The world of a court reporter is riveting, as you’ll be exposed to several settings, including trials, depositions, and administrative hearings.
It will be your job to ensure that everything said at the meeting is transcribed perfectly in real-time.
You’ll need proper training and a certificate to become a court reporter in Alaska.
Unfortunately, Alaska doesn’t have a place you can go to become a trained court reporter.
However, there are plenty of training sites online where you can gain your certificate.
Below, we’ll introduce everything you need to know to become a court reporter in Alaska.
How to Become a Court Reporter – Step-by-Step
Becoming a court reporter in Alaska is more challenging than in other states.
Other places have in-person training in which you can attain your certificate.
You can get hands-on experience from a trained professional and pass an exam for certification.
However, Alaska doesn’t have any schools that offer this certificate.
Despite this, there is plenty of need for court reporters in the state.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to become a court reporter in Alaska.
Pass the Minimum Requirements
To become a court reporter, you must meet the minimum requirements before training.
This includes being over the age of 18 and having your high school diploma.
In addition, court reporters must be resourceful, consistent, fast, and reliable.
Attend Certification Training
To become a court reporter in Alaska, one must attain the certificate Certified Real-Time Reporter (CRR) from the National Court Reporters Association ((NCRA), have a minimum of one year of professional experience, and have excellent standing with the National Court Reporters Association.
If the applicant doesn’t have good standing, they will not be able to work as a court reporter in Alaska.
Become Certified
Certification requires that you take an accredited course sequence through an approved credentialing authority.
You will need to attend all the classes and maintain a good grade.
After that, you will need to pass a three-part licensing exam.
This includes taking a state exam, a dictation and transcription exam, and a written exam.
These tests will help determine if you’re ready to work in a court reporter position with at least 97.5% accuracy.
If not, you must retake the course and improve your skills.
Each state has requirements, but the national requirement is that applicants must be able to document at least 200 words per minute.
In fact, many states require that you type at least 250 words per minute with high accuracy.
Gain Experience
Once you pass the exam, gaining experience in the field is best.
Other types of jobs require a decent typing speed.
However, you can also gain experience by working on certain cases.
For example, captioning might be less challenging than real-time transcription jobs.
Completing other typing jobs with high accuracy can help boost your chances of getting a court reporter job.
In addition, taking extra internships or classes for specialization can also aid in landing a job.
Network
Many court reporter jobs are given to people who associate with the court.
So, building a professional network with other court reporters, professionals, and court staff can help improve your chances of landing a job.
Plus, you’ll be able to stay current with current job opportunities and industry trends.
Apply
Whether you have prior experience or have networked, you’ll want to start applying.
Your resume should be tailored to a court reporter job listing and showcase skills they would be looking for.
This includes skills such as typing, accuracy, reliability, and more.
Court Reporter Schools in Alaska
Unfortunately, there are no court reporter schools in Alaska.
The state doesn’t have any official place where you can attend classes.
However, you can get a national-level certificate and then apply for internships to gain experience as a court reporter.
Once you’ve done that, you can work as a court reporter for the state.
NCRA
The NCRA provides a list of NCRA-approved programs.
You can find the closest college to you or online classes here.
That way, you can apply for certification and sit for your exams.
Once completed, you can apply to court reporter jobs in Alaska even if the training didn’t occur in the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need state licensing to work as a court reporter in Alaska?
No, you must have a national-level certificate from a qualifying institution.
The coursework and certificate must be approved by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA). Otherwise, the certificate does not count as valid training.
In addition, one must also complete one year of professional experience gained through internships or on-the-job training.
Where can I find more information about becoming a court reporter in Alaska?
The best place to find up-to-date information on becoming a court reporter in Alaska is through the Alaska Court System.
They provide detailed information on how you can become a court reporter.
The document explains all the qualifications, education, and training needed to become an Alaskan court reporter.
Is the job expectancy growing for court reporters in Alaska?
According to Zippia, the job outlook for court reporters is expected to rise 7% between 2018 and 2028.
So, there is room for small growth in Alaska.
However, the job wouldn’t be considered “in high demand” in Alaska due to limited job openings.
The best way to find job openings is to use the Alaska Court System’s career list.
Court Reporter Salary Information
The average salary of court reporters in the United States is $62,459, which falls between $30,904 on the low end and $99,313 on the high end.
However, in Alaska, the average is $68,142, with the low-end being $33,716 and the high-end being $108,350.
The salary rate depends on your company, how many hours you work, and the length of experience.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$49K |
|
$68K |
|
$89K |
Average Salary in Alaska
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Anchorage | $69,592 |
| Juneau | $68,973 |
| Fairbanks | $69,305 |
| Sitka | $68,034 |
| Ketchikan | $68,034 |
| Palmer | $68,654 |
| Kodiak | $68,654 |
| Bethel | $68,654 |
| Wasilla | $68,654 |
| Barrow | $68,366 |
Court Reporter Programs by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Interesting read! I never knew the process to become a court reporter in Alaska could be so intricate. Definitely considering this as a potential career path now.
As someone passionate about both law and language, becoming a court reporter sounds like a perfect fit for me. Thanks for breaking down the steps involved!
Wow, I had no idea about the demand for court reporters in Alaska. This article opened my eyes to a unique career opportunity I hadn’t considered before.
The flexibility and stability of a court reporter career in Alaska seem very appealing. I appreciate the insights into the training and certification requirements.
Thanks for shedding light on the technological advancements shaping the field of court reporting in Alaska. It’s inspiring to see how the profession is evolving.