How to Become a Court Reporter in Indiana

A court reporter is also referred to as a court stenographer, a real-time writer, or a certified shorthand reporter (CSR).

This professional is responsible for transcribing every spoken word during legal proceedings such as trials.

This role holds significant importance within the justice system.

Individuals aspiring to become court reporters in Indiana need to acquire a license, and I will now present the required pathway for licensure.

Complete Your Education as a Court Reporter in Indiana

Prior to obtaining a license, completion of a suitable training program is essential.

Furthermore, the chosen program must receive approval from the Indiana Board of Court Reporting.

To enroll in such a program, certain criteria must be met:

• Being at least 18 years of age.
• Graduation from high school or possession of a GED.

The training courses can encompass the following areas:

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

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

The curriculum should cover 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.

Various options are available, including certificates, diplomas, associate’s, and bachelor’s programs.

Here are some educational institutions to consider for their court reporter programs.

College of Court Reporting Inc

This college is located in Valparaiso, Indiana.

As the program is offered online, you will also have free time for other activities you may want to do.

The College of Court Reporting (CCR) holds accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).

DEAC authorizes distance education services that fall outside the realm of CCR’s accredited degree or non-degree programs.

These services might encompass continuing education courses, professional development programs, and courses conducted in collaboration with individual enterprises.

Nevertheless, it’s important to note that such distance education offerings are considered to lie beyond the parameters covered by DEAC’s granted accreditation.

Obtain Licensure as a Court Reporter in Indiana

Once your education is successfully completed, you need to pass an examination to obtain your license.

This exam must be passed within 18 months of completing your training.

During this period, you can acquire a temporary license. The temporary license cannot be renewed and is optional.

You have the option to earn one of the following certifications:

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

Both of these certifications hold national recognition.

To acquire the official Indiana license, you must also pass a skills examination from one of the following organizations:

• NCRA
• NVRA
• ACRA

This process involves:

• Payment of appropriate fees
  • $200 for the license
  • $50 for the application
• Providing proof of completion of the training program
• Submission of the application form

The ACRA test closely resembles the NCRA and NVRA exams.

The NCRA skills test can be taken online, while the other two tests are conducted in person.

For individuals pursuing the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification, the fees are as follows:

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

The fee for the NVRA exam is $125.

If aiming for the Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR) certification and you are already a registered professional reporter, you can pay a $50 transfer fee.

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

The test comprises three separate sections, each lasting 5 minutes.

To pass, the wordcount requirements in the following areas must be met:

• Literary at 180 wpm
• Jury charge at 200 wpm
• Testimony/Q&A at 225 wpm

Candidates have 75 minutes to transcribe their notes, and the minimum passing score in Indiana is 95% accuracy.

Additionally, a knowledge-based written exam is required for the Registered Professional Reporter certification.

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

The minimum passing score is 70, and the fees are as follows:

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

The NVRA exam costs $125.

Renewal of Court Reporter License in Indiana

Like many licenses, court reporter licenses require periodic renewal. In Indiana, the licenses should be renewed as follows:

• RPR – Three credits every three years
• CVR – Twenty hours every two years
• CRC – Three credits every three years
• CER/CET – Three credits every three years

The renewal process is associated with a fee:

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

To complete the renewal procedure, individuals must fulfill 5 hours of continuing education each year.

These additional hours can be carried over into the following year.

Continuing education must be obtained through NCRA, NVRA, and ACRA, with personal development classes generally not being accepted.

Court Reporter Salary in Indiana

If you’ve reached this point, your interest in this profession and potential earnings are evident.

In Indiana, the median annual salary for a court reporter is approximately $60,288.

The table below displays cities in Indiana with the highest median salaries for court reporters.

Regional Salary in Indiana

Court Reporter by State