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Stenographers and Court Reporters

(D.O.T.  202.362, .382-010, and 203.582-058)

Nature of the Work

Written accounts of spoken words are necessary for correspondence,
records, or legal proof.  These verbatim reports of speeches,
conversations, legal proceedings, meetings, or other events are
taken by stenographers and court reporters.

   Stenographers and stenotype operators take dictation and then
transcribe their notes on a typewriter or word processor.  They may
take dictation using either shorthand or a stenotype machine, which
prints shorthand symbols.  General stenographers, including most
beginners, take routine dictation and do other office tasks such as
typing, filing, answering telephones, and operating office machines.
Experienced and highly skilled stenographers take more difficult
dictation.  For example, they may sit in on staff meetings and
provide word-for-word records or summary reports of the proceedings
to the participants.  They may also supervise other stenographers,
typists, and clerical workers.  Some experienced stenographers take
dictation in foreign languages; others work as public stenographers
serving traveling business people and others.

   Technical stenographers must know the medical, legal, and
engineering or scientific terminology used in a particular
profession.  For example, medical transcriptionists listen to
doctors' audio recordings and use typewriters or word processors to
transcribe what they hear into the proper printed format.  These
reports are not always word-for-word; they may be edited for grammar
or abbreviated words may be expanded.  Transcriptionists must be
medical language specialists and familiar with patient assessment,
therapeutic procedures, diagnoses, and prognoses.  In addition to
transcribing letters, reports, and the like, they may have other
clerical duties.  (Medical secretaries and assistants may transcribe
as part of their jobs.  These occupations are covered elsewhere in
the Handbook.)

   Court reporters record all statements made in an official
proceeding.  They take down all statements at speeds of
approximately 200 words per minute and present their record as the
official transcript.  Because there is only one person creating an
official transcript, accuracy is vitally important.

   Court reporters often use stenotype machines to record statements
made in official proceedings.

   Many reporters do freelance work recording out-of-court depositions
for attorneys, proceedings of meetings and conventions, and other
private activities.  Still others record the proceedings in the U.S.
Congress, in State and local governing bodies, and in government
agencies at all levels.

   Some reporters still dictate notes on magnetic tapes that a typist
can transcribe later.  Others transcribe their own notes, or give
them to note readers, persons skilled in reading back shorthand
notes.  Most commonly, reporters use stenotype machines that print
shorthand symbols on paper and record them on computer disks.  The
disks are then loaded into a computer that translates and displays
the symbols in English.  This is called Computer-Aided
Transcription.  Stenotype machines that link directly to the
computer are used for real-time captioning.  That is, as the
reporter types the symbols, they are instantly transcribed by the
computer.  This is used for closed captioning for the deaf or
hearing-impaired on television, in courts, or in meetings.  Court
reporters who specialize in captioning television news stories may
be called stenocaptioners.

Working Conditions

Stenographers usually work in clean, well-lighted offices.  Court
reporters sometimes record depositions in the offices of attorneys,
but they more often work in nonoffice settings, such as courts,
legislatures, and conventions.  Medical transcriptionists may also
work in hospitals, doctors' offices, or outpatient service
facilities.  Although the work is not physically demanding, sitting
in the same position for long periods can be tiring.  In addition,
pressure to be accurate and fast can be stressful.

   Stenographers and court reporters can work a standard 40-hour week.
Many court reporters, however, are self-employed and freelance their
services, which may result in irregular hours.  Others work part
time or as temporaries.

Employment

Stenographers and court reporters held 115,000 jobs in 1992.  Nearly
15 percent were self-employed freelance court reporters.  Of those
who worked for a wage or salary, about one-third worked for State
and local governments, a reflection of the large number of court
reporters working in courts, legislatures, and various agencies.  An
additional one-fourth worked for hospitals as medical
transcriptionists.  Other stenographers and court reporters worked
for colleges and universities, secretarial and court reporting
services, temporary help supply services, and law firms.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Stenographic skills are taught in high schools, vocational schools,
and proprietary business schools.  There are 350 postsecondary
schools and colleges that offer 2- or 4-year training programs in
court reporting.  About 100 programs have been approved by the
National Court Reporters Association, and all of them teach
computer-aided transcription.

   For stenographer jobs, employers prefer to hire high school
graduates and seldom have a preference among the many different
shorthand methods.  For court reporter jobs, however, employers
prefer stenotype, not only because reporters can write faster using
stenotype, but also because they can feed stenotype notes to a
computer for high-speed transcription.  Speed and accuracy are the
most important factors in hiring.  To qualify for jobs in the
Federal Government, stenographers must be able to take dictation at
a minimum of 80 words per minute and type at least 40 words per
minute.  Workers must achieve higher rates to advance to more
responsible positions.  Although requirements vary in private firms,
applicants with the best speed and accuracy usually receive first
consideration in hiring.  Court reporters in the Federal Government
generally must take at least 175 words a minute, and many court
reporting jobs require at least 225 words of dictation per minute.

   Some States require Court reporters who stenotype depositions to be
notary publics, and 18 States require each court reporter to be a
Certified Court Reporter (CCR).  A certification test is
administered by a board of examiners in each State that has CCR
laws.  The National Court Reporters Association confers the
designation Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) upon those who
pass a two-part examination and participate in continuing education
programs.  Although voluntary, the RPR designation is recognized as
a mark of distinction in the profession.

   For medical transcriptionist jobs, understanding medical terminology
is essential.  Good English grammar and punctuation skills are
required, as well as familiarity with word processing using
computers.  The American Association for Medical Transcription
awards the voluntary designation Certified Medical Transcriptionist
to those who earn passing scores on written and practical
examinations.

   Stenographers can advance to more responsible secretarial positions,
especially if they develop their interpersonal skills such as the
ability to communicate well.  Stenographers who get the necessary
education can become court reporters.  Court reporters, on the other
hand, have little advancement opportunities, although some reporters
choose to specialize in captioning television programs.

Job Outlook

Employment of stenographers and court reporters is expected to
decline.  Decreases in stenographer jobs should more than offset
growth in transcriptionist and court reporters jobs.  Despite the
decline, job openings will arise each year due to the need to
replace workers who leave the occupation.

   The widespread use of dictation machines has greatly reduced the
need for office stenographers.  The traditional steno pool is
practically a thing of the past.  Audio recording equipment and the
use of personal computers by managers and other professionals should
continue to greatly decrease the demand for these workers.

   Although the need for health care documentation is expected to
increase as health services continue to grow, growth of medical
transcriptionist jobs should be slowed as more doctors and nurses
directly enter their notes into computers.  Meanwhile, skilled court
reporters jobs should remain nearly unchanged as video recordings
are increasingly recognized as legal records of proceedings.  Also,
budget constraints should limit the ability of Federal, State, and
local courts to expand, even in the face of rising numbers of
criminal court cases and civil lawsuits.  Demand should grow,
however, for court reporters willing to take depositions for court
reporting service bureaus or as independent freelancers.

   Another factor stimulating demand is the growing number of
conventions, conferences, seminars, and similar meetings whose
proceedings are recorded.  Although many of these events are being
videotaped, a written transcript must still be created for legal
purposes or if the proceedings are to be published.  The trend to
provide instantaneous written captions for the deaf and hearing
impaired also should strengthen demand for stenocaptioners.

   Competition for entry level jobs as a court reporter is increasing
as more workers are attracted to the occupation.  Opportunities
should be best for those who earn certification by the National
Court Reporters Association.

Earnings

Stenographers and court reporters had median earnings of $410 a week
in 1992.  The middle 50 percent earned between $370 and $540 a week.
The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $310, while the highest
paid 10 percent earned over $960 a week.  Court reporters generally
earn higher salaries than stenographic office workers.  Regardless
of specialty, earnings depend on speed, education, experience, and
geographic location (earnings are generally higher in large cities
than in rural areas).

Related Occupations

A number of other workers type, record information, and process
paperwork.  Among these are bookkeepers, receptionists, secretaries,
personnel clerks, administrative assistants, and medical assistants.

Sources of Additional Information

   For information about shorthand reporting, contact:

   National Court Reporters Association, 8224 Old Courthouse Rd.,
Vienna, VA 22182.

   Information on medical transcription is available from:

   American Association for Medical Transcription, P.O.  Box 576187,
Modesto, CA 95357.  Phone: toll free, 1-800-982-2182.

   State employment offices can provide information about job openings
for stenographers.