• NVRA CVR exam: $125

The Certified Court Reporter (CCR) skills exam, with a fee of $75, consists of three sections, each lasting five minutes.

Success entails achieving specific word counts in the literary, jury charge, and testimony/Q&A segments.

For the registered professional reporter, a written knowledge exam is also required.

With 120 questions covering technology, professional practices, ethics, and reporting practices, a minimum passing score of 70 is needed.

The fee structure for this exam is as follows:

• $220 (non-member)
• $195 (member)
• $160 (student member)

Renewing Your Court Reporter License in Hawaii

License renewal is a regular requirement for most professions, including court reporters.

In Hawaii, the Board mandates an annual license renewal by September 30th, with a reminder email typically sent around August 1st.

A grace period is allowed until November 30th, after which unrenewed licenses expire.

Renewal fees vary based on timing:

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

For license renewal, five hours of continuing education are necessary each year, with the option to roll over extra hours to the following year.

These education hours must be completed through accredited organizations like NCRA, NVRA, and ACRA.

Court Reporter Salaries in Hawaii

For those intrigued by the court reporter profession and its earning potential, the median annual salary in Hawaii is approximately $64,863.

You should remember that your income will be affected by your location, the type of credentials you own, as well as experience.

The table below provides insight into cities within the state with the highest median salaries for court reporters.

Court Reporter by State