A Leading Court Reporting School in California
South Coast College is a leading provider of Court Reporters in California.
Since 1961, South Coast College has trained generations of professional court reporters, stenographers, and captioners. Our Court Reporting Program prepares students for careers in courtrooms, deposition agencies, and real-time captioning environments throughout Orange, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties.
As demand continues to grow for skilled court reporters and CART providers, South Coast College remains a trusted training destination known for academic rigor, real-world preparation, and graduate success.
Modern Steno Technology
Industry Standard Equipment
Expert Led Instruction
Mock Trials & Depositions
Morning & Evening Classes
Built for Busy Adults
Explore the South Coast College Experience
Training for a career in court reporting requires focus, dedication, and the right support system. At South Coast College, our program is designed to help students build the speed, accuracy, and professional skills needed for success in the reporting field. Learn how our Court Reporting program is structured to be flexible for busy students, supportive throughout your training, and focused on helping you graduate prepared for certification and a professional career.
Flexible Learning for Busy Adults
South Coast College offers a hybrid learning model that blends on-campus instruction in Orange with online components completed from home. Morning and evening scheduling options help students balance education with work and family responsibilities.
Financial Aid and Student Support
Qualified students may be eligible for federal financial aid, grants, and loans. South Coast College’s financial aid team provides personalized guidance throughout the application process.
Beyond financial support, students receive academic advising, career preparation, and job placement assistance. Many students gain access to employment opportunities while still completing their training.
Certification & Career Preparation
South Coast College’s Court Reporting Program is approved by the Court Reporters Board of California and designed to prepare students for professional certification.
Graduates are well-prepared to sit for:
- The California Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) Exam
- The Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) Exam through the National Court Reporters Association
- NVRA certification for students pursuing voice writing
Training emphasizes realtime proficiency, legal terminology, transcript production, and professional standards so students are ready to transition from classroom to courtroom with confidence.
Our faculty guide students through exam preparation milestones while helping them build the speed and accuracy required for certification success.
Because of South Coast College, I felt fully prepared to enter the field of court reporting.
Claire Kelly | CSR | UCLA Graduate
South Coast College does an excellent job of producing professional, proficient court reporters.
Isaiah Leslie | Regal Court Reporting
Hands down best court reporting school. South Coast has great teachers that really care about all the students.
Kamryn Villegas | CSR, Kamryn | Whitney Court Reporting
South Coast gave me what I needed to pass the state test, and the rest is history.
Michael Chiaravalloti | Orange Count Superior Court | Court Reporter Services Manager, CSR
Become A Qualified Court Reporter or Captioner
At South Coast College, our Court Reporting program is focused on giving you the practical training, experience, and industry support you need to pursue a successful and rewarding career.
You’ll benefit from a variety of resources, including:
- Training in both stenographic (machine shorthand) and voice writing methods
- Mock trials and depositions that simulate real courtroom conditions
- Proprietary practice software designed to build speed and accuracy
- The Roberts Walsh Gonzalez theory—taught using a real-time, focused approach developed by Jean Gonzalez
- Access to instructors and alumni who actively support your transition from student to working professional
For students interested in expanding their skill set, voice writing instruction is also available, providing an additional pathway into captioning and real time reporting work.
Is a Rewarding Career in Court Reporting Right for You?
If you value precision, discretion, and technology-driven work that supports access to justice and communication, court reporting may be the right path. South Coast College is here to help you explore your options, understand certification requirements, and take the next step toward a respected career.
- Get certified as a California CSR
- Explore diverse career opportunities in law and captioning
- Gain access to job opportunities while still in school
- Receive the support you need to launch a successful career
Take the first step toward your future.
What Sets Our Court Reporter Program Apart
South Coast College’s Court Reporting program offers training in both stenographic (machine shorthand) and voice writing methods, allowing students to choose the pathway that best fits their skills and career goals.
The program is led by Certified Shorthand Reporters (CSRs) and experienced voice writing professionals with extensive real-world experience. These industry leaders have firsthand knowledge of current reporting environments, and students not only learn from them, but also receive their mentorship and support.
Our curriculum for machine shorthand is based on the Roberts Walsh Gonzalez Realtime Theory, led by Jean Gonzalez, who cowrote the textbook on the method with Allen Roberts and John Walsh. It utilizes logical, realtime principals that can be applied consistently, and Gonzalez worked in collaboration with industry professionals to align the theory with modern CAT translation systems.
We offer a hybrid learning model that allows students to train using their own professional equipment while receiving structured instruction, guided practice, and ongoing direction from experienced instructors. Our goal with this approach is to reflect today’s reporting environment and prepare students for both in-person and remote work opportunities.
Alumni Engagement and Career Transition Support
South Coast College benefits from a highly engaged alumni network that plays an active role in student development and career transition. Many of our graduates remain closely connected to the College and regularly support current students through mentoring, guidance, and professional exposure.
Through our alumni, students are offered opportunities to observe real-world proceedings, including depositions, allowing them to better understand professional expectations and workflow. They also assist students in transitioning into the workforce by offering practical advice, referrals, and, in many cases, direct employment opportunities.
A significant number of South Coast College graduates own and operate deposition agencies throughout Southern California, placing us at the heart of a strong professional network. Alumni working in courts outside the region, including San Francisco, continue to stay connected as well, assisting in securing paid externship opportunities for students and further expanding career pathways.
This level of alumni involvement reflects the strength of the program’s reputation within the industry and provides students with meaningful connections as they enter the profession.
When you join our court reporter school, you become part of a strong professional network with opportunities that extend far beyond graduation, throughout Southern California’s legal and captioning communities.
Why Choose South Coast College?
Help You Get Certified
To work as a court reporter in a state court or deposition reporter in the State of California, you require certification by the Court Reporters Board (CRB) of California. Working in a federal court in the state does not require state licensure but may require attaining the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) Certification by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) and Certified Realtime Reporter (CRP) Certification. At South Coast College, we help prepare you to get the certification you need.
Preparing You for Career Options
Here are a few of the exciting career options that court reporting can provide:
- Official court reporter: Work in trial courts preparing the verbatim record of hearings and proceedings.
- Freelance deposition reporter: Partner with agencies or your own clients for depositions, arbitrations, and legal meetings.
- CART and captioning professional: Provide real time captions for classrooms, conferences, broadcasts, and live streams.
- Specialized roles: Opportunities in legislative reporting, corporate meetings, and technical proceedings; related paths like scopist or proofreader can complement your workload.
Job Opportunities While in School
Many students find employment providing services to the hearing-impaired while they are in school. Others find employment in rapid-data entry. Wherever there is a need for high volumes of data entry, you’ll find an opportunity to use the skills you are learning in school. You can work as a high-speed data-entry specialist before completing your court reporting certification. Police departments need transcribed investigation reports. Business conferences, board meetings, conventions, and corporate negotiations also require verbatim transcription skills.
Support You Need to Launch a Successful Career
At South Coast College, court reporting training leads to more than a certificate or a degree. It is about opening the doors to a professional career with a successful future. As a South Coast College alumni, you have access to a great support network that includes students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Alumni are known for their ongoing support of students and graduates of South Coast College. Click here to visit the South Coast College Alumni Facebook Page.
Additional Information
A History in Court Reporting
The majority of practicing court reporters in Southern California are South Coast College graduates or employ our alumni, making us a trusted name in the industry. Along with this, we offer:
- Over 60 years of excellence in training court reporters
- Experienced faculty who are Certified Shorthand Reporters
- Small, supportive classes and personalized guidance
- Access to real-world practice through mock trials and depositions
- A proven track record of graduates passing certification exams and securing employment
Take the Next Step
If you’re ready to make a change, South Coast College is here to help. Call 714-867-5009 to speak with an Admissions Representative or fill out the form, and we’ll be in touch.
Discover the South Coast College difference and start building the career you’ve always wanted.
