How much is the court reporting course in Florida
Florida is one of the top 10 states to live in and it’s no surprise why. It has a strong economy, beautiful weather, and a good network of affordable schools. Moreover, Florida is in the top 5 states with the highest employment level of court reporters, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So, don’t hesitate to study court reporting in Miami and you can look forward to strong job prospects.
How Much to Study Court Reporting in Miami?
Overall, you can expect to court reporting schools anywhere between $5,000 to $20,000 or more per year. The good news is that the average course for court reporting in Miami is closer to $10,000 although you might be able to halve that with an online course.
In order to manage your costs, don’t just look carefully at the difference between studying online and in person. You also need to think about part-time versus full-time courses. Depending on your funds, you might need to put aside some time for a part-time job.
Some schools actually offer part-time jobs as, for example, teachers or library assistants. Moreover, they usually also provide some financial assistance in the form of scholarships or grants. Naturally, you have to qualify to be able to apply. Nevertheless, they can advise you on your options and even direct you to better loans than what your average bank can provide.
Another important point to note when researching the different courses is that you can apply either for an Associate’s or a Bachelor’s program. The former takes between 1 to 2 years and so will cost you less than the 4-year Bachelor’s course.
Of course, with a Bachelor’s degree, you have access to more opportunities and higher salaries afterward but you can always take your Bachelor’s a few years later. That way, you start earning for a few years to support you during the degree.
Everyone has different criteria when it comes to choosing their college including how far or close to home they want to be. Nevertheless, to give you some ideas, here are more details on some schools accredited by the Florida Court Reporters Association:
- KeyCollege
- Atlantic Technical College
- Hardeman School of Court Reporting and Captioning
Key College
At Key College, you can earn an Associate’s degree either on campus or online, depending on your preference. They also offer a digital court reporting certificate that just focuses on digital equipment so you don’t learn stenography language.
Atlantic Technical College
This 28-month program can be either taken in the classroom or fully online and gives you the opportunity to certify both to work in Florida and nationwide. There are three levels with the first two designed to become a transcriptionist. To become a fully certified court reporter, you need to complete all three programs.
Hardeman School of Court Reporting and Captioning
Hardeman offers several steno and transcription courses as well as the court reporting certificate. Their courses are online and they also try to keep their costs to a minimum such that you pay per month and you don’t have to sign up for the whole semester.
Extra Costs to Remember during Court Reporting School
When studying court reporting in Miami, you also need to budget for all the extras. It’s easy to forget that we need tools such as laptops and stationery to work properly. Moreover, most schools require you to buy or rent your own stenograph machine.
The stenograph is the core of a court reporter’s toolbox. Whilst it’s been around since the mid-1800s, it has evolved from something that looked like a typewriter with a ticker tape scroll to a sleek device that connects to a laptop. These days, court reporters also usually have both voice-to-text and computer-aided transcription (CAT) software on their laptops.
Overall, you can expect to include these average costs into your budget for studying court reporting in Miami:
- Digital equipment
- Books
- Exam and membership fees
Digital equipment
Depending on what type of laptop you get, you should consider around $2,000. Essentially, you need something with enough speed and memory to cope with specialist court reporting software.
Books
You’ll see on Hardeman’s website that they offer their textbook at $74. Other books might add another couple of hundred dollars to your budget although you might be able to access them at the library.
Exam and membership fees
As you prepare for your career in court reporting in Miami, it’s good to build your network. We always need people to help us with questions and to present opportunities to us throughout our careers.
So, many reporters become members of the Florida Court Reporters Association and sometimes also the National Court Reporters Association. These are usually a few hundred dollars but you can get student prices. Last but not least, the final court reporting exam costs between $140 to $200.
Parting Words on Studying Court Reporting in Miami
If you enjoy writing and want to join a career that’s both varied and in demand, these costs are worth the investment. Your salary will average $60,000 and can even go up to $100,000 depending on your niche and your state. So, get saving, get budgeting, and remember the big picture when you apply to study court reporting in Miami. This is a long-term investment in life.