Catalog 2024-2025

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Court Reporting and Captioning

The Court Reporting and Captioning program offers tuition-free career education and training in court reporting as performed in courtrooms and deposition settings. The program also prepares students for careers in the fields of captioning, transcription, and office support technology. The program is recognized by the Court Reporter’s Board of California to qualify students to sit for the California Certified Shorthand Reporter’s Examination. Licensed by the state, court reporters preserve all legal proceedings and submit their verbatim record as the official transcript.

IN ORDER FOR A PERSON TO QUALIFY FROM A SCHOOL TO TAKE THE STATE LICENSING EXAMINATION, THE PERSON SHALL COMPLETE A PROGRAM AT A RECOGNIZED SCHOOL. FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS THAT A COURT REPORTING PROGRAM MUST MEET IN ORDER TO BE RECOGNIZED, CONTACT: THE COURT REPORTERS BOARD OF CALIFORNIA; 2535 CAPITOL OAKS DRIVE, SUITE 230, SACRAMENTO, CA 95833, (916) 863-3664.

Each certificate of completion is designed to prepare students for employment opportunities starting with entry-level employment and progressing to advanced-skill-level captioning and court reporting employment. Since each certificate builds upon the last one, students should complete them in the following order:

  • Proofreading
  • Scoping
  • Transcription and Office Support: Machine Writing OR Voice Writing
  • Educational Captioning
  • Court Reporting
Note: Proofreading and Scoping certificate coursework may be taken concurrently. The Scoping certificate is only required for the machine writing pathway. The Proofreading certificate is necessary for the completion of both pathways, but can be taken at any time. However, it is highly recommended that this course be taken at a foundational or first stage. Courses, other than theory or speed-building courses from any certificates, should be taken whenever they are offered to ensure the quickest progression. However, some courses have advisories recommending that students take a level-one course before a level-two course. It is highly recommended that students take these courses in order, if possible.

Statement for Voice Writing Employment Opportunities: The licensure of court reporters using voice writing technology is still under review in the state of California; however, there are many immediate employment opportunities for captioners using voice writing to caption live speech in real time and voice writing court reporters are able to practice in state court systems in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Voice writing court reporters also work in the Federal Judicial System nationwide, the Military Court System, internationally, and the U.S. Congress. Source: https://nvra.org/nvra-certifications.

All courses and certificates are tuition-free and are offered through the School of Continuing Education. Students accrue completion hours rather than college credit. Noncredit courses are non-transferable to a university.

Certificates

Degree or Certificate ProgramAward TypeRequirements
Educational Captioning Certificate of Completion 290 - 474 hours
Proofreading Certificate of Completion 298 - 324 hours
Scoping Certificate of Completion 432 - 474 hours
Transcription and Office Support: Machine Writing Certificate of Completion 304 - 490 hours
Court Reporting Certificate of Completion 290 - 400 hours
Transcription and Office Support: Voice Writing Certificate of Completion 272 - 380 hours

The Faculty

Margaret Ortiz
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Last Updated 6/28/24