In recent years, a shortage of court reporters and closed captioning professionals has led the profession to be among the most in-demand occupations nationwide. However, there are very few educational programs available to interested students.
In response to the demand, Lake Land College Business Division faculty worked closely with area reporters to create a Court Reporting Technology Associate Degree program.
The program is designed to train students for careers in the judicial setting as either official or freelance court reporters or in providing captioning for broadcast television and internet programs. The captioning specialization prepares students for careers providing captioning for broadcast television and internet. Captioners also work with the deaf or hard-of-hearing population, providing an accurate word-for-word text translation in education, civic and corporate settings.
Most court reporting schools have a starting tuition rate of $40,000. This can reach up to $70,000 in various areas across the United States. However, Lake Land College will not exceed $8,000 for the entire two-year program.
“Lake Land makes it possible to receive a quality education, earn an associate degree and walk away with the certification needed to enter the field at a tuition rate that is well under the national average for court reporting,” Kathleen Daugherty, business instructor/program coordinator, office professional-medical, said.
Students interested in the program may begin the program with a typing speed of 40-50 words per minute. Through lab courses and practice time outside of class, students will acquire a writing speed of 225 words per minute, which is required to pass national certification exams.
“Area court reporters tell me all the time how there is never a day they don’t want to go to work. Each day is different and exciting—you never know what you’ll hear and translate day to day,” Daugherty said.
Stenotype machines will be available through a rent-to-own process.
Local court reporters will also be available throughout the program to mentor students.
“Every student will likely reach a plateau as they increase their typing speed. It will be highly beneficial for the students to have mentors available to help them overcome that plateau,” Daugherty said.
The final semester of the program, students will complete a one-hour internship course where they will be placed in court rooms under the supervision of the judge and local court reporter.
For more information about the Court Reporting Technology associate degree program, contact Lisa Earp at 217-234-5356 or learp@lakelandcollege.edu.