National Court Reporters Association

The National Court Reporters Association, or NCRA, is a US organization for the advancement of the profession of the court reporter, closed captioner, and realtime writer. The association holds annual conventions, seminars and forums, speed and real-time contests, and teachers' workshops to assist court reporters.

Reporters can join NCRA for a fee that varies depending on whether the applicant is a student, teacher, or reporter. Membership allows a reporter to take the certifications, get discounts on conventions, attend conferences, and have access to a network of other professionals in the field.

History
NCRA was established in 1899 in Chicago, Illinois, United States as the National Shorthand Reporters Association (NSRA). They created standardization of ethical codes, transcript rates, and information for all shorthand reporters. They published "The Shorthand Writer" and started the National Speed Contest, which is still held today. NCRA developed the first standardized test for court reporters to gauge their proficiency. Called the Certificate of Proficiency, it was replaced by the Registered Professional Reporter.

Membership with NCRA
NCRA supports individuals through education and certification, promotion of the stenographic profession throughout the legal industry, and defense of the industry in government. NCRA provides news and information to its members through email newsletters and its JCR magazine, as well as on its website.

Standardized tests
NCRA offers three main certifications:
 * RPR, Registered Professional Reporter
 * RMR, Registered Merit Reporter
 * RDR, Registered Diplomate Reporter, the highest certification designated by NCRA

They have established seven other certification programs:
 * CRR, Certified Realtime Reporter
 * CBC, Certified Broadcast Captioner
 * CCP, Certified CART Provider
 * CRC, Certified Realtime Captioner
 * CLVS, Certified Legal Video Specialist
 * CRI, Certified Reporting Instructor
 * MCRI, Master Certified Reporting Instructor
 * CMRS, Certified Manager of Reporting Services
 * CPE, Certified Program Evaluator
 * RSA, Realtime Systems Administrator

The written knowledge portion of the exams is offered four times a year at Pearson VUE Professional Centers, and the skills portion of the exams is offered twice a year at NCRA-sponsored testing sites.

Certified Schools
Although the NCRA is not an accrediting agency, they have established general requirements and minimum standards expected of a court reporting school. The following schools have met those requirements as of 2012:

Alabama
 * Gadsden State Community College
 * Prince Institute of Professional Studies

Arizona
 * GateWay Community College

California
 * Bryan College of Court Reporting
 * Sage College
 * South Coast College
 * West Valley College
 * Marin Community College

Colorado
 * Prince Institute

Florida
 * Atlantic Technical Center
 * Erwin Technical Center
 * Key College
 * Sheridan Technical Center

Georgia
 * Brown College of Court Reporting

Illinois
 * MacCormac College
 * Midstate College
 * South Suburban College

Indiana
 * College of Court Reporting Inc.

Kansas
 * Butler Community College

Michigan
 * Academy of Court Reporting
 * Macomb Community College Center for Cont. Edu

Minnesota
 * Anoka Technical College

Mississippi
 * Hinds Community College

Missouri
 * St. Louis Community College Meramec

Nevada
 * Everest College

New Jersey
 * StenoTech Career Institute, Fairfield
 * StenoTech Career Institute, Piscataway

New Mexico
 * Central New Mexico Community College

New York
 * Alfred State College
 * Business Informatics Center
 * Long Island Business Institute
 * New York Career Institute

Ohio
 * Clark State Community College
 * Cuyahoga Community College
 * Miami-Jacobs Career College, Columbus
 * Miami-Jacobs Career College, Independence
 * Miami-Jacobs Career College, Sharonville
 * Stark State College of Technology
 * Stautzenberger College, Brecksville
 * Stautzenberger College, Maumee

Pennsylvania
 * Community College of Allegheny County
 * Orleans Technical Institute

South Dakota
 * Colorado Technical University

Texas
 * Alvin Community College
 * Arlington Career Institute
 * Court Reporting Institute of Dallas
 * Court Reporting Institute of Houston
 * Kussad Institute of Court Reporting

Washington
 * Green River Community College

West Virginia
 * Huntington Junior College

Wisconsin
 * Lakeshore Technical College
 * Madison Area Technical College

Canada
 * Canadian Centre for Verbatim Studies
 * Northern Alberta Institute of Technology