Continuing education for the legal support industry is important so that court reporters and videographers can keep up to date with industry changes. The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) offers accredited courses to these professionals.
Managed by the Council of the Academy of Professional Reporters (CAPR), the program abides by the NCRA bylaws, which were created by the NCRA Board of Directors in 1975.
More than 40 years ago, the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) program was kick-started to improve the court reporting field, taking it to a professional level that was verifiable for the first time. Court reporters who achieved registered status via testing and continuing education created a field that’s consistently proficient, well-rounded and technologically advanced.
Legal support workers can obtain numerous certifications, and these include Registered Merit Reporter (RMR), Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR) and two real-time certifications, the Certified Realtime Captioner and Certified Realtime Reporter (both increasingly in demand due to today’s digital, real-time needs).
The programs require a certain number of continuing education units (CEUs), an approach used by many adult learning programs. Today, commercial seminars and online options are offered to fulfill these CEUs.
Sustaining Legal Support Excellence
Information and technology are advancing quickly, and continuing education ensures legal support staff members have the skills and knowledge to stay competitive. Programs offer a high-quality education that’s consistently updated, so court reporters learn about the latest advances.
Court reporting requires an immense knowledge base that changes frequently (the NCRA estimates changes occur every seven years). In these programs, learners acquire new skills, become experts in niche areas and get acquainted with cutting-edge technology.
However, the NCRA encourages court reporters to delve deeper into subtler benefits, such as keeping an open mind, becoming a better-rounded reporter and becoming more entwined within the field.
Numerous studies tout continuing education, regardless of the subject, as key for workers to keep their minds sharp and engaged.
The goal of the NCRA is to provide certification and continuing education, promote higher education and skills, maintain standards of reporting, offer programs to strengthen the industry, stimulate professional and personal development, and offer an open registration policy.
Are Your Court Reporters Up to Date?
Many organizations value the legitimacy that certification provides. Having certification from an unbiased, independent accrediting body is highly prized, and NCRA’s certifications are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training, which has its own requirements for eligibility. This keeps the certification process fair while maintaining standards set by both governing bodies.
If you’re looking for a court reporter, check to see if a proper accrediting agency has OK’d their credentials.
Not all agencies and locations require certification, but checking on these is a fast, easy and effective way to make sure the legal support professional you hire is of the highest caliber. To connect with quality court reporters and get legal support in your area, contact DepoMaxMerit Litigation Services today.