How to Become a Court Reporter in Iowa

A court reporter, also referred to as a court stenographer, real-time writer, or certified shorthand reporter (CSR), is responsible for transcribing all spoken words during legal proceedings, such as trials.

This role holds significant importance within the justice system.

Individuals aspiring to become a court reporter in Iowa need to obtain a license, and in the following sections, I will outline the necessary steps for licensure.

Complete Your Education as a Court Reporter in Iowa

To become licensed, completion of a designated training course is a prerequisite.

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

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

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

The training courses are offered in various areas, including:

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

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

It should cover subjects such as:

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

Typically, the program is at the postsecondary non-degree level, and options include certificate, diploma, associate’s, and bachelor’s programs.

SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

The SUNY College of Technology at Alfred presents two distinct degree programs in the field of court reporting.

These include a 2-year undergraduate certificate program in Court Reporting and Captioning, involving:

• 40 credit hours,
• 2-year Associate of Applied Science program in Court and Realtime Reporting

The AS program has 64 credit hours.

This institution holds the status of a medium-sized public university, annually enrolling over 3,700 undergraduate students.

It boasts a faculty and staff contingent of approximately 400 individuals dedicated to supporting a diverse range of educational programs, totaling more than 80 offerings at the university.

Obtain Licensure as a Court Reporter in Iowa

Upon completion of your education, you are required to pass an examination to obtain your license.

This exam must be successfully completed within 18 months of finishing your training.

During this timeframe, you have the option to acquire a temporary license; however, note that the temporary license cannot be renewed.

You have the opportunity to earn 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 attain the official Iowa license, you must also pass a skills examination from one of the following organizations:

• NCRA
• NVRA
• ACRA

This process entails:

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

The ACRA test closely resembles the NCRA and NVRA exams.

While the NCRA skills test can be taken online, the other two exams are conducted in person.

If your aim is to become a registered professional reporter, the fees are as follows:

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

The NVRA exam fee is $125.

For those interested in becoming a certified verbatim reporter, a $50 transfer fee is applicable if you are already a registered professional reporter.

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

To pass, you must meet the wordcount requirements in the following areas:

• 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 is 95%.

A 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.

Court Reporter License Renewal in Iowa

Court reporter licenses also require renewal.

In Iowa, you need ten hours of continuing education every year.

These 10 hours equate to 1 Continuing Education Unit, as such:

• 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

Furthermore, each agency delineates varying criteria for acceptable continuing education courses, and you can find detailed information on their respective websites.

To ensure your CSR (Certified Shorthand Reporter) remains current, you will need to sustain the same pace, fulfilling a 30-hour (3 units) continuing education requirement every three years.

By September 1st of each year, you must accomplish the following to successfully renew your CSR Certification with the Iowa Board of Examiners of Shorthand Reporters:

• Submit a renewal application
• Pay an $85 renewal fee
• Provide a continuing education form

Court Reporter Salary in Iowa

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

In Iowa, the median annual salary for a court reporter is $59,163.

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

Regional Salary in Iowa

Court Reporter by State