How to Become a Court Reporter in Nevada

A court reporter is known by various names, including a court stenographer, real-time writer, or certified shorthand reporter (CSR).

They meticulously transcribe every spoken word during trials and other legal proceedings.

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

Individuals aspiring to become court reporters must obtain a license, and here, I will guide you through the essential pathway for licensure, so keep reading!

Pursue Your Education as a Court Reporter in Nevada

Before obtaining a license, completion of a training program is a prerequisite.

Furthermore, the program must gain approval from the Nevada Board of Court Reporting.

However, to join such a program, certain prerequisites must be met:

• Being at least 18 years old
• Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent

Training courses can be specialized in the following domains:

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

Prospective students must ensure that the curriculum has received endorsement from CASE (Council on Approved Student Education).

It should encompass subjects like:

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

Generally, these programs are postsecondary and non-degree programs.

Various options are available for prospective students, ranging from certificate and diploma programs to associate’s and bachelor’s degrees.

Consider these institutions for your training.

Charles A. Jones Career and Education Center

This establishment provides a Court Reporting certification program that requires completion within a span of 99 weeks.

Once individuals successfully finish this certification, they become qualified to take the licensure exam.

Upon passing the exam, they are then eligible to commence their career as court reporters.

The Charles A. Jones Career and Education Center (CAJ) was established in 1967.

It operates under the collaborative oversight of the State of California Department of Education (CDE) and the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD).

Attain Your License as a Court Reporter in Nevada

Upon completion of your education, passing an examination is a prerequisite for licensure.

You have 18 months following your training to accomplish this.

During this period, you can apply for a temporary license, which cannot be renewed.

Two nationally recognized certifications are available:

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

To obtain a Nevada license, passing a skills exam is also essential.

This examination can be administered by any of the following organizations:

• NCRA
• NVRA
• ACRA

This process entails:

• Paying the appropriate fees, including a $200 license fee and a $50 application fee
• Presenting proof of completion of the training program
• Completing the application form

The ACRA test closely mirrors the NCRA and NVRA exams.

The NCRA skills test is accessible online, while the other two can only be taken in person.

For aspiring registered professional reporters, the fees are as follows:

• $120 if not a member
• $95 for members
• $77 for student members

The NVRA exam carries a fee of $125.

For those pursuing certified verbatim reporter status, a $50 transfer fee is applicable if already a registered professional reporter.

The Certified Court Reporter (CCR) skills exam carries a fee of $75.

The exam comprises three sections, each lasting 5 minutes.

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

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

Candidates are allotted 75 minutes to transcribe their notes, with a minimum passing accuracy of 95% in Nevada.

Furthermore, a knowledge written exam is required for the registered professional reporter certification, encompassing 120 questions on technology, professional practices, ethics, and reporting practices.

The minimum passing score is 70, with fees as follows:

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

The NVRA exam carries a fee of $125.

Renewing Your Court Reporter License in Nevada

Similar to many licenses, court reporters must renew their licensure periodically.

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

Around August 1st, a reminder email will be sent.

A grace period extends until November 30th, beyond which unrenewed licenses expire.

Renewal necessitates a fee, structured as follows:

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

Moreover, individuals must complete 5 hours of continuing education annually for license renewal.

Excess hours can be carried over to the subsequent year.

These hours must be fulfilled through NCRA, NVRA, and ACRA.

Court Reporter Salary in Nevada

If you’ve reached this point, your interest in the field of court reporting and potential earnings is evident.

In Nevada, you will earn about $62,489 per year, on average.

The table below illustrates cities with the highest median salaries for this occupation.

Regional Salary in Nevada

Court Reporter by State