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The excitement of the court room can entice many people to want a career in the field of criminal justice, but becoming a lawyer or judge can intimidating and costly. Becoming a bailiff is not for everyone, as some people involved in court cases can get very violent, when provoked or even told something that they do not like. However, there is one position which offers the excitement of the court room without a ton of schooling or the threat of bodily harm. That job is being the court reporter. It obviously has its perks because that professional field is projected to grow by at least 15 percent within the next five years.

One of those perks is the training. It only lasts from 18 to 33 months, depending upon which school the prospective court reporter decides to pursue their education from. This training provides the student with all the latest information and techniques on court reporting and its technology that has been developed recently. For example, the CAT (Computer-Aided Transcription) software that can be installed in a court reporter's stenograph is a part of the special training that these schools have to offer. There is also training that uses voice writing equipment to aid the court reporter in their job of making certain every word is recorded. There are certifications that can increase the court reporter's income as well.

These certifications may vary from school to school, but they usually fall along the lines of these three: the CCR (Certified Real-Time Reporter), the CBC (Certified Broadcast Captioner) and the CCP (Certified CART Provider). If any of these certifications interest you, check with the school you are going to and make sure they have a program to offer this certification. Also, check with the state department and see how a certification will change your income. Make certain the certification (and the time and money you will invest in it) will be worth it in the end. Be absolutely certain that the college or university which you plan to take the court reporting courses at is approved by the National Court Reporters Association. If it is not, then look for another college or university which is. You do not want to waste your tuition on a place that does not have the proper classes which you will need for your degree and to be successful in the court room. If they do not provide that information, find a different college or university.

Another perk is the pay. In 2008, it was estimated that the median income of a court reporter was over 49,000 dollars. That was an estimate of court reporters who worked for the federal government and had contracts through them. A freelance court reporter has the potential to make more because they negotiate their own contracts, which allows them to set their own schedules also. If a court reporter has a certificate or a few of them and can use them well, that will also lead to a pay raise. The better at their job they are, the more recommendations they will receive and their pay will reflect that as well.

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Court reporter careers can be highly rewarding and profitable. Learn what it takes to get the right court reporter training from http://www.courtreportersalarydata.com

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