Stenography is an important skill to have, as it can lead to a career in the legal field. But if you’re not sure that’s for you, or if you just want to get more information about what it’s like to be a stenographer and what your job responsibilities would be, this guide is for you.
What Is Stenography?
Stenography is the art of writing down the spoken word with shorthand. It looks like regular cursive writing—but it’s much faster than regular cursive. Steno machines are used to record the shorthand and translate it into text. Once the text is transcribed into English, it can be read more easily by a human being who doesn’t know shorthand.
What Are The Education Requirements To Become A Stenographer?
There are no formal requirements for becoming a stenographer, but there are some things you should know before getting started:
You’ll need to know how to type at least 20 words per minute and have good spelling skills. You’ll also need good grammar skills because most documents won’t be written in shorthand unless they’re very short (like a sign). In general, though, most people who want to become
How To Become A Stenographer
1. Nearly 90 percent of those who start court reporting school will drop out before graduation.
Scary statistic, right? It is, but don’t let it deter you from starting the court reporting school. Learning steno (machine shorthand) is difficult in and of itself, not to mention that the required speed necessary to graduate the program is 225 words per minute. For some students, the steno language just doesn’t make sense to them. Others understand it, but just can’t get the speed they need. Of course, as in any other school, students drop out because of purely unrelated personal reasons.
How do you know you’ll be the 10 percent who will actually make it through? Well, there’s no way you can know before you start, but there are certain talents that you may possess that lends itself well to reporting. Musicians, particularly pianists, tend to take to the machine. People who are good with languages also seem to do well in the reporting field.
But even if you’re not a musician or a linguist, don’t count out court reporting school. If reporting is a career you truly want to pursue, then go for it. If you’re full of dedication and determination to becoming a reporter, there’s no traits that will get you through school successfully better than those two.
2. You won’t know for sure when you will graduate from court reporting school.
Most college programs have a set graduation date. When you start in year 20XX, you know if you take a certain number of classes per semester, in two to four years you’ll be walking down that aisle to accept your diploma. Court reporting school? Not so much.
In reporting school, there’s no set timetable to graduation. Graduation depends entirely on how quickly you can work your way through speed. After learning steno theory, students begin speed classes. Students spend most of the day in class writing on their machines as the instructor dictates material to them. Once you test out of a speed class, you go to the next higher speed, and so on, until finally passing the 225 wpm tests.
Each student goes through speed at their own pace, which is why there’s no way to accurately predict a graduation date. Some students will zoom through speed in months. Others can languish there for years. Usually, though, most students graduate in two to four years, with some finishing earlier or later than that.
3. After graduation you’ll need to buy your own equipment before you can begin working.
When I was getting close to graduating, I had sticker shock when I found out exactly how much I’d need to begin working as a court reporter. I was lucky because my father agreed to cosign on my loan. I knew others at school that couldn’t afford to buy their equipment and had to work at a restaurant after they graduated to save up.
To be a working reporter, here’s a short list of what you’ll need:
- A professional steno writer $5,995
- Software 3,995
- Laptop 799
- Prof. Certification Fees 410 (some states require reporters to be certified before they can work)
- Printer 199
- Notary 100 (price varies on your state)
Total $11,498
Add everything together, and it’s nearly $12,000 out of your pocket before you can even begin work. Again, don’t let the cost discourage you. If you’re a smart shopper and are willing to negotiate, the price can be much more reasonable.
Also, if you’re leaning towards official court work and are willing to relocate, some circuits will provide everything at no cost.
A used writer is generally half the price of a new one. Some companies even have new graduate discounts and payment programs. A few software companies have special prices for new graduates as well. Search eBay, Stenosearch, and the sales and you can get most of your equipment for a fraction of the $12,000.
So don’t look at the startup costs and dismiss court reporting. It’s an investment in your future in a long and rewarding career that pays very well.
Now, the Positive Side
4. Your Schedule can be Very Flexible. This is actually one of the reasons why I chose this career. My son was young, and I wanted to be able to take off for vacations, field trips, etc. It was so rewarding to be able to make time for my son and family. We’ve been on some cool vacations, some of which he still raves about. (And he’s grown!)
Bear in mind, flexibility only applies to the freelancing arena. Officials who work in courthouses work everyday business hours. For most freelancers, you’re considered an independent contractor, which means you can work when you want. It’s a power you need to use carefully, though. A reporting firm will do back flips over a reporter that is good and reliable. Taking off at the last minute and often can make things dicey. As long as you let them know a week or two ahead (excluding emergencies, of course) and do your job properly and meet deadlines things will be great.
5. Your Income Potential is only Limited by You. Any field in court reporting can be very lucrative. If you’re dedicated to improving your skills and staying current technologically, life as a reporter can be good.
