What is a Court Reporter?
Virginia court reporters are key components of the local justice and legal systems.
Highly skilled and well-trained transcriptionists transcribe and record verbatim records in real-time for judicial proceedings, court cases, trials, depositions, administrative hearings, and corporate boardrooms.
If you’ve ever pictured yourself taking verbatim testimony and creating historical records in America’s courtrooms, court reporting could be the right career for you!
How to Become A Court Reporter in Virginia – Step by Step
Virginia residents considering becoming real-time transcriptionists, court reporters, stenographers, and captioners must complete the required education and training that meets the standards of the NCRA or the Virginia Court Reporters Association.
Complete High School
The first step towards becoming a realtime transcriptionist in Virginia is to complete high school.
New court reporters will need to show proof of completion of a high school diploma or an equivalent before becoming eligible to apply to an NCRA-approved certificate or degree program.
Court Reporter Training
Aspiring court reporters seeking certification in the state of Virginia and nationwide will need to complete an NCRA-approved certification prep course.
Approved courses teach students about real-time reporting best practices, fundamentals, and the latest technologies used to boost speed and accuracy in real-time reporting.
Local area students need to note that Virginia currently has no NCRA-approved programs operating within the state.
Students can opt for online court reporter programs that the NCRA has approved.
Hands-On Practice
Practicing your new transcription and real-time skills in a real-life work environment is a critical component of preparing for national and state certification.
Approved court reporter certification and training programs can help students locate suitable on-the-job training opportunities or internships where they can hone their new skills.
Get NCRA Certification
The National Court Reporters Association is the nationwide certification body that issues Registered Skilled Reporter (RSR), Registered Professional Reporter (RPR), and advanced transcriptionist and captioner certifications.
Potential candidates will be required to pass a written skills test and a typing test to meet the minimum scores required to earn their certificates.
Join the Virginia Court Reporters Association
The Virginia Court Reporters Association acts as a central point of contact for certified and aspiring court reporters in the state.
VCRA administers and issues the required testing for local students to earn their state-based Certified Court Reporter (CCR) certificate.
They also maintain records of actively certified court reporters working within the state.
Find a Court Reporter Job in Virginia
NCRA-certified court reporters in Virginia are eligible to work in a variety of legal, corporate, and judicial environments.
New reporters can find court reporter jobs through partnerships with training programs, internships, or by visiting online job boards.
CCR-certified reporters are eligible to work as Virginia court reporters within the state.
Complete Continuing Education Requirements
Certified court reporters are required to complete mandatory continuing education requirements to maintain their credentials.
NCRA-certified reporters can learn about where to earn CE credits on the national website.
CCR-accredited transcriptionists can visit the Virginia Court Reporters Association website to learn more about continuing education requirements.
Court Reporter Schools in Virginia
Up-and-coming court reporters considering working in Virginia may be surprised to learn that there are currently no NCRA-approved programs operating within the state.
Candidates can learn about taking the required courses and earning state-level CCR certification through the Virginia Court Reporters Association online.
Aspiring court reporters seeking alternative education and training possibilities can consider taking online court reporter training programs from the NCRA-approved providers offering online instruction listed below.
College of Court Reporting 
About the School
The College of Court Reporting is an Indiana-based school that is approved for court reporter training and education. CCR teaches students in an online synchronous format where students, peers, instructors, and partners communicate via video chat, messengers, and discussion boards in real-time.
Students who take classes at the College of Court Reporting online learn the fundamental skills needed to accurately generate real-time transcription reports of verbatim speech in courtrooms, law offices, corporate offices, and captioning. The College of Court Reporting prepares students to sit for national certification testing for skills, speed, and accuracy.
Online students need to note that they may be responsible for securing their hands-on training provider that meets NCRA and CCR standards.
Courses Offered
- Certified Real-Time Reporter Training
- Court Reporting Internship
- Introduction to Captioning
- Jury Charge
- NCRA A to Z Program
- RPR Skills
- Vocabulary and Usage
- Voice Testimony
Contact Information
- Address: 455 West Lincolnway, Valparaiso, Virginia – 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 Virginia?
No.
Virginia court reporters and transcriptionists are not required to carry an occupational license to perform their jobs.
The state requires area court reporters to earn a state-level CCR certification or national certification issued by the NCRA to practice.
What agency certifies court reporters in Virginia?
Aspiring Virginia court reporters can earn the Certified Court Reporter (CCR) state-level certification credential from the Virginia Court Reporters Association.
The second certification option is to earn the Registered Skilled Reporter (RSR) certification from the NCRA.
How long will it take me to complete court reporter training in Virginia?
It will take most full-time students between two and three years to complete the required education and training needed to work as a certified court reporter in Virginia.
Court Reporter Salary Information
Virginia court reporters have exciting and lucrative careers that can earn them high-paying salaries.
The average salary for Virginia court reporters falls right around $62,084.00 per year which is close to the national average.
Entry-level reporters on the lower end of the scale and those with fewer years of experience report lower salaries of around $44,795/00.
Seasoned transcriptionists with advanced credentials and more years of experience in the field can make as much as $81,259.00 in Virginia.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$44K |
|
$62K |
|
$81K |
Average Salary in Virginia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $59,710 |
| Norfolk | $58,811 |
| Chesapeake | $58,736 |
| Richmond | $61,697 |
| Newport News | $59,136 |
| Hampton | $59,136 |
| Reston | $69,404 |
| Portsmouth | $58,811 |
| Roanoke | $57,744 |
| Lynchburg | $57,287 |
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
I’m considering a career switch to court reporting, and this guide gives me a solid overview. The job security and decent salary in Virginia really make it an appealing option for someone like me who wants a stable career path.
As a court reporter in Virginia, I’d recommend getting as much practice with real-time reporting as you can. It’s a skill that will set you apart and make you more valuable in the courtroom!