The National Court Reporters Association, or NCRA, is a US organization for the advancement of the profession of the court reporter, closed captioner, and realtime writer. The association holds annual conventions, seminars and forums, speed and real-time contests, and teachers' workshops to assist court reporters.
Reporters can join NCRA for a fee that varies depending on whether the applicant is a student, teacher, or reporter. Membership allows a reporter to take the certifications, get discounts on conventions, attend conferences, and have access to a network of other professionals in the field.
History
Speed Competition at National Court Reporters Association 2016 Conference - Some 1100 court reporters will attend the National Court Reporters Association's annual conference in Chicago on Aug. 3-7, 2016, and about 40 of them took part in a speed competition on...
NCRA was established in 1899 in Chicago, Illinois, United States, as the National Shorthand Reporters Association (NSRA). They created standardization of ethical codes, transcript rates, and information for all shorthand reporters. They published "The Shorthand Writer" and started the National Speed Contest, which is still held today. NCRA developed the first standardized test for court reporters to gauge their proficiency. Called the Certificate of Proficiency, it was replaced by the Registered Professional Reporter.
Membership with NCRA
NCRA supports individuals through education and certification, promotion of the stenographic profession throughout the legal industry, and defense of the industry in government. NCRA provides news and information to its members through email newsletters and its JCR magazine, as well as on its website. Industry professionals benefit from membership with NCRA by broadening their network, bringing them new business, personal and career enhancements, and receiving access to information and education.
Standardized tests
NCRA offers three main certifications:
- RPR, Registered Professional Reporter
- RMR, Registered Merit Reporter
- RDR, Registered Diplomate Reporter, the highest certification designated by NCRA
They have established seven other certification programs:
- CRR, Certified Realtime Reporter
- CBC, Certified Broadcast Captioner
- CCP, Certified CART Provider
- CRC, Certified Realtime Captioner
- CLVS, Certified Legal Video Specialist
- CRI, Certified Reporting Instructor
- MCRI, Master Certified Reporting Instructor
- CMRS, Certified Manager of Reporting Services
- CPE, Certified Program Evaluator
- RSA, Realtime Systems Administrator
The written knowledge portion of the exams is offered four times a year at Pearson VUE Professional Centers, and the skills portion of the exams is offered twice a year at NCRA-sponsored testing sites.
Steno Contests
Steno contests are held annually at the NCRA Annual Convention and Exhibition in two categories: Speed and Realtime.
- 2010 Speed Contest
Mark Tod Kislingbury of Houston, Texas, won the 2010 speed contest with an accuracy of 99.228% topping a field of 36 competitors. Deanna Boenau of Sarasota, Florida, won the 2010 realtime contest with an accuracy of 98.667% topping a field of 40 competitors.
- 2011 Speed Contest
Alan H. Brock, RDR, CRR, of Boston, Mass., won the 2011 speed contest with an accuracy of 99.265%. JoAnn Bryce, RMR, CRR, of Castro Valley, Calif., won the 2011 realtime contest with an accuracy of 99.039%.
- 2012 Speed Contest
Sherry Bryant, RMR, CRR, of Harrisburg, Pa., won the 2012 speed contest with an accuracy of 99.380%. Tammy Milcowitz, RMR, CRR, CBC, CCP, of Oldsmar, Fl., won the 2012 realtime contest with an accuracy of 99.583%.
- 2013 Speed Contest
Dana Hayden, RMR, CRR, of Huntsville, Ark., won the 2013 Speed Contest with an accuracy of 99.569%. Jo Ann Bryce, RMR, CRR, of Castro Valley, Calif., won the 2013 realtime contest with an accuracy of 99.717%.
Perfect Speed Contest Papers
Only NCRA Speed Champion in four different decades
Certified Schools
Although the NCRA is not an accrediting agency, they have established general requirements and minimum standards expected of a court reporting school. The following schools have met those requirements as of 2012:
Alabama
- Gadsden State Community College
- Prince Institute of Professional Studies
Arizona
- GateWay Community College
California
- Bryan College of Court Reporting
- Sage College
- South Coast College
- West Valley College
- Marin Community College
Colorado
- Prince Institute
Florida
- Atlantic Technical Center
- Erwin Technical Center
- Key College
- Sheridan Technical Center
Georgia
- Brown College of Court Reporting
Illinois
- MacCormac College
- Midstate College
- South Suburban College
Indiana
- College of Court Reporting Inc.
Kansas
- Butler Community College
Michigan
- Academy of Court Reporting
- Macomb Community College Center for Cont. Edu
Minnesota
- Anoka Technical College
Mississippi
- Hinds Community College
Missouri
- St. Louis Community College Meramec
Nevada
- Everest College
New Jersey
- StenoTech Career Institute, Fairfield
- StenoTech Career Institute, Piscataway
New Mexico
- Central New Mexico Community College
New York
- Alfred State College
- Business Informatics Center
- Long Island Business Institute
- New York Career Institute
Ohio
- Clark State Community College
- Cuyahoga Community College
- Miami-Jacobs Career College, Columbus
- Miami-Jacobs Career College, Independence
- Miami-Jacobs Career College, Sharonville
- Stark State College of Technology
- Stautzenberger College, Brecksville
- Stautzenberger College, Maumee
Pennsylvania
- Community College of Allegheny County
- Orleans Technical Institute
South Dakota
- Colorado Technical University
Texas
- Alvin Community College
- Arlington Career Institute
- Court Reporting Institute of Dallas
- Court Reporting Institute of Houston
- Kussad Institute of Court Reporting
Washington
- Green River Community College
West Virginia
- Huntington Junior College
Wisconsin
- Lakeshore Technical College
- Madison Area Technical College
Canada
- Canadian Centre for Verbatim Studies
- Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
References
