How to Become a Court Reporter in Oregon

By Chelsea Wilson in Court Reporter Programs

As a court reporter, you get a chance to be a part of the justice system and will have a lot of rewarding and meaningful work.

It’s your job to transcribe real-time conversations going on in the court.

This job is extremely challenging but also an excellent place to be if you want to aid the court system without being a judge or lawyer.

You can easily become a court reporter in Oregon if you complete the proper schooling and education.

The difficult part is selecting a school near you and following up with the state exam.

If you’re interested in knowing more, then keep reading!

How to Become a Court Reporter – Step-by-Step

When it comes to becoming an Oregon court reporter, you will need to attend the proper schooling.

Selecting the right school is challenging, as you need to ensure it’s been approved by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).

Meet Minimum Requirements

The first step is ensuring you meet the minimum work requirements inside the court system.

For example, applicants for certain certificate or degree programs must have at least a high school diploma or GED.

If you don’t, you must consider returning to school to attain one.

You must also have skills such as being reliable, fast, and working independently without instruction.

Get a Certificate or Degree

To work as a court reporter, you have two options regarding education.

You can either attend a certificate program which takes only six months, OR you can choose to attend a degree program.

A degree program will up your chances of being higher, as it will teach you more advanced skills.

However, it is not necessary to work as a court reporter.

Become Certified or Complete Your Degree

Once you find a program, you must maintain a certain grade.

If you don’t pass the exit exam with a qualifying grade, you must retake the course until you pass.

The pressure isn’t over yet; you will still need to take a state exam to get your certificate or degree.

This exam has three parts: a state exam, a dictation and transcription exam, and a written exam.

You will get your certificate if you can pass all three exams with a decent score.

You must also type with 97.5% accuracy and type around 200 wpm.

Each state has its own requirements, but at the national level, they require a high word per minute (wpm) speed.

Otherwise, you won’t be able to record everything being said accurately.

Remember – at times, you might be recording multiple people.

Get Experience or Training

Before you become a court reporter, you will need to gain experience.

While some applicants are lucky enough to get a job straight after their degree, others are not.

You will need to get relevant experience in the field.

The best way to do this is by working on various cases through an intern.

This can help prepare you for working independently, and you’ll get a chance to get the feel of the job.

Internships vary by location, but you can contact your local court or another fellow court reporter to see if they will take you.

Aside from that, you can also work similar jobs to get more experience.

This includes transcription or working in a fast-paced environment.

Network

One thing we always see applicants miss is that they don’t network.

A court only has limited slots when it comes to court reporting.

You’ll have better chances to be the first in line if the court already knows you by name.

We highly recommend giving them your business card or registering with them on their local website.

If you can’t register as a court reporter, you can give judges or lawyers your card.

Then, you’ll be first in line when a position opens.

Apply!

When you apply for jobs, make sure that you tailor your resume and CV to it.

Court reporting jobs rely heavily on typing, organization, and reliability.

If you list jobs that prove you’re a good candidate, you’ll have a better chance of landing the job.

Court Reporter Schools in Oregon

Court-reporting schools can be difficult to find if you don’t know where to look.

There are a handful of options for training, but you want to ensure that the certificate you take is approved by the NCRA.

If it isn’t, then it won’t count. Below are a few different schooling options.

NCRA-Approved Court Reporting Programs

If you want to find a specific one in your area or online, you should check out the NCRA-approved court reporting programs.

Here, you can find any schooling you need and those listed in your state.

Oregon doesn’t have many, so it’s best to contact the NCRA to ensure your selected program is approved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to become a court reporter in Oregon?

No, becoming a court reporter isn’t that hard.

It takes a lot of dedication and practice, but you can become a court reporter with education and training.

The more difficult task is finding a job as a court reporter, as the state has limited positions.

What is the job outlook for court reporters in Oregon?

The Labor Statistics estimates that there will be a 9% job growth between 2019 and 2029 for court reporters in the state.

Where can I find more information about becoming a court reporter in Oregon?

The Oregon Court Reporters Association is your best bet.

It’s the official state licensing system and features a handful of resources.

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.

On average, a court reporter in the state of Oregon makes a median of $62,910.

On the low end, you can expect to make $31,127.

On the high end, you can expect to make $100,031.

Annual Salary Range:

Item	Percent
$45K



$62K



$82K

Average Salary in Oregon

City Name	Salary
Portland	$65,188
Eugene	$61,583
Salem	$61,801
Gresham	$65,105
Beaverton	$65,188
Hillsboro	$64,980
Medford	$61,020
Springfield	$61,446
Bend	$60,889
Corvallis	$61,078

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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