Court Transcription

Certificate

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The Court Transcription certificate provides students with the knowledge and skills to produce accurate transcripts by applying rules of grammar and punctuation to the spoken word of pre-recorded proceedings using machine shorthand and computer-aided transcription software. In addition to court transcript production, graduates may be hired as scopists and proofreaders to aid in court transcript production. Graduates will also have opportunities to produce transcripts and verbatim captions in support of disciplinary proceedings, arbitration hearings, 9-1-1 calls, interviews, investigations, shareholders’ and other meetings, and prerecorded television and Internet videos.

Because Court Transcriptionists work with recordings, their hours and location are often very flexible. Court Transcriptionists are often able to work from a home office and can accept work from across the province and country.

The Court Transcription certificate is a full-time one-year program. Graduates have the opportunity to continue into the Captioning and Court Reporting diploma program.

Upcoming Intakes

Select your preferred intake to see relevant program information. Program details, including tuition and course information, may vary by intake.

Selection Start Date Delivery Mode Time Campus Length Domestic Status International Status
Sep. 02, 2025 (Fall) In-person Weekdays - Daytime Main 1 Year (Full-time) Open Open
  Sep. 02, 2025 (Fall) Online Weekdays - Evening Online 1 Year (Full-time) Open Open
 
             
 

Swipe table to view more information for each intake.

Delivery Mode

  • In-person - All your class activity will be delivered in person, on campus.
  • Online - All your class activity will be delivered online.
  • Hybrid - Your classes will be a mixture of in person and online learning. You must be able to come to campus and participate remotely online.
  • Your choice - Your program offers a variety of class delivery options (in person, online, or a mixture of both) and you can select which type of classes to take. If you wish, you can complete your entire program either in-person or online.
  • HyFlex - All your classes are delivered for simultaneous participation in person and online. You can choose daily to attend your classes in person or join remotely online.

Time

  • Your choice - You can select class times and days that fit your schedule. There are a variety of class options for you to choose from including daytime, evening, weekdays or weekends.
  • No set time - No set class days or times, content is access on-demand. You can complete your studies on your own schedule within the scheduled class dates; may have set due dates and deadlines.
  • Evenings & Weekends - Classes are scheduled after 5 p.m. on weekdays or anytime on weekends.
  • Weekdays - Daytime - Classes are scheduled on weekdays, typically start before 6 p.m.
  • Weekdays - Evening - Classes are scheduled on weekdays, typically start after 6 p.m.
  • Weekends - Classes are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays.

Campus

Any in-person components of your courses will be delivered at this campus location.

View Campus Map

Length

  • Full-Time - This is the standard length to complete the program, with a full course load per term.
  • Part-Time - Students follow a structured schedule of classes so they can progress in their studies part-time while balancing everyday life.

Domestic Status

The program availability status for domestic applications is updated as applications are reviewed and assessed. Program availability is subject to change without notice.

  • Open - Program intake is accepting applications. If you apply and are qualified, you may be offered admission or be waitlisted. Open does not guarantee a seat.
  • Waitlisting - Program intake is accepting applications, but qualified applicants will be placed on a waitlist.
  • Closed - Program intake is not accepting applications.
  • Upcoming - Applications will open soon for this intake. View the upcoming terms for open dates.
  • N/A - Not available for this intake.

International Status

The program availability status for international applications is updated as applications are reviewed and assessed. Program availability is subject to change without notice.

  • Open - Program intake is accepting applications. If you apply and are qualified, you may be offered admission or be waitlisted. Open does not guarantee a seat.
  • Limited - For international applicants, the program intake is now only available if you already have a valid study permit.
  • Waitlisting - Program intake is accepting applications, but qualified applicants will be placed on a waitlist.
  • Closed - Program intake is not accepting applications.
  • Upcoming - Applications will open soon for this intake. View the upcoming terms for open dates.
  • N/A - Not available for this intake.

Credit programs that accept international applicants also meet the eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program, including programs with a Hybrid delivery mode. Each student is responsible for maintaining their eligibility throughout their studies.

Build court transcription skills that translate

Gain the knowledge and skills to transcribe pre-recorded materials and enter the workforce in a year. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be able to:

  • Write and transcribe verbatim using a steno machine, a specialized keyboard to write in shorthand. 
  • Record and transcribe examinations, testimony, judicial orders and instructions, legal opinions and other formal proceedings via print or electronic methods
  • Use computer-aided transcription software to produce accurate transcripts from recorded proceedings
  • Develop knowledge and understanding of legal terminology, regulations, professional standards, and ethics
  • Apply rules of grammar, punctuation and mechanics to the spoken word

Student turns court reporting into viral TikTok sensation

Aspiring court reporter explains how to type 225 words/minute at 95% accuracy.

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Events

Feb. 03 – Mar. 10 Event

Discover Steno Workshops - February to March 2025

Discover Steno is a series of free workshops that will introduce applicants to the captioning and court reporting career as well as assess foundational competencies for success in the program.

  • All-Day
  • Via Web Conferencing
Oct. 07 – Nov. 12 Event

Discover Steno Workshops - October to November 2024

Discover Steno is a series of free workshops that will introduce applicants to the captioning and court reporting career as well as assess foundational competencies for success in the program.

  • All-Day
  • Via Web Conferencing
May. 12 – Jun. 16 Event

Discover Steno Workshops - May to June 2025

Discover Steno is a series of free workshops that will introduce applicants to the captioning and court reporting career as well as assess foundational competencies for success in the program.

  • All-Day
  • Via Web Conferencing
May. 13 – Jun. 17 Event

Discover Steno Workshops - May to June 2024

Discover Steno is a series of free workshops that will introduce applicants to the captioning and court reporting career as well as assess foundational competencies for success in the program.

  • All-Day
  • Via Web Conferencing

Want to learn more about this program?

Request more information or get answers to a specific question. Send us an email, and we'll put you in touch with the program advisors directly.



The personal information on this form is being collected under the authority of the Post-secondary Learning Act and section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). The information will be protected by the provisions of FOIP, and will be used for the purpose of registration and administration of the event. If you have any questions or concerns about the collection, use, security or disclosure of the personal information, please contact General Council at 780.471.7664 or legal@nait.ca.

For General Program Information

Len Sperling, Chair

Email: lens@nait.ca

Phone: 780.471.7645

For General NAIT Information

Phone: 780.471.6248
Toll-free: 1.877.333.6248

Contact Student Service Centre

Career Outcomes

This program allows graduates who excel in transcription services to enter the workforce within a year.

Job Opportunities

Industries

  • Court and legal system
  • Government
  • Meetings and events
  • Various forms of digital media
  • Court reporting firms

Working Conditions

Because Court Transcriptionists work with recordings, their hours and location are often very flexible. Court Transcriptionists are often able to work from a home office and can accept work from across the province and country.

Grad Employment Rate

Employment rates are reported by NAIT alumni, are for information purposes, and do not guarantee future employment opportunities. Please note that data for newer programs may not be included within this report.

Download report

Take your career planning to the next level

This program can be used as a step toward earning higher credentials and/or certifications.

Further education at NAIT

Once you complete your credential, explore the programs below to specialize further or develop management skills.

Post-secondary articulation agreements within Alberta are approved by the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT). To view the details of specific agreements, please visit transferalberta.ca or contact articulations@nait.ca For questions regarding transfer agreements or to obtain a course description/outline that is no longer available on our website, please contact articulations@nait.ca.

Courses

This content is specific to the selected intake.

Expand each course below to see details about credits, requisites, scheduling, and more.

Term 1

CACR1123Trial Procedures
  • Requisites: This course is available to students in the Court Transcription program.
  • Open Studies: Not Available
  • Credits: 3.00

In order to write effectively and produce accurate transcripts, it is essential for a court reporter to have an understanding of the law and the Canadian legal system. This course examines principles of law, the trial process for both civil and criminal cases, and legal terminology.

View Course SchedulingView Course Outline
CACR1135Machine Shorthand Theory I
  • Requisites: This course is available to students in the Court Transcription program. Co-Requisite: CACR1136.
  • Open Studies: Not Available
  • Credits: 6.00

Success in this program and in industry is dependent upon mastery of machine shorthand theory. Students will learn concise, conflict-free theory which is then used to write Literary/Jury Charge and Question & Answer dictation material. Foundational skills include writing prefixes, root words, suffixes, and numbers.

View Course SchedulingView Course Outline
CACR1136Machine Shorthand Theory II
  • Requisites: This course is available to students in the Court Transcription program. Co-Requisite: CACR1135.
  • Open Studies: Not Available
  • Credits: 3.00

Success in this program and in industry is dependent upon mastery of machine shorthand theory. Students will write Literary/Jury Charge and Question & Answer dictation material at foundational speeds. This course also introduces students to industry-specific technology and the essential skills necessary for transcript production. Students will learn to generate and manage documents using CAT software. This is a complementary course to CACR1135.

View Course SchedulingView Course Outline
CACR1141Fundamental English for Captioning and Court Reporting
  • Requisites: This course is available to students in the Court Transcription program.
  • Open Studies: Not Available
  • Credits: 3.00

To produce accurate transcripts of the spoken word, it is essential to have a strong understanding of English grammar, punctuation, and mechanics principles. This course provides students with an in-depth study of parts of speech, basic grammar rules, and essential punctuation and mechanics principles which will be applied to introductory transcripts. Spelling and vocabulary development will also be studied.

View Course SchedulingView Course Outline

Term 2

CACR1232Machine Shorthand Testing I
  • Requisites: This course is available to students in the Captioning and Court Reporting program. Prerequisites: CACR1135 and CACR1136. Co-requisite: CACR1233.
  • Open Studies: Not Available
  • Credits: 3.00

Court reporters must be able to write and produce verbatim transcripts within prescribed timelines. This course requires students to demonstrate their machine shorthand proficiency by testing at 80 to 140 wpm speed levels on Literary/Jury Charge and Question & Answer material. Emphasis is placed on producing accurate transcripts.

View Course SchedulingView Course Outline
CACR1233Machine Shorthand Development I
  • Requisites: This course is available to students in the Court Transcription program. Prerequisites: CACR1135 and CACR1136. Co-requisite: CACR1232.
  • Open Studies: Not Available
  • Credits: 6.00

Court reporters develop enhanced shorthand techniques to attain the writing skill necessary to report live proceedings. Students will incorporate briefs, phrases, and specialized vocabulary when writing Literary/Jury Charge and Question & Answer dictation material. This course builds upon the machine shorthand theory mastered in CACR1135 and CACR1136 and is a complementary course to CACR1232.

View Course SchedulingView Course Outline
CACR1242Intermediate English for Captioning and Court Reporting
  • Requisites: This course is available to students in the Court Transcription program. Pre-Requisite: CACR1141, CACR1135, CACR1136.
  • Open Studies: Not Available
  • Credits: 3.00

To produce accurate transcripts of the spoken word, it is essential to have a strong understanding of English grammar, punctuation, and mechanics principles. This course reinforces and builds upon the concepts covered in CACR1141 in addition to providing students with an in-depth study of punctuation, capitalization, and number rules court reporters use and apply to the spoken word. Spelling, vocabulary, and proofreading development will also be studied.

View Course SchedulingView Course Outline
CACR1251Transcript Production I
  • Requisites: This course is available to students in the Court Transcription program. Pre-Requisites: CACR 1233 or CACR1135 and CACR1136.
  • Course Equivalencies: CACR2351
  • Open Studies: Not Available
  • Credits: 3.00

Members of the legal community rely on court reporters to prepare and provide verbatim transcripts as part of their role in the administration of justice. Incorporating beginner and intermediate CAT software features, students will write, edit, and proofread multivoice civil transcripts in accordance with prescribed industry formats and styles incorporating title pages, parentheticals, and indices.

View Course SchedulingView Course Outline

Tuition & Fees

This content is specific to the selected intake.

The tuition and fee amounts are estimates based on current academic year's rates. For financial planning purposes, please use these totals as an approximate estimate of your costs. Actual fees may vary by term and enrolment activities. Please refer to the tuition and fees page for more detailed information.

Tuition

Cost Per Credit: $222.00

View international tuition for upcoming intakes

How much does first year cost?
Domestic cost estimate
International cost estimate

Mandatory Fees

View fee listing and breakdown

Pay Your Tuition & Fees

Books, Supplies & Program Fees (est.)

Level 1 Term 1: $1,025
Level 1 Term 2: $550


Scholarships & Awards

NAIT awards over $6 million in scholarships and bursaries to more than 4,000 students each year, with the support of donors and the government. A variety of awards are available, including ones for academics, community involvement, equity/diversity grants, bursaries for financial need, program-specific awards and more!

Learn how to apply for awards

Admission Requirements

Minimum entrance requirements

 

The specific academic requirements you must meet to be considered for admission. Where applicable, the minimum accepted Alberta high school courses are listed in round brackets ( ). Equivalent or higher-level courses are also accepted.

Additional requirements & considerations

Alternative entrance pathways

 

If you are missing one or more of the minimum entrance requirements, you may be eligible for an alternative entrance pathway. For any pathway listed below, English language proficiency is also a requirement.

Recommended courses

 

The following course(s) are recommended, as they provide important background for your program's content. Recommended courses are not required for admission and will not affect your application.

Post-admission requirements

 

Although not required for admission, you must meet the following requirement(s) in order to progress in your program.

Not sure if you meet the requirements?

Learn more about how NAIT evaluates applications, and find resources on how to satisfy admissions criteria.

How applications are evaluated Submitting required documents

Additional options

This program has courses that are available for Open Studies. Open Studies allows you to explore credit courses without applying to a program. It is an opportunity to get a feel for school and what program you want to be in.

Learn more about Open Studies

Dates & Deadlines

 
International
Applications Open:
Please contact the program area for more information.
 
International
Applications Deadline:
Please contact the program area for more information.
 
Domestic
Applications Open:
Please contact the program area for more information.
 
Application Deadline:
Please contact the program area for more information.
 
Term Start Date:
Please contact the program area for more information.

International Applicants

This program accepts international students.

PGWP Eligibility

This program does not meet eligibility criteria for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), following Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) field of study requirement. Students who applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024, are not affected by the new field of study rule and may be eligible for a PGWP.

While graduates are currently ineligible to apply for a PGWP, NAIT still welcomes international students to this program to gain valuable knowledge and skills to pursue your career goals, whether in Canada under another type of permit or in your home country or other international markets.

Learn more about PGWP and explore eligible NAIT programs.

Want to learn more about this program?

Thank you for your interest! We want to get you in contact with the right person to answer your questions. If you are a current or recently admitted student you can find program and course information as well as contact details for your program on the My Program page on the MyNAIT Portal.








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