How to Become a Court Reporter in South Dakota

By Chelsea Wilson in Court Reporter Programs

If you’ve ever envisioned yourself as the guardian of legal testimony, taking down verbatim testimonies in courtrooms, law offices, and administrative hearings – becoming a court reporter could be the right career for you!

Our guide provides a step-by-step overview of what it takes to become a court reporter in South Dakota.

How to Become a Court Reporter in South Dakota: Step-by-Step

Court reporters work in fast-paced legal, judicial, and corporate environments as guardians of the record who create historical legal documents.

Earn a High School Diploma

South Dakota court reporters seeking a competitive career edge will need to complete an associate degree-level training program on their pathway to national certification.

New program candidates will need to submit proof of earning their high school diploma (or an equivalent) to be accepted into a program.

Get Court Reporter Education

Although the state of South Dakota doesn’t officially require its court reporters to have an occupational license or certification, certified court reporters get preference in the local job market.

Select an NCRA or AAERT-approved court reporter training program to become more competitive as a court reporting employee or as a freelance court reporter in SD.

Complete Court Reporter Training

The best court reporter training programs offer flexible learning options, allowing students to complete comprehensive courtwork in person or online.

Get National Certification

Once you’ve completed your court reporter training and hands-on practice, the next step is to apply for certification from the National Court Reporters Association or the American Association of Electronic Records Technicians.

Note that local employers may give preference to graduates holding NCRA certifications as Registered Skilled Reporters.

Become a Notary Public

South Dakota is one of the few states in the US that also requires its certified court reporters to register as notaries.

They require court reporters to become a notary public if they want to administer oaths within the state.

Click here to learn how to become a notary public in South Dakota!

Find a Court Reporter Job in South Dakota

After you’ve completed all the steps above you’re officially ready to work as a certified court reporter in South Dakota!

Find a court reporter job through a Google keyword search, checking with local, state, or federal authorities, and visiting the South Dakota Court Reporters Association job board.

Maintain Your Credentials

Certified court reporters in South Dakota are required to periodically renew their credentials.

Visit your certification authority website to learn more about continuing education credits and notary recertification.

Court Reporter Schools in South Dakota

Court reporter trainees taking classes in South Dakota will learn fundamental skills and best practices for using transcription tools and software.

They will also learn real-time translation, computer-aided transcription, federal rules of civil procedure, and how to interpret South Dakota Codified Laws as part of approved training programs.

Students who complete all program requirements become eligible to sit for national certification exams and to work as employees or as freelance court reporters.

There is currently only one NCRA-approved court reporter training program operating in South Dakota.

Local students can opt for in-person education in neighboring states or seek court reporter training from the NCRA-approved training program below.

The College of Court Reporting

The College of Court Reporting offers South Dakota students the opportunity to earn an Associate in Applied Sciences degree or a certificate in voice writing or transcription online.

Their program is approved by the NCRA and teaches students the required skills to work as fast-paced real-time transcriptionists and guardians of legal records.

Courses Offered

Foundations of Law
Introduction to Realtime Technology
Medical Terminology
NCRA-based Curriculum
Speedbuilding
Vocabulary and Usage

Certification Track: NCRA – Registered Skilled Reporter (RSR), Registered Professional Reporter (RPR)

Contact Information

Address: 455 West Lincolnway, Valparaiso, Indiana – 46385
Website: http://www.ccr.edu/
Phone: 866-294-3974

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need a License to Work as a Court Reporter in South Dakota?

No.

You don’t need to have an occupational license to work as a court reporter in South Dakota.

However, aspiring reporters should note that the local judicial system and area employers will likely give preference to credentialed reporters who show proof of education and certification from a nationally accrediting body like the NCRA.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Court Reporter in South Dakota?

Full-time court reporter trainees typically complete their educational and on-the-job training requirements within two to three years of starting their programs.

Local area court reporters should be mindful of the additional time requirement to become a South Dakota notary which is required by the state to administer oaths.

Where Can I Find Court Reporter Jobs in South Dakota?

Certified court reporters in South Dakota can find jobs by visiting the South Dakota Court Reporters Association job board online.

There are also a variety of national listings for court reporters on the American Association of Electronics Records Technicians website, the National Court Reporters Websites, and on public job boards like Indeed.

Where Can I Find Official Requirements for South Dakota Court Reporters?

The South Dakota Court Reporters Association has a comprehensive court reporters manual on its website.

Their manual highlights the relevant skills and credentials needed to work as a court reporter and maintain relevant credentials within the state.

Court Reporter Salary Information

South Dakota’s court reporters make an average annual salary of around $55,038.00.

This salary is below the national average for US reporters.

Stenographers on the lower end of the salary scale make about $39,711.00 each year.

Seasoned reporters with more years of experience in the field and advanced credentials can earn as much as $72,038.00 a year – or more.

Annual Salary Range:

Item	Percent
$39K



$55K



$72K

Average Salary in South Dakota

City Name	Salary
Sioux Falls	$56,171
Rapid City	$55,057
Aberdeen	$51,778
Watertown	$55,232
Brookings	$55,232
Mitchell	$55,232
Pierre	$52,717
Yankton	$54,494
Huron	$53,505
Vermillion	$53,756

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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