A career as a court reporter can be very rewarding if you enjoy transcribing.
Court reporters have an interesting job.
They are in charge of providing precise descriptions of legal proceedings.
These transcriptions can be for administrative hearings, depositions, and even trials.
If you’re contemplating becoming a court reporter, this guide is for you.
You’ll find everything you need to know, including step-by-step instructions you must follow in Texas to earn a certificate or license as a court reporter.
You’ll also find information on several schools offering court reporter programs in the state of Texas.
How to Become a Court Reporter in Texas (Step-by-Step)
Here is a list of steps that you must follow to become a certified court reporter in Texas.
Enroll in a Court Reporter Program
The first step to becoming a court reporter in Texas involves enrolling in a court reporter program where you can receive an associate’s degree.
These programs provide students with training in stenography and information regarding conduct and the law.
There are many community colleges and institutes in Texas that offer these programs.
Types of degrees you may earn include:
- Associates of Stenography
- Associates of Science in Court Reporting
- Fundamentals of Court Reporting
Depending on your exam score, you may be required to take a remedial English course.
Some of the courses required may include:
- Computer Technology
- Business Law
- Courtroom Proceedings and Practices
- Machine Shorthand Theory
- Legal & Medical Terminology
Submit Your Application
The state of Texas requires prospective court reporters to fill out an application before taking the exam.
You must pass the exam, and the board must approve it.
Once you have been approved, your license will be issued to you.
If, for any reason, your application is rejected after taking the exam, your exam fee of $85 will be refunded to you.
Take the Exam to Become a Certified Court Reporter
A certification exam must be completed before an individual can receive their license to be a court reporter in Texas.
The exam is administered via the Texas Court Reporters Association.
The certification exam is split into two separate exams.
One of the exams is a written exam with a $75 fee.
The second is a skills exam.
The exam fee is $125.
If you choose to take both exams at the same time, you will pay a total of $190.
Before taking the exam, you will need to be granted permission from the CRCB.
Search for Court Reporter Job Openings
After you’ve successfully passed the exam and have received your court reporter license, you can begin your search for work as a court reporter.
If you’re looking for private employers in Texas, you can try FRL Texas, Wendy Ward Roberts, or Associated Court Reporters.
You can also try looking for openings through the Texas government judicial branch.
Continuing Education for License Renewal
The state of Texas requires court reporter licenses to be renewed every two years.
But before you can renew your license, you must first complete 10 hours of continuing education.
Two-and-a-half of these credits must be in rules or ethics.
After you have earned your license, you can become a member of a national court reporter organization.
Joining such an organization is an excellent way to stay informed of any changes in your profession.
Court Reporter Schools in Texas
The following are schools in Texas that offer court reporting programs for students:
Arlington Career Institute
901 Avennue K l Grand Praire, TX 75050 l 972-647-1607
Arlington Career Institute offers an online program for court reporting.
Online programs provide students with flexibility and freedom.
These programs take approximately 15 months to complete.
The school offers two different programs: Court Reporting Voice, which costs $15,000, and Court Reporting Steno, which costs $22,000.
Del Mar College
101 Baldwin Ave l Corpus Christi, TX l 78404 l 361-698-1372
The court reporter program at Del Mar College offers a curriculum to help prepare students following graduation.
Students have the option of receiving an associate’s degree in applied science, a certificate in court reporting, or a certificate in information reporting/scoping.
Courses are available both in-person and online.
In-state tuition costs $4,872. Out-of-state tuition costs $8,787.
Mark Kislingbury Academy of Court Reporting
15840 FM 529 Rd l Houston, TX 77095 l 281-859-0791
Students interested in court reporting can also check out MKA in Texas.
Classes are offered onsite and online.
New students will need to pay $575 a month for this program.
If you are considered a transfer student and have attended another court-reporting school, you will pay $345 a month.
Professional court reporters must pay $285 a month if they are interested in relearning.
All applicants must also pay an application fee of $100.
The programs at MKA are designed to last between 18 and 24 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some judicial branches in Texas that employ court reporters?
If you’re looking for some employers within the judicial branch of Texas that hire court reporters, you can try the following:
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
- Texas Supreme Court
- Texas District Court
- Texas Court of Appeals
What cities in Texas have the highest salaries for court reporters?
In 2012, the following cities were among the highest-paying, not only in Texas but in the entire nation, for court reporters:
- San Antonio
- Austin
- Fort Worth
What is the job outlook for court reporters in Texas?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that future employment for court reporters is expected to increase.
In 2021, Texas employed 620 court reporters.
Court Reporter Salary Information
Court reporters make an average of $60,235 per year in Texas.
However, the range can fall anywhere between $43,461 and $78,839.
The exact amount that a court reporter may make will depend on various factors, including additional skills, time spent in the profession, certifications, and education.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$44K |
|
$61K |
|
$80K |
Average Salary in Texas
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Houston | $62,165 |
| Dallas | $60,344 |
| San Antonio | $61,539 |
| Austin | $54,730 |
| El Paso | $60,971 |
| Fort Worth | $60,871 |
| Arlington | $58,730 |
| Corpus Christi | $62,165 |
| Plano | $62,165 |
| Garland | $62,165 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 70 | $100,330 | $48.23 | $120,020 | $40,000 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 220 | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 130 | $115,390 | $55.48 | $133,350 | $70,780 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 40 | $70,090 | $33.7 | $121,470 | $22,910 |
* 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
This is incredibly helpful for anyone considering a career change or diving into the legal field. It’s encouraging to see the support and resources available for those aspiring to become court reporters in Texas.
The salary potential mentioned here definitely caught my attention. Knowing that court reporters can earn a decent income in Texas makes the pursuit even more enticing!
Great tips! It’s reassuring to know that Texas offers various training programs and certification options for aspiring court reporters.
I never realized the intricacies of court reporting until stumbling upon this post.