Does it really matter if the school you attend is NCRA approved?

Asked by Tika {27}
8/18/2010 1:49:46 PM

if the school you attend is NCRA approved? Will it make a difference once you get out into the real "working" world? I'm thinking about becoming a Court Reporter but the 1 school in my area that is NCRA approved is costing about $40,000. Thanks for any feedback.

~Tika

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Answered by Tika {27}
8/18/2010 3:18:28 PM

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This helps alot, Thanks for the info!

I really don't think the NCRA approval is meaningful. - babits 8/19/2010 12:15:59 AM | Flag

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Answered by LoriByrdBuckner {118}
http://htt;://www.bucknerreporting.com
8/19/2010 7:59:54 AM

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35-year vet here. The only thing I learned of substance in the NCRA-approved school I attended was speed. But that was a long time ago. Having been an official and freelancer, each state, each firm has different formatting. Get the RPR, CRR and all other certifications you can, WORK on your realtime capabilites till you're writing near perfect, know and keep knowing the technology, and you'll have all the best work you can get.

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Answered by iamwrdsmth {588}
8/19/2010 1:37:23 PM

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It doesn't matter whether your school is NCRA approved or not -- unless the non-NCRA school is poorly structured and offers classes that do not meet above average requirements.

Being NCRA approved sets a standard the school must provide the student in class structure, cirriculum, class content, and accountability of attendance. Sure you can 'skate' by, many students do, but getting a quality education is important.

so you must decide whether the local non-NCRA-approved school will offer the same quality education to teach you to be a great court reporter not just a 'good' one.

check into the types of accademics classes, the frequency of speed classes, and average time students take to complete the program.

good luck!

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	Comments from Facebook
		Janet Ponther Hughes I`m curious to the feedback on this as well. I`m thinking of switching from my NRCA endorsed online school to Simply Steno. It`s a fraction of the cost, but there is no certification involved. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Donna Wintrell Ward Call up some court reporting agencies in your area and ask them what they prefer. I orginally started out at an NCRA approved school and then switched to one that wasn`t. I`ve been out working for 12 years and never once have I been asked if the school I went to was NCRA approved. In my state, you have to be RPR certified, so that in a nutshell says it all. Good luck. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Anne-Marie Landry You`d still have to take the certification exam regardless of what school you use. If the school can prepare you for the test, great. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Susan Sims I went to a non-NCRA endorsed school about 20 years ago and have been a busy freelance reporter for the last 17+ years. I don`t think it matters as long as you get good training. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Cami DeVito I agree with Anne-Marie Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Kim Henderson I learned theory & started building speed from a working reporter, then used tapes and worked on my own to take the RPR. I stay very busy and no one has ever questioned my schooling. I did try to go to an NCRA-approved school to build speed, and I hate to say it was an absolute joke. I knew more about court reporting than the instructors did. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Stacie Skotarczyk As long as you acquire the skills necessary to pass the state test, no one cares where you went to school. I know a lot of people who went to community colleges that offered classes. It may take longer but there is no reason you should have to pay $40,000 Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Sherita Hunter I go to an approved school, and the most of the students I that are almost done or have graduated agree it is a complete waste. Their job is to get you in and keep you. I could have easily learned what I know from another school or by interning more. My school doesn`t permit us to intern until we are in 200. You can learn theory and intern anywhere and learn more from acutal reporters for a fraction of the cost. There is no need to go to an approved school to take the test, so spare youself Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Elyssa Ledgerwood I AM a student of Simply Steno. I attended an NCRA accredited school years ago. I can tell you from personal experience, at least with Simply Steno...the education I`m receiving is far superior to my NCRA education. I also don`t believe that accreditation means anything as far as once you`re working. I think it`s simply a measure of the curriculum based on what the NCRA feels necessary.....HOWEVER, keep in mind, the reality is that the only thing that matters is passing the exam and becoming cer Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Maryl Hart I graduated from a non NCRA- approved school 24 years ago. I`ve been trying to catch up on transcript ever since. I was blessed during my internship to be mentored by reporters in the common pleas court, and that made all the difference. School taught me how to write, the reporters taught me enough about real reporting. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Maryl Hart taught me enough should be taught me much Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Amanda Ross Longmore I`m currently enrolled in a non-accredited community college for court reporting. From what I`ve gathered, just get yourself prepared for the RPR and don`t worry about the NCRA endorsement on your education. Each of my speedbuilding classes are roughly $1200. So the price tag on an accredited school doesn`t seem worth it to me. Get your speed whatever way you can. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Elsa Jorgensen If you`re in a CSR state, call the state body that oversees certification and make sure the school you`re thinking of attending is on their list of approved programs. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Deborah Merideth pass the test. best wishes. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Lori Kavalesky-Chapiewski Some states require that you pass an accredited program inorder to take the CSR exam (such as Michigan where I am). You are not required to be in an accredited program to take the RPR, anyone can take the RPR but my understanding is that it is more difficult than the CSR, the speed material is more difficult density wise, the actual speeds are the same. 180 Lit, 200 jury, 225 2V..... Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Elora Dorini well, you get what you pay for. One way or another, you will pay. Accredited school teach you a new career. That`s not to say non-accredited doesn`t, but ultimately, you have to go with what you feel is in your best interests. I attend Bryan in Los Ang. It`s expensive and worth every dime. I can get help/support at any time from ANY teacher, staff, administration. We`re not here on our own just trying to figure it out. Being accredited ins`t always necessary, but for where you are, and what you Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Elora Dorini of course, a REALLY good school would teach you to put an S on the end of school in the above post. But I move to the beat of my own drum. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Sue Nenne Campana I went to a school that wasn`t accredited by NCRA and received an excellent education. Now, of course, that was 20 tears ago, but...I believe that a lot of what you get out of your education depends on what effort, time, and determination you put into it.You should look at all your choices and make the best pick for you. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Crystal Storms I went to a school that was accredited, and the owner had another school in another city that wasn`t accredited yet. Same curriculum and style, but you can`t get the accreditation until you have a student graduate. So a new school is never accredited. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Rachel Hilker I went to two that were both accredited and the differences that stuck out to me the most were the atmosphere and the support. That`s not something you can accredit. Curriculum is curriculum -- but you can`t grade how confident the teachers make the students feel or how much of themselves they are willing to invest in you. I wish you the best in your decision, and I hope you stay excited and enthusiastic through your education. :) Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Katie Wood I went to an NCRA approved school and graduated with a big student loan. No one asks about what school I went to. They want a person who can do the job. It makes no difference. You can still get your RPR without attending an NCRA accredited school. I always advise people who ask me to go the cheaper route because the equipment isn`t cheap and when you get out of school you still don`t know what you`re doing. It takes about six months to get comfortable and about a year to really learn. Re Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Christy Heslep-Riley How would attending a non-NCRA accredited school effect student loans and FAFSA? Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Christine Lucente Luciano A non-NCRA accredited school would probably be cheaper. I had 25 grand in student loans when I passed my CSR in my state after going to an accredited school. As long as you pass the state test, it really doesn`t matter. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Margaret Cline I am totally pro NCRA school. The approval means that they won`t just concentrate on your speed, but all the other things that you need between the ears to be a successful reporter. The NCRA approval will guarantee that you are getting your money`s worth. As a one person student, you don`t have the clout to make your education fulfill all you need to succeed. NCRA has the clout and will make sure you get what you are entitled to. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Margaret Cline Oh, and I don`t know where you are located, but out here in California NCRA approval does not mean high tuition. Some of the greatest reporting schools in Southern California are community colleges which charge the meager tuition that such colleges can charge. Try online schools. I teach online classes for College of Court Reporting in Hobart, Indiana. Their graduation rate and their online classes are pretty awesome. I don`t know what the tuition is, but you will really get your money`s wo Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Arin Olinger I`m interested in the feedback on the above question also. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Sherry Sullivan-Balagna Ladies, remember, court reporting is not just about speed or a test. There`s a lot more to it than just passing a state test. You also need to learn how to prepare a transcript, possibly read back, deal with arguments or people talking over each other. A good school, regardless of accreditation, will give you more than just speed. I actually went to a university that carried the program back in the `80s (wow I`m old), and obtained a Bachelor`s degree. Also, you need to know that as state Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Eileen Fallon Beltz Hello! Being accredited by an NCRA school ensures that a student is familiar with all aspects of reporting, not just speed building. The students must understand the concepts of litigation support and CAT systems. They must create trancripts from beginning to end, including title pages and so on. They must intern and create a transcript that is evaluated for accuracy and format. I agree that new reporters learn much while on the job, but the more they learn before they get out there the bet Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Carrie Caulfield Thank you, Sherry, couldn`t have said it better myself. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Lori Kavalesky-Chapiewski Internship hours are a great way to learn a lot of what you may not about the actual court work environment and procedures....many accredited programs require a certain number of internship hours, both court and deposition, to be completed inorder to complete their program....internship work is very interesting and a great motivator, if you have the opportunity sit in with a reporter.... Wednesday, August 18, 2010

		Karen Reuter-Kahle If you can pass the RPR, I really don`t see the difference. As a working reporter for 22 years, it wouldn`t make any difference to me as long as you can do the job. Just my two cents. I think the only reason to go to an NCRA approved school is that they hopefully prepare you to pass the NCRA certifications. I know of some schools here in Arizona that were NCRA approved but no student could pass the RPR. Myself, I would go where it`s cheaper, get out of school faster and start working. Hope that Thursday, August 19, 2010

		Cindy Gleason I`ve been a court reporter for 35 years, more than I lilke to admit, but I went to an NCRA approved school in Michigan, with an extensive internship program, and although it was very beneficial, I still was not prepared for the real world of court reporting! The internship I had was sitting in with an actual court reporter and transcribing for her review. That lasted for about three months. We didn`t have computers then so imagine typing on a manual typewriter, transcripts for her to scrutini Thursday, August 19, 2010

		Laura Bisignano I went to scholl for 150.00 a month in New York back in 1977. Come to New York School of Court Reporting. I don`t think it`s forty thousand dollars a year. Thursday, August 19, 2010

		Debbie Pitillo Ketring Bottom Line: Nothing prepares you for the real world like the real world. I went to an NCR school in Los Angeles. One of the best in the country. They can only prepare you so much. Some of the depos I had no amount of schooling can prepare you for! My advice is that you go to a school. Learn the Latin and Law and grammar. Pass the CSR Exam and do your very best. Most expensive doesn`t always mean the best. I[`ve been reporting since 1989. Thursday, August 19, 2010

		Melissa Osipczuk I`m sure it doesn`t matter if it`s accredited or not. I taught at a school that was thinking of not re-newing the accreditation, and it`s basically just a fee the school has to pay and attend a seminar. One of the teachers are required to go. I don`t think it makes one school better than another. Check your state requirements. Some states require you are certified and pass the CSR, RPR. It won`t matter if you graduate top of your class if you don`t pass those tests in some states, you won`t Thursday, August 19, 2010

		Katie Wood Go the cheaper route. Remember you need a machine cost: 1,500 to 5,000. Software: 2,000, to 4,000 + tech support. Computer, printer, fax, Notary cost (where I live $400) NCRA membership, etc, etc, You see my point!!! It`s expensive if you don`t have a lot of money. There are cheaper ways to go around this. I wish I would have had someone tell me. LOL .... Friday, August 20, 2010

		Tahira Morris @Katie, I really like how you broke it down...all the extra stuff when you finish school is something to think about also. I see your point :) Friday, August 20, 2010

		Michelle Daniel I went to an NCRA accredited online school. It was a public school; therefore, tuition was cheap. I couldn`t see spending $10,000 for the same education. And the plus was that it was an NCRA approved school. I graduated with zero in student loans or debt. And used the money I would have used for an expensive tuituion to buy my equipment to get statrted working. No matter how you get to 225, 225 is the majic number. Thursday, September 02, 2010