Information you need to know to work as a Shorthand Court Reporter

Who is the licensing body responsible for Court/Shorthand Reporters?

In Alberta, to call yourself a Certified Shorthand Reporter, you must be a registered member of the Alberta Shorthand Reporters Association (ASRA).

You do not have to be registered if you do not call yourself a Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR).

What are the registration requirements for applicants with international education and experience?

NOTE: If you are already certified as a registered professional reporter (RPR) with the National Court Reporters Association, you are automatically certified with us as a certified shorthand reporter in Alberta, CSR(A).

If you are not already certified with NCRA, there are 2 options to register as a CSR in Alberta:

OPTION 1 – Graduation from and NCRA accredited school

1. Check to see if the school where you trained is accredited by the NCRA
2. If yes, complete the application to become a Participating Member
3. Work for 1 year under the direction of a Certified Member. At the end of the year, submit a Letter of Reference from the Certified Member, along with a copy of your credentials, to have your status changed from Participating to Certified Member

OPTION 2 – 5 years of work experience

1. Ask for a Letter of Reference from your employer proving your 5 years of work experience
2. Complete the application to become a Participating Member and submit the Letter of Reference to the Registrar
3. If your application is accepted by the Registrar, work for 1 year under the direction of a Certified Member. At the end of the year submit a Letter of Reference from the Certified Member recommending your status be changed from Participating to Certified Member

What are the educational requirements for Court/Shorthand Reporters in Alberta?

ASRA recommends that prospective legal and realtime reporters take their training in a program approved by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton offers a two-year Captioning and Court Reporting diploma program approved by the NCRA.

What are the accepted English language proficiency tests and where can I be tested?

There are no formal English requirements for Court/Shorthand Reporters; however, Court/Shorthand Reporters must have an exceptionally high level of English in the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in order to be successful in the profession. To learn more about where to take an English language proficiency test in Alberta, visit English Language Proficiency Tests and Locations.

What resources and supports are available for internationally educated Court/Shorthand Reporters?

Directions for Immigrants offers workplace communication groups to help you integrate into the Canadian work environment. The Clear Communication for Business workplace communication group is designed to help internationally educated professional fine-tune their communication skills with colleagues, supervisors, and clients. In one week, you will learn through role-play and scenarios the nuances and expectations of the Canadian business culture. Topics include active listening, assertiveness, conflict resolution, problem solving, and teamwork. Visit Clear Communication for Business for more information.

What information resources are available for Court/Shorthand Reporters in Alberta?

• Alberta Shorthand Reporters Association (ASRA)
• National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)

Additional Occupational Information

For more information on occupations, duties and wages, visit:

• Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) / Court Shorthand Reporter
• Opportunity Alberta
• Occupations in Alberta