How to Become a Court Reporter in Maryland

By Chelsea Wilson in Court Reporter Programs

A court reporter is an essential role in the court system, as they are the person who helps transcribe every little detail into writing.

As a court reporter, you’ll be required to type in multiple settings and trials and attend deposition and administrative hearings.

Being a court reporter is highly rewarding but is difficult.

So, if you want to become a Maryland court reporter, keep reading.

We understand that it’s difficult to know where to start.

Unlike other administrative roles, a court reporter must be trained to type quickly and efficiently.

Luckily, there are a handful of institutions that can help train you.

How to Become a Court Reporter – Step By Step

When it comes to becoming a court reporter in Maryland, there are specific steps that you’ll need to take.

Meet the Minimum Requirements

Becoming a court reporter requires that you meet certain standards before you even get training or certifications.

First, you must have graduated from high school and have a high school diploma.

In addition, you must be over the age of 18 to even be considered.

Lastly, you must showcase specific skills that demonstrate you’d be a good fit for the job.

Get a Degree or Certification

You must complete some training to become a court reporter in any state.

Many states don’t require a degree, but you must at least have a certificate.

The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) must accredit the certificate.

The most common court reporter certificate is the Certified Real-Time Reporter (CRR), but there are others, such as Communications Access Realtime Reporting (CART).

While some of these are certificate level, others will be a higher degree level, such as an associate’s or bachelor’s.

Acquire Certification or Degree

Your next step will be to get certification or complete the needed coursework for a degree.

On average, it takes a person six months of training to get a certificate and at least a minimum of two years for an associate degree.

If you want to continue your education, you may, but this is not often necessary unless you want to specialize.

You must maintain a good grade and take an exit exam to pass the class.

After that, you must pass a state licensing exam showcasing your competency.

The state exam will vary depending on where you live.

However, it often includes dictation transcription, written exam elements, and state testing.

To pass the exam, you must maintain a 75% or higher score, with at least 97.5% accuracy in your typing section.

Otherwise, you will need to retake the class to improve your skills.

To ensure you’re close enough, most companies require you to accurately type at least 200 words per minute as a court reporter.

Gain Experience

After passing the state licensing exam, you will need to get experience in the field.

It may qualify if you’ve had other types of administrative and transcription work.

If not, you’ll need to attend an internship or training course.

Doing so can boost your application for a full-time position within the courts.

Keep In Contact With the Court System

Many openings for a court reporter end up going fast.

You want to stay up to date with any open positions or requirements.

Making friends with the court employees is a good way to do this.

You must also network and gain more people into your professional circle.

Apply

After completing the other steps, it’s time to apply!

When sending in your application, you’ll want to ensure you’ve included all the information that will win you the job position.

Ensuring your resume and CV are tailored to the job is a good way to start.

List any relevant work experience and also training you’ve done.

Court Reporter Schools in Maryland

Maryland is a smaller state but has many opportunities for growth as a court reporter.

There are a handful of institutions that provide degree programs or diplomas.

The following two are the most commonly attended programs in the state.

Baltimore City Community College – In-person

Baltimore City Community College is located in Baltimore, MD, and is an excellent college to attend.

All applicants must have a high school diploma and proper English grammar and punctuation.

The certificate program teaches Theory I, Theory II, and Speed Development I, II, and III.

Hagerstown Community College – Online

Hagerstown Community College offers an online certificate that only takes six months to complete.

The course is 120 school hours and is self-paced.

Tuition is estimated at around $1,595, but sometimes payments can be split.

Inside the course, you’ll learn how to create accurate legal transcripts, the fundamentals of the United States legal system, and industry terminology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need state licensing to work as a court reporter in Maryland?

Yes, you will need to have state licensing to work as a court reporter in Maryland.

Most courts prefer that you have a degree at the associate’s level rather than just certification.

However, it depends on where you will be working.

What is the job outlook for court reporters in Maryland?

For Maryland, there is only a 1% estimated growth made by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for court reporters.

This covers a 10-year period from 2021 to 2031.

While 1% is on the low side, you must consider the number of courts in the state.

So, while it’s not a low growth, it’s definitely not in high demand.

What other jobs can you apply to with a court reporter degree in Maryland?

You have many options, including a central services coordinator, Jury administrator, discovery clerk, and more.

Mainly, jobs that require transcription will also be willing to work with a court reporter degree.

Depending on the industry, you might need to learn new terminology

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.

For Maryland, the lowest earners only made $31,864, while the top earners had $102,398.

Of course, this depended highly on location, skill, and employer.

Annual Salary Range:

Item	Percent
$46K



$64K



$84K

Average Salary in Maryland

City Name	Salary
Baltimore	$64,324
Frederick	$67,210
Gaithersburg	$69,467
Bowie	$69,509
Rockville	$69,571
Dundalk	$64,324
Glen Burnie	$64,324
Columbia	$64,219
Silver Spring	$69,655
Waldorf	$69,467

Regional Salary

Region	Employed	Avg. Annual Salary	Avg. Hourly Pay	Top 10% Annual Salary	Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	140	$53,150	$25.55	$69,620	$38,560

* Salary information based on the May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners, OCC Code 27-3092, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Court Reporter Programs by State

About Chelsea Wilson

Chelsea Wilson is the Community Relations Manager for Washington University School of Law’s distance learning LLM degree program, which provides foreign trained attorneys with the opportunity to earn a Master of Laws degree from a top-tier American university from anywhere in the world.

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