How to Become a Court Reporter in Kentucky

Shorthand reporter (CSR), plays a pivotal role in legal proceedings by transcribing every spoken word during trials and other legal processes.

This critical function positions court reporters as integral components of the justice system.

For those aspiring to pursue a career in court reporting in Kentucky, a mandatory licensure process is in place, and I will guide you through the essential steps.

Education Path for Becoming a Court Reporter in Kentucky

To obtain a license, aspiring court reporters must first complete a certified training program.

The program’s approval by the Kentucky Board of Court Reporting is a prerequisite.

Additionally, candidates must meet the following criteria to enroll in a program:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent

These training courses cover various specialized areas, including:

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

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

The curriculum is designed to encompass subjects such as:

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

These training programs typically fall under the postsecondary, non-degree category.

Various options are available, ranging from certificates and diplomas to associate’s and bachelor’s degrees.

Here are a couple of educational institutions in Kentucky that you might consider for your court reporting training.

Cypress College

This school is situated in California and is a sizable public educational institution.

Given its location, you can attend classes online.

It provides a variety of court reporting programs, including a 1-year Court Reporting Certificate, a 1-year Captioning Certificate, and a 2.5-year Associate of Science Degree in Court Reporting.

All these court reporting programs at Cypress College have received accreditation from the National Court Reporting Association.

The programs are varied and flexible, so there is something for everyone.

Certification and Licensure Process in Kentucky

After completing your education, the next step involves passing an examination to attain your license.

You will have an 18-month window to accomplish this after concluding your training.

During this period, you may opt for a temporary license, although renewal of the temporary license is not feasible.

There are two nationally recognized certifications you can earn:

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

For the official license in Kentucky, you must also successfully complete a skills exam.

This exam is administered by one of the following organizations:

• NCRA
• NVRA
• ACRA

The process involves submitting the appropriate fees, and some documents:

• $200 for the license
• $50 for the application
• Verification of graduation from the training program
• Completion of the application form

While the ACRA test shares similarities with both the NCRA and NVRA exams, the NCRA skills test can be taken online, whereas the others require in-person participation.

Fee structure for aspiring Registered Professional Reporters:

• Non-member: $120
• Member: $95
• Student member: $77

For the NVRA exam, the fee is $125.

Transitioning from a registered professional reporter to a certified verbatim reporter incurs a transfer fee of $50.

The Certified Court Reporter (CCR) skills exam, costing $75, comprises three sections, each lasting five minutes.

Success entails reaching specified word counts in these categories:

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

Candidates have 75 minutes to transcribe their notes, and a minimum accuracy score of 95% is required to pass.

There’s an additional written knowledge exam for registered professional reporters, encompassing 120 questions covering technology, professional practices, ethics, and reporting practices.

A minimum passing score of 70 is required.

The fee for this exam is as follows:

• Non-member: $220
• Member: $195
• Student member: $160

Renewal of a Court Reporter License in Kentucky

License renewal is a standard requirement, applicable also to court reporters.

In Kentucky, the Board mandates an annual license renewal by September 30th.

An email reminder is usually sent around August 1st.

A grace period is granted until November 30th, post which unrenewed licenses expire.

The renewal process entails a fee, which is determined by the renewal timeline:

• On-time renewal: $200
• Renewals until September 31st: $240
• Renewals by November 30th: $280

To facilitate renewal, court reporters must complete five hours of continuing education each year.

Additional hours can be carried over into the subsequent year.

These hours should be acquired through recognized organizations like NCRA, NVRA, and ACRA.

It’s essential to note that personal development classes are typically not accepted for this requirement.

Court Reporter Salaries in Kentucky

If you’ve followed along, your interest in court reporting and its remuneration is likely piqued.

In Kentucky, the median annual salary for court reporters stands at approximately $58,174.

If you’re curious about the cities offering the highest median salaries for this occupation, refer to the provided salary table.

Regional Salary in Kentucky

Court Reporter by State