How to Select a Court Reporter School

By Jennifer Charleston

When considering a Court Reporting school, you should make sure the school has been approved by the National Court Reporting Association. Since NCRA is the organization that issues exams and certifications, approved schools will be sure to include the required teachings and training in their curriculum, as well as prepare you for the certification exam. You can see a list of NCRA approved schools on their website.

Another choice to make when selecting a Court Reporting school is the type of classes you wish to take. Do you need daytime classes, evening classes, or maybe you need to find a school that offers online courses or a combination of an on/off campus curriculum? What ever your scheduling requirements, you should not find it difficult to locate an educational facility that offers what you need.

Court Reporter education is provided by universities, colleges, vocational, trade and technical schools that offer in classroom and online training. There are also varying programs and degrees offered, from earning a certificate, to a bachelor degree.

So you have found a couple of schools that are NCRA certified and they fit your scheduling and program requirements. What other information do you need to know about the school? Some questions you may want to ask are:

1) Do they offer or qualify for financial aid or assistance?

2) What is the admission process?

3) How long is the program?

4) What is included in the tuition?

5) What equipment do you need to buy?

6) How do they manage the internship program?

7) What is their job placement record?

8) What theories are taught?

9) What are the requirements to graduate?

Now that you have the basic answers to your questions, go to the web and Google the school or schools. Look for blogs, forums, alumni sites, or other information that is out there and may help in your decision and comfort level with the school(s). Join a couple of the sites and ask questions, but beware of plants or paid bloggers. If the information you are getting on the school is praise beyond belief, then you may want to look for a site with more realistic information.

Want more information on court reporter careers? Learn how to become a court reporter and find out what does a court reporter do from http://www.careertoolkits.com