January 23rd, 2011 
jvremec
NCRA Pushes Certification of Pennsylvania Court Reporters
Author: Christine Harrell
Court reporters are a critical element in the American judicial process. They create an official record of the proceedings with a level of attention that a simple tape recorder could never match. Historic legal decisions have hinged on the proper transcription of a witness’s testimony.
Why Is Certification Important?
Education at an accredited institution is only the first step in a successful court reporting career. Reporters continue to learn all throughout their careers. And yet a prospective client has no way of gauging the abilities of Pennsylvania court reporters.
Certification goes beyond the exercises that must be completed in a court reporter’s education. The reporter must not only show a certain level of speed and accuracy, but must also pass exams demonstrating their knowledge of transcript production, administrative procedures, and professional issues.
The NCRA offers several certifications that demonstrate not only an increasing level of talent, but also specialization in areas such as video conferencing and instruction.
The Need for Certification Is More Important Than Ever
Pennsylvania court reporters are in more demand now than probably at any time in the profession’s history. Meeting that demand requires exceptional service from the existing body of reporters as the nation’s schools try to produce enough graduates to meet the increasing demand.
Certification does more than demonstrate that a reporter is a skilled professional. It inspires reporters to excel, to practice more, to learn more so they can meet the lofty standards of certification. In pursuing these credentials, these professionals become better reporters.
Maintaining their certifications requires active pursuit of continuing education opportunities. Certified court reporters who might otherwise put off learning about new technologies and techniques now have incentive to enroll in courses now rather than later.
NCRA Encourages Voluntary Certification
Although Pennsylvania court reporters are not currently required to seek NCRA certification, there is nothing stopping them from doing so on their own.
A prospective reporter will get far more attention from a court reporting agency if NCRA credentials are listed on the reporter’s resume. The higher the certification, the more in demand the reporter is going to be. After all only 2/3 of NCRA members have gotten even the entry-level Registered Professional Reporter certification, and less than 2% have achieved the level of Registered Diplomate Reporter.
Certification opens a host of new employment doors that can change a reporter’s career. Not only will opportunities open up in the court system, but a whole array of careers outside the court await court reporters who are willing to show the commitment involved with achieving professional credentials.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/ncra-pushes-certification-of-pennsylvania-court-reporters-566785.html
About the Author
Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on Pennsylvania
Court Reporters or Court Reporting, visit
http://www.huseby.com.
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Can you get your teacher certification in Pennsylvania if you have a DUI?
Does anyone know? My friend got a DUI about a year ago. She would now like to go back to school to become a teacher. Does anyone know if they’ll let her with a DUI (driving under the influence)? Anyone know PA law?
Thanks for your help!
I honestly don’t think that she can get a teaching degree in PA. I know that if you are in college and get an underage drinking charge and are going to become a teacher you are longer allowed to pursue that degree.(in pennsylvania) I’m not entirely sure so I would do some research. Go to lcb.state.pa.us and they have a bunch of info about drinking charges etc. Good Luck.
Can a person teach in Pennsylvania High Schools, with only a teacher certification?
*Note: I am only speaking of, public high schools.
I heard somewhere, that in Pennsylvania (mainly at brand new high schools) people can teach there, if they get teacher certified and do not need a degree in the field of study, in which he or she, will soon teach. I also heard, that this is mainly if the high school is highly in need of teachers.
Is this true to any extent?
Thank you
Perhaps in theory, but to obtain the Teacher’s Certificate, there has to be steps leading up to that certification, I.E., a degree in something. You would likely be limited in what you could teach, perhaps even be limited to substitute teaching only. I doubt you could land a job, say, teaching Math or Science, which requires a firm foundation in that field.
I want to become a teacher in Pennsylvania?
Hello I have a BS in nutrition and an MS in exercise physiology. I really would love to become a high school science, gym, or math teacher (my strong subjects). I just bought a house so I need money and I have to stay in PA. I was wondering if there are any programs or options to become a teacher with nighttime classes (after 5pm). I looked into the university of pittsburgh teaching certificate program and it is 1 year full time where you must go full time during the day and student teach. Is there any other way to get your certification if you are a single mom and have to work. If I got paid I could do it but I could not quit my job for one year, pay for the one year school to become a teacher. I could however pay for classes at night and take them on a part-time student basis.
Why? You get summers off and get paid the same as my full time all year round job starting out! Plus I am a single mom so my schedule would match my kids not have to pay for daycare everyday for a few hours. How can it get better than that?
you must student teach no matter how you complete your ed. requirements…there are no provisions to pay student teachers in ANY state because you are receiving credit in exchange for your work…the good news is you only have to student teach for 12 weeks in most states or the equivalent of 1 semester at the school you are attending…your most likely option is to complete the classes at night and find a job that you can work while student teaching…it is an unfortunate situation but one that many of us have had to navigate…good luck…
Transfering PA teacher certification to New York.?
I live in New York, and I would like to go to a college in Pennsylvania for elementary education. After I receive my Pennsylvania teaching certification is it a lengthy and difficult process to transfer that to New York? I know that NY is much more rigorous in their education requirement. Does anyone have previous experience with this?
I work in upstate New York. I know several teachers from Pennsylvania who teach at my school. They simply had to fill out some paperwork from NY State Eduation Department to transfer their teaching certificate. It was no big deal.
state to state teacher certification?
i was wondering how teacher certification varies from state to state.
im graduating from high school in virginia and plan on going to college in pennsylvania. once i graduate from a 5 year program in pa i will be a pennsylvania certified teacher… how do i transfer that to my home state of virginia so i can teach in a school closer to home?
I pulled this from the Virginia State Dept of Education web site:
II. Reciprocity – Conditions for licensure for out-of-state candidates by reciprocity.
A. An individual coming into Virginia from any state may qualify for a Virginia teaching license with comparable endorsement areas if the individual has completed a state-approved teacher preparation program through a regionally accredited four-year college or university, or if the individual holds a valid out-ofstate teaching license (full credential without deficiencies ) that must be in force at the time the application for a Virginia license is made. An individual seeking licensure must establish a file in the Department of Education by submitting a complete application packet, which includes official student transcripts. Professional teacher’s assessments prescribed by the Board of Education must be satisfied.
B. An individual coming into Virginia will qualify for a Virginia teaching license with comparable endorsement areas if the individual holds national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) or a nationally recognized certification program approved by the Board of Education.
C. Licensure by reciprocity is provided for individuals who have obtained a valid out-of-state license (full credential without deficiencies) that is in force at the time the application for a Virginia license is received by the Department of Education. The individual must establish a file in the Department of Education by submitting a complete application packet, which shall include official student transcripts.
Unless exempted by the criteria in subsection D of this section, licensure assessments prescribed by the Board of Education shall be required.
D. Individuals who hold a valid out-of-state license (full credential without deficiencies) and who have completed a minimum of three years of full-time, successful teaching experience in a public or accredited nonpublic school (kindergarten through grade 12) in a state other than Virginia are exempted from the professional teacher’s assessment requirements.
According to The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC), Pennsylvania and Virginia have an interstate agreement.