Court Reporter Typing Test Qualifications

What is a Typing Test?

A typing test is an examination implemented in order to evaluate and gauge the participant’s typing skills, as well as their proficiency in transcription. A typing test will typically render results in accordance with how many ‘words-per-minute’ were typed. The results are illustrated utilizing the common abbreviation ‘wpm’.

Levels of Professional Typing Positions

The varying degrees of proficiency expressed through the results rendered by a Typing Test typically exist in conjunction with the varying levels of typing positions. The following three levels are amongst the most common categorizations with regard to professional typists and transcriptionists:

Level I: A professional typist or transcriptionist producing up to 40 wpm as a result of the undertaking of a typing test;

Level II: A professional typist or transcriptionist producing up to 60 wpm as a result of the undertaking of a typing test;

Level III: A professional typist or transcriptionist producing over 60 wpm as a result of the undertaking of a typing test. Typically, Level III typists and transcriptionists will be required to possess supplementary degrees with regard to the nature of the professional field in which they will be employed.

Court Reporter Certifications

Within the legal field, the transcription of all natures of expressed speech oral and verbal in nature is required to be transcribed into written, tangible, and textual form(s). A court reporter is a professional transcriptionist who undertakes the transcription process with regard to such expressions existing within a legal hearing or trial.

Within each of the following certifications, a primary institution is responsible for not only the regulation of certifications granted to court reporters, but also for the oversight of the practice of legal transcription and court reporting. The following certifications are available for receipt within the field of professional stenography through both the completion of a variety of examinations and typing tests:

Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR)

Classification: This certification is defined as the most prestigious certification within the field of court reporting.

Required Typing Test Results: Due to the fact that an individual candidate must already be in possession of a Registered Merit Reporter certification, a Typing Test is not required for the receipt of a Registered Diplomate Reporter certification. However, the typing test specific to Registered Merit Reporters must be satisfied.

Additional Requirements: Proficiency in shorthand and the operation of a Stenotype Machine, which is evaluated by a typing test, a required membership to the National Court Reporters Association exceeding 6 years’ time, and a valid membership at the time of participation in the typing test.

Accrediting Institution: The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).

Registered Merit Reporter (RMR)

Classification: This certification is defined as the second-most esteemed court reporter certification after the Registered Diplomate Reporter certification.

Required Typing Test Results: Literary Legal Transcription (200 wpm), Jury Transcription (240 wpm), and Examination-based Testimony (260 wpm).

Additional Requirements: Proficiency in shorthand and the operation of a Stenotype Machine, which is evaluated by a typing test. Required membership to the National Court Reporters Association.

Accrediting Institution: The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).

Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR)

Classification: This certification is defined as the alternative certification program overseeing the authentication of professional court reporters.

Required Typing Test Results: Literary Legal Transcription (200 wpm), Jury Transcription (225 wpm), and Examination-based Testimony (250 wpm).

Additional Requirements: Proficiency in shorthand and the operation of a Stenotype Machine, which is evaluated by a typing test. Required membership to the National Verbatim Reporters Association.

Accrediting Institution: The National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA).

Registered Professional Reporter (RPR)

Classification: This certification is defined as the most common certification within the field of professional court reporting.

Required Typing Test Results: Literary Legal Transcription (180 wpm), Jury Transcription (200 wpm), and Examination-based Testimony (225 wpm).

Additional Requirements: Proficiency in shorthand and the operation of a Stenotype Machine, which is evaluated by a typing test.

Accrediting Institution: The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).

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