Court reporters have a crucial role in the legal system.
As a court reporter, you’ll be responsible for documenting each word spoken in any court proceedings.
You’ll need excellent listening and hearing skills, attention to detail, and manual dexterity to be a good court reporter.
However, it’s a lucrative career and provides you with job security.
How to Become a Court Reporter in Kansas
Becoming a court reporter in Kansas takes a few years of hard work.
You’ll begin with a court reporter training program.
Then, you can get an NCRA certification or pass the Kansas court reporter exam.
Complete a Court Reporter Training Program
A court reporter training program allows you to learn the skills you’ll need to be a court reporter.
You’ll learn about legal procedures, ethics, and how to use a steno machine.
Most court reporter training programs take two years to complete.
Get a National Certification
Once you’ve completed a training program, you can get your NCRA certification.
The NCRA National Court Reporters Association offers an RPR (Registered Professional Reporter).
You can also get an NVRA (National Verbatim Reporters Association) CVR (Certified Verbatim Reporter).
This isn’t required to take the Kansas exam, as long as you have completed a training program, but these certifications are useful.
Apply for Examination
Once you’ve completed a training program, you are eligible to take the Kansas Court Reporter examination given by the Kansas Court Reporters Association.
You’ll complete the application and pay a $125 fee.
In addition to the application, you’ll need to provide a certificate or degree from an approved training program, or a copy of your CVR or RPR certification.
You’ll also include three statements of character from people who have known you for at least 5 years.
These must be notarized.
The exam is administered two times a year in October and April.
You can sign up for a practice test before you take the exam as well.
Take and Pass the Exam
The Kansas exam is similar to the NCRA exam.
You’ll need to pass a written multiple-choice test with a score of 70% or better.
You’ll also take a skills test.
It has three parts.
The first portion is medical testimony at 180 wpm.
This portion has two voices.
The solid matter portion has one voice at 200 wpm.
Ordinary testimony has two voices and requires 225 wpm.
Each portion is 5 minutes long.
You’ll need an accuracy rate of at least 95% on each portion to pass.
Court Reporter Schools in Kansas
Kansas has several schools that offer court reporting programs, so you can choose the one that works best for you.
Neosho County Community College
Neosho County Community College offers a certificate or Associate of Applied Science Court Reporter degree.
Once you’ve completed the program, you’ll be eligible to take the Kansas Certified Court Reporter (CCR) exam administered by the Kansas State Board of Examiners of Court Reporters, and the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) credential administered by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).
In addition to class time, you’ll need to spend 10 to 15 hours practicing the steno machine each week.
You’ll complete a total of 45 course hours during the program.
Courses include Realtime Reporting Theory, Realtime Reporting Two Voice Dictation, Realtime Reporting Procedures, and Realtime Reporting Lab.
To earn your A.A.S. degree, you’ll also need to take more courses.
These include Criminal Law, Psychology, Composition, and Medical Terminology.
You’ll need a total of 64 credit hours to earn your degree.
Oklahoma College of Court Reporting
The Oklahoma College of Court Reporting offers a Court Reporting Machine Program.
You can take day or evening classes online, which makes it easy to fit school into your schedule.
In addition to court reporting, this program provides an emphasis on captioning.
This can allow you to start a television career, the internet, CART (for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals) live broadcasting, or delayed broadcasting.
The program offers some flexibility, which allows you to focus on the area that is right for you.
Courses are listed with contact hours, rather than course hours.
The first course is Computerized Machine Shorthand Theory, which requires 96 contact hours.
Computerized Machine Speed Development 1, 2, and 3 each require 144 contact hours.
You’ll spend 15 hours a week outside of class practicing your stenography skills.
Each course requires you to meet the speed and accuracy rates to pass.
For Development 1, you’ll need to reach 100 wpm with a 95% accuracy rate.
Development 3 requires you to reach 225 wpm on three different types of dictation.
This prepares you to take your certification test.
You’ll also take a Technology course, which allows you to work with writing, translating, and editing software.
English Grammar and Punctuation teaches you proper grammar.
These courses are 96 contact hours.
You will also have an internship, which is 42 contact hours.
This allows you to gain real-world experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are court reporters in demand in Kansas?
Yes.
There is currently a shortage of court reporters in Kansas, and around the country.
The demand is only expected to grow in the coming years.
Do I need to renew my certification?
Yes.
You’ll need to renew your certification each year before May 1st.
The Supreme Court of Kansas determines the renewal fee.
The renewal form will be mailed to you.
Complete the form and mail it back, along with the required fee.
Does Kansas have continuing education requirements?
Many states have continuing education requirements for court reporters but Kansas doesn’t.
However, if you have NCRA certification, you’lll need continuing education credits to renew that certification.
Court Reporter Salary Information
The average salary for court reporters in kansas is $59,473.
Salaries typically range from $42,911 to $77,842.
Salaries can vary greatly depending on your experience, certifications, education, and the location where you choose to work.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$42K |
|
$59K |
|
$77K |
Average Salary in Kansas
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Wichita | $58,898 |
| Overland Park | $61,059 |
| Kansas City | $61,241 |
| Topeka | $57,768 |
| Olathe | $60,893 |
| Lawrence | $58,998 |
| Shawnee | $61,059 |
| Salina | $58,274 |
| Manhattan | $57,143 |
| Hutchinson | $58,273 |
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
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