What is a Court Reporter?
Minnesota court reporters are integral parts of the state’s judicial and legal systems.
Their primary role is to accurately transcribe verbatim testimony and speech during court proceedings, trials, depositions, and administrative hearings.
Court reporters and captioners working in the state of Minnesota go through a rigorous training process to meet industry standards and become certified transcriptionists.
If you’re thinking about starting a new career as a Minnesota Court Reporter – this is the guide for you!
Read on to learn step-by-step requirements to become a court reporter in Minnesota.
Learn about local court reporter schools and training programs, and get answers to a few frequently asked questions.
How to Become A Court Reporter in Minnesota Step by Step
The good news about becoming a court reporter in Minnesota is that the state doesn’t require transcriptionists, stenographers, and captioners to have an occupational license to work in the state.
They do, however, require prospective reporters to complete mandatory education and certification testing requirements before becoming eligible for employment as freelance transcriptionists and those working in the judicial and legal system for government employers.
Complete High School Education
The first step towards becoming a certified court reporter in Minnesota is to complete your high school education.
NCRA-approved court reporter training programs will require new applicants to prove that they have completed a high school education or an equivalent before entry.
Select an NCRA-Approved Court Reporter Training program
After you have completed your high school education requirements, the next step toward certification is to choose an NCRA-approved training program offering a minimum of an associate’s degree.
There is currently only one approved program operating in Minnesota. This program is administered by Anoka Technical College.
Practice Your Skills On-the-Job
Practicing your transcription skills regularly is the best way to boost your speed and prepare for passing the typing and accuracy segment of the NCRA exam.
Most NCRA-approved programs will have an on-the-job training component or immersive internship where students partner with local courts and law offices to practice their newly learned skills.
Talk to your program director to learn more about on-the-job training requirements and find out about job placement assistance for program graduates.
Complete the NCRA Exam to Earn Certification
Once you have completed all the required education and on-the-job training components of your program, the next step is to sit for the national NCRA exam.
The National Court Reporters Association is responsible for administering national testing and issuing court reporter certifications for Registered Professional Reporters (RPR) and Registered Skilled Reporters (RSR).
Join the MAVRC for Networking, Job Placement Assistance, and Continuing Education Opportunities
The Minnesota Association of Verbatim Reporters and Captioners is an NCRA-affiliated organization that provides education, resources, and support for active and aspiring court reporters and stenographers within this state.
Maintain Your Credentials Through Continuing Education
Certified court reporters in Minnesota and across the US are required to periodically recertify their credentials.
Recertify your RPR or RSR credential by earning the required amount of continuing education credits outlined at the NCRA.
The NCRA website has information on continuing education requirements and programs to make recertification easier.
Court Reporter Schools in Minnesota
Anoka Technical College
About the School
Anoka Technical College operates an NCRA-approved Judicial Reporting program that teaches students the fundamentals of how to transcribe real-time legal proceedings for later use by court officials, police officers, and other law enforcement officers as legally binding transcripts.
Their hybrid court reporter training program leads students to a two-year associated degree that allows them to sit for national certification exams and begin working in the Minnesota judicial system upon certification.
Students who complete the program will demonstrate proficiency in accuracy and real-time reporting speeds between 180-225 words per minute.
Courses Offered
- Business Law
- Business Success for Realtime Careers
- Foundations of Law
- Judicial Reporting Procedures
- Medical Terminology
- Realtime Reporting – Orientation
- Realtime Reporting I, II, and III
- Transcription and English I
Contact Information
- Address: 1355 West Highway 10, Anoka, Minnesota – 55303
- Website: https://www.anokatech.edu/programs/judicial-reporting/
- Phone: 763-576-4064
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to work as a court reporter in Minnesota?
No.
The state of Minnesota does not require active or prospective court reporters to have an occupational license to practice.
They do require that new and active reporters maintain an NCRA credential and have a minimum of an associate’s degree.
Minnesota currently only has one approved program operating within the state.
Local students may opt for certified online court reporter training options as an alternative.
How can I become a certified court reporter in Minnesota?
Become a certified court reporter in Minnesota by completing a minimum of an associate degree level NCRA-approved program and successfully passing the written skills and typing skills test required to earn NCRA certification.
It is important for potential transcriptionists to note that most local employers won’t hire new transcriptionists without the nationally recognized credential Registered Skilled Reporter (RSR) or Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) credential.
How long will it take me to complete court reporter training in Minnesota?
Students who take NCRA-approved programs can typically complete the fundamental skills, internship, and on-the-job training required to sit for certification testing in two to three years.
While some programs may offer a faster track option the certification requirements and training remain the same.
Court Reporter Salary Information
Prospective court reporters in Minnesota will be happy to learn that these entry-level legal professionals command high salaries.
Online reports from reputable data sources like Salary.com show that Minnesota’s court reporters make an average annual salary of around $64,007.00 per year.
This is in line with the national average.
On the low end, Minnesota court reporters earn just under 50k at $46,183.00 annually.
Higher-paid court reporters in the state with more credentials and more years of experience can make as much as $83,777.00 or more annually.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$46K |
|
$64K |
|
$83K |
Average Salary in Minnesota
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $66,543 |
| St. Paul | $66,543 |
| Duluth | $59,804 |
| Rochester | $62,615 |
| Lakeville | $66,131 |
| Eden Prairie | $66,431 |
| Annandale | $59,529 |
| Browerville | $59,342 |
| Chisholm | $59,242 |
| Cloquet | $59,467 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 150 | $67,590 | $32.5 | $79,460 | $53,930 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
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
I’ve always been interested in pursuing a career in court reporting, and these insights into the process in Minnesota are really helpful.
As someone considering a career change, this breakdown of the steps to become a court reporter in Minnesota is exactly what I needed.
I had no idea about the specific certification requirements in Minnesota. This definitely clarifies things for me as I start my journey towards becoming a court reporter.
Wow, I didn’t realize there were so many different methods of court reporting to choose from. It’s great to see the flexibility in options available for aspiring court reporters in Minnesota.