- Page Content
- Court Reporters in Rhode Island – The Main Talking Points
- Job Description of Court Reporters in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Court Reporters – The Steps to Join the Field
- Requirements to Become a Rhode Island Court Reporter
- Duration to Become a Court Reporter in Rhode Island
- Employment Projections
- Salary of Court Reporters in Rhode Island
Court Reporter is a skilled job that includes documenting legal proceedings; trials and hearings, and presenting them as official transcripts. Court Reporters are also known as Stenographers as they use stenography machines to write in shorthand methods and document everything from court cases. To become a court reporter in Rhode Island at least two years of college-level education is required, followed by acquiring a professional license.
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Court Reporters in Rhode Island – The Main Talking Points
| Educational Requirements | It is better to obtain a relevant degree. |
| Area of Study | Court reporting. |
| License/Certification | Certification is helpful. |
| Experience/Training | Required. |
|
Key Skills | Attention to detail, Great concentration, fast typing, Technical knowledge about court proceedings, etc. |
| Annual Mean Salary – Rhode Island (2021) | NA |
| Job Outlook – Rhode Island (2020 – 2030) | NA |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*Net Online
Job Description of Court Reporters in Rhode Island
Court reporters working in Rhode Island courts have to perform some specific duties, which are:
- Make sure everything is recorded accurately.
- Ensure impartiality.
- Make sure that they read the transcripts again and remove any mistakes.
- Make sure that they do not miss anything during court proceedings.
- Provide record to all the litigation parties.
Rhode Island Court Reporters – The Steps to Join the Field
If you want to work in a Rhode Island court, the following steps should be completed.
The starting point is high school education.
Obtain postsecondary education. Enroll in a court reporting program to get an accredited certificate.
Obtain an Associate’s degree in court reporting.
Get certified through nationally recognized bodies like the NCRA or the NVRA
Meet state licensure requirements, if any.
Apply for a job as an official court reporter or start working as a freelancer.
Requirements to Become a Rhode Island Court Reporter
- Should meet the minimum age requirement.
- Should have a clean background.
- Should have good moral standing.
- Should have postsecondary education.
- Should have an NCRA or an NVRA certification.
- Should get continuing education to maintain certification.
Duration to Become a Court Reporter in Rhode Island
A court reporter is required to complete two to four years’ associate’s or bachelor’s degree program. According to the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), it can take a minimum time of 28 months to get the basic education in court reporting. For stenographers or those looking to master in stenotype skills, it can take up to 33 months. Once the degree is completed, it’s mandatory to get certification from the NCRA.
Employment Projections
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 3% increase in employment opportunities for court reporters in the US between 2020 and 2030.
Salary of Court Reporters in Rhode Island
$65,240 was the mean annual salary of court reporters in the US as per BLS in 2021. 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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