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General Information
Students may call 270-534-3373
for information about the Realtime Captioning Technology program.
Here is a list of career options:
Judicial
Reporter or Court Reporter
Broadcast
Captioner/CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation)
Reporters/captioners
use a stenographic machine and computer to take down the spoken
word and instantly translate it into written English.
Judicial reporters (court
reporters) earn an average of nearly $62,000 a year. Much more
can be earned in certain job positions with some experience.
There are an estimated 50,000
to 60,000 judicial reporters (court reporter), captioners, and
CART providers in the United States.
The demand for captioners
is expected to triple by 2006.
Only about 27 percent of reporters
actually work as judicial reporters in a courtroom setting.
The rest are freelance reporters, captioners and/or CART providers.
Captioning of live television
shows is done by trained broadcast captioners. The Telecommunications
Act of 1996 and FCC rules mandate that more programming be captioned
so that people with hearing loss can be provided with information.
CART providers are specially
trained reporters who provided instantaneous translation of
lecture notes to hearing impaired students in an educational
setting.
Many reporters, captioners
and CART providers are self-employed, allowing them to set their
own schedules.
Total cost for the 2-year
program is around $6,000. After graduation additional software
and/or hardware expenses may be deducted on taxes as self-employment
expense.
Student
Requirements
Students
need to be good readers and have an interest in current affairs;
Students
need to be self-motivated and self-starters;
Students
need to be prepared for the mental challenge of learning a difficult,
but rewarding career; and
Students
are required to purchase their own shorthand machine, computer
and printer before the fall semester starts in August. The cost
can range from approximately $500 for a used machine to $1500
for a new machine. Part of the cost of a new machine would apply
toward the purchase of a professional machine after two year
program. The machines can be purchased in the WKCTC bookstore
and paid for using financial aid.
General
RCT Program/Career Facts
WKCTC
is the only NCRA approved college training students in judicial
and broadcast captioning in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
The
length of the program is approximately 2 ½ years, depending
on student ability, aptitude and time spent outside of class
practicing.
WKCTC
has had a high career placement rate with its former graduates.
Classes
are taught by experienced reporters and NCRA Certified Reporting
Instructors.
The
website for the RCT program is http://business.westkentucky.kctcs.edu/legal/
Career
Information can also be found on the Internet at:
www.ncraonline.com
www.captionmax.com
www.captioncolorado.com
General
Search results can be found using keywords such as:
Court
Reporting
Realtime Reporting
Closed Captioning
Judicial Reporting
CART Reporting
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