Why become a court reporter in Vermont?
Accurate legal documentation makes court reporters essential to the legal profession.
The career offers competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement, making it a rewarding career path for those who want to make the Green Mountain State’s scenic rolling hills, independent culture, farm-to-table lifestyle, and year-round outdoor recreational opportunities their home base.
How to Become a Court Reporter in Vermont – Step by Step
Vermont has no specific license or licensing body that regulates court reporting.
And so, Vermont being Vermont, with the state Motto of “Freedom and Unity,” some candidates pursue certification with national court reporting associations and join and network with other legal professionals in Vermont.
Get Certified! The National Court Reporters Association or National Verbatim Reporters Association
The National Court Reporters Association is a valuable certification organization for Vermont residents looking into stenography or shorthand reporting.
Their entry-level certification is called the Registered Professional Reporter certification.
The NCRA also offers two additional levels of certification after the RPR to continue advancing your skill set and employment options.
The National Verbatim Reporters Association offers the Certified Verbatim Reporter Certification.
This certification is for those specializing in voice reporting.
The exam for the CVR, while short, is intensive and invites serious study.
Employment: Private Sector or Vermont Judiciary
There are many venues where a court reporter can find room to grow.
The court system employs court reporters; as you can expect, much of the work is carried out in court; the Vermont judiciary includes the Vermont Supreme Court, Probate, Criminal, and Family Courts.
Work in the private sector can–and does–include a lot of out-of-court work.
Possible private-sector employers in Vermont include Capitol Court Reporters and National Court Reporters in Vermont.
Court Reporter Schools in Vermont
Begin your career as a digital court reporter by understanding the proceedings, hardware, and software needed to perform your duties, legal system fundamentals, and crucial industry terminology.
A court reporter certification course readies students for the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT) certification and the Certified Electronic Reporter (CER) exam.
The AAERT certification is the top certification for businesses and courts throughout the USA, and many employment agencies and various court systems often mandate it.
Skills and Knowledge
Develop the in-demand skills you need to become a successful digital reporter who can work in person, in the field, or at home.
- Digital court reporting procedure for trials, depositions, hearings, and more.
- Digital reporting software and hardware
- Fundamentals of the U.S. legal system
- Best practices for ethics, professionalism, and confidentiality. Essential legal, medical, and industry terminology
Court Reporter Schools in Vermont
Candidates should have a high school diploma or equivalent to be a court reporter in Vermont.
However, a post-secondary court reporting program can be beneficial.
Court Reporter Degree Programs
One of the best ways to grow the stenotype or stenomask skills employers seek is to complete a court reporter degree program offering court reporting programs, including stenography, transcription, and legal terminology courses.
These are generally 18–24 months.
Some programs provide specialized training in real-time reporting, delivering instantaneous transcripts during legal proceedings.
Consider undergraduate certificate programs available online or at local technical schools:
- Associates of Science in Voice Court Reporting
- Associates in Stenography
- Court Reporting Techniques – Undergraduate Certificate
- Advanced Court Reporting – Graduate Certificate
For example, the online career training website careertraining.ed2go.com/ offers Digital Court Reporter, teaching digital court reporting, and broad training for covering legal proceedings.
Topics cover laws, court systems, ethics, legal procedures, professionalism, digital reporting software/equipment, and preparing students for the AAERT Certified Electronic Reporters Exam.
This 60-hour online course costs $795, with six months to complete.
Community College of Vermont
A court reporting program that can be conducted online or on campus, with courses in real-time reporting, legal procedures, and transcription.
Students can participate in internships with local court reporting firms.
Castleton University
A court reporting program offers preparation for various careers in the legal field, with stenography, legal procedures, and transcription.
Students can work in internships with local court reporting firms.
Green Mountain College
Courses combining classroom instruction with online coursework include stenography, transcription, and legal procedures.
Candidates gain experience with internships with local court reporting firms.
Northern Vermont University
Offers a court reporting program that readies candidates for entry-level positions with courses in stenography, transcription, and legal terminology.
Students learn about state-of-the-art equipment and receive hands-on training.
Vermont Technical College
A court reporting program that emphasizes real-time reporting skills.
Training in stenography, transcription, and legal terminology, with hands-on experience and classroom instruction.
More Means and Methods
Moreover, candidates for a career as a court reporter can earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field, like legal studies or criminal justice, to advance their careers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once I’ve earned certification in Vermont as a court reporter, do I need to keep up with the requirements?
Yes, The National Court Reporters Association requires continuing education requirements, on average, of 1 C.E. credit per year or three every three years.
The C.E. credit requirement for the National Verbatim Reporters Association is 30 credits every three years.
Is being a court reporter an excellent job in Vermont?
It’s an excellent career option for those in Vermont interested in a legal vocation with an accessible starting point.
Vermont ranks out of all the lower Continental 48 states, number 2 nationwide for court reporter salaries.
What are the top 5 cities in Vermont regarding salaries for court reporters?
Venerable Vermont boasts these five cities as the top tier for wages: Barre, Newport, Rutland, Bellows Falls, and Essex Junction.
Court Reporter Salary Information
The salary for court reporters is based on many variables, including certifications, education, special skills, and professional experience.
The average court reporter salary in Bennington, VT, is $63,100 as of December 2023, and the salary generally ranges between $45,500 and $82,000.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$43K |
|
$60K |
|
$78K |
Average Salary in Vermont
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Burlington | $61,739 |
| Essex | $61,739 |
| Rutland | $62,168 |
| Colchester | $61,739 |
| South Burlington | $61,739 |
| Bennington | $63,273 |
| Essex Junction | $61,739 |
| Montpelier | $61,176 |
| Williston | $61,739 |
| Barre | $61,176 |
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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