Does certification exist for scopists, proofreaders, and transcriptionists?

Hello Again!

Is there a certification process for scopists, proofreaders, and transcriptionists?  To answer that question, let's take a look at the certifications currently available in the court reporting profession.  At this time, there are three national associations offering recognized certifications, outlined as follows:

NCRA

(National Court Reporters Association)

• NCRA is a national association headquartered in Reston, Virginia, that certifies Stenographic Reporters, offering different certifications for court reporters, along with videographers, instructors, etc.
• Scopists, proofreaders, and transcriptionists are allowed associate membership but no certifications exist for them.
• www.ncra.org

NVRA

(National Verbatim Reporters Association)

• NVRA is a national association headquartered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, that certifies Voice Reporters, offering different certifications for court reporters.
• Scopists, proofreaders, and transcriptionists are allowed associate membership but no certifications exist for them.
• www.nvra.org

AAERT

(American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers)

• AAERT is a national association headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, that certifies Electronic Reporters and Transcribers, offering certification for each category.
• Proofreaders and scopists are allowed membership but no certifications exist for them.
• www.aaert.org

Licensure Boards

• In addition to the three national associations, about half of the states have a regulatory or licensure board that awards a CSR (also called CCR) certification to Court Reporters.
• That CSR or CCR certification is the reporter's actual license to report proceedings venued in a regulated state.
• No state boards regulate nor issue certifications/licenses to scopists, transcriptionists, or proofreaders.

RECAP

• Court reporters have many different certifications for which they can apply and test.
• Transcriptionists have one certification through AAERT for which they can apply and test.
• Scopists have none.
• Proofreaders have none.

Holding a "Certificate of Completion" showing a person's satisfactory completion of some type of online instruction is not a certification.  All nationally recognized certifications carry with them letters to be used behind a person's name, showing their earned credentials.

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Until next time ...