Court Reporters have an important role in legal proceedings and work closely with lawyers. They are required to document every word that is spoken during a legal process and are especially trained to use sophisticated technology. This is why they are also called stenographers and sometimes short hand reporters. Court Reporters must be properly trained and have a certification to be able to do their job. To become a court reporter minimum two years’ Associate or four years Bachelor’s Degree is required.
Information About Court Reporters
| Education | Postsecondary education is a must. An Associate’s degree might be required as well. |
| Expertise | Court Reporting. |
| License/Certification | Mandatory |
| Experience/Training | Practical training is needed |
| Key Skills | Strong vision, Patience, Attention to detail, etc. |
| Annual Mean Salary – Arizona (2021) | $58,220 (Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners) |
| Job Outlook – Arizona (2018-2028) | 0% |
Sources: O*NET OnLine and US Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Job Duties of a Court Reporter
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners are an integral part of the legal system. They note down and record court proceedings by using different technological tools.
Steps to Become a Court Reporter in Arizona
The following are the steps you need to complete to work as a court reporter in the state of Arizona.
You will have to get the necessary education as the first step. Postsecondary education is a must. If you go for an Associate’s or a Bachelor’s degree, that is even better because advanced education will enhance your career prospects.
The state of Arizona’s rules dictate that all Arizona court reporters must have Standard Certification or alternatively Provisional Standard Certification. The Court Reporter Standard Certification Program (CR) is a state-wide certification that is given to candidates who are eligible to work as court reporters.
In order to get the state-wide certification, you have to either be a Registered Professional Reporter or a Certified Verbatim Reporter. The former certification can be obtained from NCRA, whereas the latter can be obtained from NVRA.
You can now start to look for Arizona court jobs in order to start your career. You can join a private organization or a government superior court.
Duration to Become a Court Reporter in Arizona
The minimum time required to become a certified court reporter in Arizona is between 18 to 24 months. It also depends on the degree level as a fast-track program might take around 18 months. Associate’s Degree program takes around 24 months to complete. Once the degree is finished court reporters are required to meet state licensing requirements.
Salary and Employment Levels
O*Net Online forecasts 0% growth in employment opportunities for court reporters in Arizona between 2018 and 2028. The corresponding national average for this occupation is 3%.
$58,220 was the mean annual salary of court reporters in Arizona as per BLS in 2021. The national mean annual salary in the US for court reporters is $65,240. Below are the top 5 highest paying states for this occupation in the US in 2021.
| State | Annual Mean Wage |
| New York | $ 100,270 |
| California | $ 83,720 |
| Texas | $ 81,460 |
| Iowa | $ 77,090 |
| Colorado | $ 76,410 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
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