Court reporters in Ohio have the freedom that court reporters in some other states may not have in their job.
Ohio has many freelance court reporter agencies, and independent court reporters.
The protocol for court reporters in the state varies by the city, by the jurisdiction, or by the agency.
The freedom given to court reporters is likely one reason that Ohio residents choose this career.
The good salary is another reason that some Ohio residents choose to work as court reporters.
Ohioans often earn a median salary that exceeds the average salary for court reporters in several other states.
How to Become a Court Reporter in Ohio
Ohio’s residents who want to become court reporters must complete several requirements that are set by the state or by individual jurisdictions.
Become a Notary Public of Ohio
Court reporters in Ohio administer the oath to witnesses.
The state requires that court reporters become a Notary Public of Ohio.
The Ohio Secretary of State’s office governs the requirements for people to become notaries public.
One requirement is that all notaries public must be residents of Ohio.
People who want to become court reporters must comply with several requirements.
They must be at least 18 years of age and have no disqualifying criminal history.
Applicants complete a three-hour class and must pass an exam.
Learn How Court Reporting Works in Ohio
The Ohio Court Reporters Association (OCRA) explains that Ohio’s courts are set up independently, by each jurisdiction.
Ohio’s residents who want to become court reporters need to learn the requirements for court reporters for the Ohio city, the county, or the jurisdiction where they want to work.
Although the Ohio Supreme Court has Rules of Superintendence, there are no governing bodies over Ohio’s courts.
Some court reporters in Ohio work for federal courts that are in the state.
They must comply with the requirements for people to work as court reporters in the federal court system.
The state has many freelance agencies that employ court reporters.
Many Ohio court reporters work as independent reporters.
Comply with Certification and Licensure
Ohio currently has no certification requirements for court reporters.
The state also has no licensing requirements.
Many of the courts in Ohio do require court reporters to have the Registered Professional Reporter Certification (RPR).
The Registered Professional Reporter certification is the “foundational certification” of the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).
The certification is designed for freelance court reporters, entry-level court reporters, and official reporters.
Ohio’s court reporter students, along with people who need a license requirement, earn the Registered Professional Reporter Certification.
Obtaining the certification requires taking and passing an online skills test.
Applicants must pass three five-minute skills tests.
Prospective court reporters also take a written knowledge test.
The written test has 120 multiple-choice questions.
Residents of Ohio who want the Registered Professional Reporter Certification must pass each part of the test with a minimum accuracy of 95 percent.
Education Requirements
Ohio does not have any educational requirements for its court reporters.
People who want to become court reporters may still want to complete a court reporter program for several reasons.
One reason is that individual jurisdictions or agencies that hire court reporters may require them to complete a court reporter program. .
Court Reporter Schools in Ohio
The following Ohio court reporter programs are approved by the National Court Reporters Association.
Cuyahoga Community College 
The Cuyahoga Community College Certified Steno Writing Certificate program prepares students to become entry-level court reporters.
Program graduates have the skills and knowledge that are required to work in the judicial or official, CART, freelance court reporting, or other areas of the court reporting profession.
The program consists of 48 to 49 credit hours of study.
Students take courses that include Introduction to Stenographic Court Reporting, Realtime Theory, Court Reporting Technology, and Speedbuilding and Transcription.
Completing the program prepares students to sit for the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) exam.
The tuition is $124.54 per credit hour for Cuyahoga County residents.
Students who live in other areas of Ohio pay $154.08 per credit hour.
Stark State College 
Stark State College has a unique Associate of Applied Business in Judicial Court Reporting program.
The 65-credit hour program is offered as a shared program between Stark State College and Clark State College.
There are courses that are offered at each college, with credit hours for those courses transferring to the other institution.
Prospective students will be pleased to learn that they will receive the Associate of Applied Business in Judicial Court Reporting from both Stark State College and Clark State College.
Tuition is $194.60 per credit hour.
Clark State College 
The Associate of Applied Business in Judicial Court Reporting program, a shared program with Stark State College, is offered in an online format.
The program provides students with the knowledge and skills to have many career opportunities in court reporting.
Program courses include Realtime Theory Applications, Skill Building, Legal Terminology, and Medical Terminology.
Students also complete a 75-hour internship that requires preparing a 40-page complete and accurate transcript.
The tuition is $175.33 per credit hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get hired to work as a contracted, private court reporter in Ohio?
Ohio does not permit blanket contracts, where a court reporter performs court reporting services for more than one case for a client for a fee set in a contract.
Do Ohio freelance court reporters work in the courts?
Freelance court reporters in Ohio are hired by corporations, attorneys, unions, and other entities.
How can Ohio court reporters stay up to date with the latest information for court reporters?
Learn about seminars, conferences, and continuing education opportunities by visiting the Ohio Court Reporters Association website.
Court Reporter Salary Information
The median salary for court reporters in Ohio is $61,257.
The experience that a court reporter has, and the city where they work, often affects their salary.
A court reporter who works in Canton earns an average salary of $58,740.
A court reporter who works in Toledo earns an average salary of $60,354,
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$44K |
|
$61K |
|
$80K |
Average Salary in Ohio
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Columbus | $61,437 |
| Cleveland | $61,768 |
| Cincinnati | $61,189 |
| Toledo | $60,463 |
| Akron | $60,075 |
| Dayton | $60,701 |
| Portsmouth | $57,128 |
| Youngstown | $58,930 |
| Canton | $58,846 |
| Lorain | $61,114 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 100 | $66,980 | $32.2 | $139,800 | $24,770 |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 40 | $76,580 | $36.82 | $132,070 | $37,360 |
| Columbus, OH | 40 | $77,440 | $37.23 | $116,000 | $38,370 |
* 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 really appreciate the detailed approach of this post on how to become a court reporter in Ohio. The focus on the importance of accuracy and speed, and the ways to develop these skills through training programs, is very helpful.