Court reporters are responsible for documenting each word that is spoken during legal proceedings.
They must have very high accuracy and efficiency to be effective.
If you have strong typing and listening skills, you may consider becoming a court reporter in Utah.
You can expect to spend a few years working towards your goal before you become a certified court reporter.
However, many find that it’s well worth the effort.
How to Become a Court Reporter in Utah
Utah requires you to be certified before beginning your career as a court reporter.
You’ll need to follow several steps on the road to certification, including completing a training program and taking a national exam.
Meet the Requirements to be a Court Reporter
Before you begin the process of becoming a court reporter, you should be sure that you meet the qualifications.
You’ll need to be 18 or older and a legal resident of Utah.
You’ll need excellent listening and typing skills.
You’ll learn to type very fast during your training program, but you must have the physical capability to type quickly before you begin.
Lastly, you’ll need a clean criminal history.
If you are concerned about your history, contact the Utah Division of Professional Licensing.
Most convictions won’t automatically bar you from working as a court reporter.
Instead, they are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Complete a Training Program
You can choose from certificate, diploma, and degree court reporting programs.
Most programs take about 2 years to complete, but some programs are shorter.
You’ll learn about the court system, court procedures, legal and medical terminology, and stenography.
Most programs have specific typing speed requirements to graduate.
Get a National Certification
Utah requires you to get a national certification before applying for your license.
You can choose to be certified with the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) as a Registered Professional Reporter (RPR).
You can also choose the National Verbatim Reporters Association certification (NVRA) as a Certified Voice Reporter (CVR).
Written Knowledge Test
Both certifications require you to pass a written knowledge test.
The exam is multiple-choice and has 100 graded questions.
You must get a score of 70% or better to pass this exam.
The NCRA test covers technology, professional practices, and reporting practices.
The NVRA test focuses on verbatim record reporting, transcript production including vocabulary and punctuation, professional responsibilities, and ethics.
The NCRA test costs between $173-$242, depending on your NCRA membership.
The NVRA written test will cost $160.
Skills Test
You’ll also need to pass a skills test to get your certification.
This test has three components.
To pass the literary portion, you’ll need a speed of 180 wpm.
The Jury Charge portion requires a speed of 200 wpm, and the Question and Answer Testimony portion requires you to type at 225 wpm.
Each portion is 5 minutes long.
You are given 75 minutes to transcribe each portion of the test. An accuracy rate of 95% or better is required to pass.
It’s important to note that you aren’t required to pass all three portions of the test at one time.
If you fail a section, you can try again another time.
As long as you manage to pass all three portions at some point, you can get certified.
You’ll pay $86-$137 for the NCRA test, depending on your membership.
The NVRA skills test will cost $185.
You can take an NVRA practice test for $125.
Apply for Certification
Now you are ready to apply for certification with the state of Utah.
You’ll need to complete an application.
You can do this online, in person, or mail in the application.
You’ll need to include a copy of your NCRA or NVRA certification, and a $45 application fee.
Court Reporter Schools in Utah
There are no court reporter schools in Utah.
However, there are some online programs that will qualify you for certification in Utah.
NCRA 
The NCRA offers a short program that allows you to become familiar with stenography, and see if it’s the career for you.
The course is completely online and takes 6 weeks to complete.
It’s free, so the only thing it requires is your time and commitment.
You won’t be prepared for certification once you’ve finished this course, but it does offer a good starting point.
International Realtime Court Reporting Institute 
The International Realtime Court Reporting Institute offers online court reporter training.
Instead of stenography, this program focuses on using speech-to-text technologies.
You’ll study grammar and punctuation, preparing legal documents, voice writing theory, and legal transcripts.
You’ll learn how to use voice-to-text programs, including Dragon Professional and Eclipse Vox.
There’s a total of 36 classes in the program, which you complete on your own schedule.
Students usually finish the program within 1 year.
Alfred State College of Technology 
Alfred State College of Technology was named the #1 best court reporting school in America.
This program is approved by the NCRA and prepares you for your RPR certification once you complete the program.
You’ll study real-time translation theory, speed building, English and grammar, and legal terminology.
This course is performance-based.
How long the program takes will depend partly on your skill level and speed.
To graduate, you must pass a skills test based on the NCRA skills test, which includes a testimony (Question/Answer) portion at 225 words per minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to renew my certification?
Yes.
You’ll need to renew your certification before May 31 of even years.
You’ll pay a renewal fee of $42.
You will also need 1 continuing education credit for each year to keep your NCRA or NVRA certification.
Are court reporters in demand in Utah?
There’s a shortage of court reporters across the country.
Court reporters are in demand in Utah as well.
Is it hard to be a court reporter in Utah?
Being a court reporter can be tough.
In addition to great typing skills, you’ll need a tolerance for violent and graphic material.
You may need to transcribe cases trying someone for a violent crime, which can be disturbing.
Court Reporter Salary Information
Court reporters in Utah make an average of $59,099 a year.
Salaries range from $42,641 to $77,352.
How much you earn will depend on your certifications, experience, speed and accuracy, and where you choose to work.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$42K |
|
$59K |
|
$77K |
Average Salary in Utah
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $60,026 |
| Logan | $57,153 |
| Provo | $57,535 |
| Sandy | $59,863 |
| Orem | $57,535 |
| Ogden | $59,809 |
| West Jordan | $59,809 |
| Layton | $57,750 |
| Lehi | $57,264 |
| St. George | $62,666 |
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
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