To become a stenographer, a high school diploma or GED is usually required, along with training in court reporting or shorthand. Accuracy and typing speed are crucial, with some needing to type over 200 words per minute. Courses cover medical and legal terminology, software, and stenotype machine operation. A license or certification may be required after passing an exam.
The requirements for a person wanting to become a stenographer vary, depending on the jurisdiction in which they plan to work. In most places, however, a person who wants to get a job as a stenographer completes high school or earns a general education equivalent diploma (GED) in preparation for this field. After high school, many interested in this career enroll in college to pursue a court report or shorthand program. Some may even enroll in a degree program in transcription to prepare for this career. In addition to community colleges, some business, trade, or professional schools offer programs for those pursuing this field.
A stenographer is in charge of transcribing procedures for those in the legal, medical, or scientific fields. People in this career use a combination of typing and shorthand skills to transcribe procedures using a steno machine. In this work, accuracy is critical as procedures and conversations must be transcribed exactly. The stenographer is generally prohibited from paraphrasing or simply summarizing what he has heard; he usually also needs to type very quickly. In fact, a person who wants to become a stenographer may need to type in excess of 200 words per minute.
Training to become a stenographer can begin in high school. An individual interested in this job might do well to take classes in high school that help him develop his grammar and spelling skills. Since typing is an important part of this job, a person who wants to work as a stenographer can also take typing classes during high school. If he did not attend these classes or did not perform well in high school, it may be advantageous to take typing classes at a community college or vocational school, unless they are part of his stenography training.
The courses a person will cover in preparation for becoming a stenographer can vary. An aspiring stenographer typically studies medical and legal terminology. Often these programs also cover common types of software used by stenographers. Additionally, a stenographer usually learns the unique language of stenosis and how to operate a stenotype machine, which usually has 22 keys.
After training to become a stenographer, a person interested in this field may have to pass the exam in their jurisdiction. The successful test taker can receive a license or certification. In some places, a person may need to become a notary, passing an exam to do so instead of becoming licensed as a stenographer.
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