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Is CCR NCRA Approved and Nationally Accredited?

CCR is approved by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).  CCR has been approvied by NCRA since 1987 and was the first online program approved by the NCRA.

CCR is accredited with the Indiana Board for Proprietary Education (BPE) since 1985.

CCR is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). CCR has maintained accreditation since 1987 and received an initial three-grant of accreditation from DEAC through June, 2021. CCR currently offers an A.A.S. in Court Reporting which was reviewed and approved by DEAC. DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency, and is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CHEA is a nonprofit organization serving as a national advocate for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation. Website: https://www.deac.org/.

Can I transfer courses for credit?

CCR's transfer policy is in accordance with accreditation policy for transfer credit. Transfer consideration will be given consideration based on an evaluation of official transcripts, grades and credits earned, and relevance of courses to CCR courses. Please note that time to complete the program is not dependent on how many credits are transferred or on full- or part-time status. It is dependent on how quickly one develops the skill and accuracy and completion of all course and graduation requirements.

What theory do you teach?

The College of Court Reporting uses the EV360  Realtime Theory. If you already know a different theory and are considering transferring to CCR, you do not need to learn the EV360 Realtime Theory.  Our academic courses and skill development courses are not specific to any one theory.  The EV360 Realtime Theory is a simple and logical theory, written by educators, that incorporates speedbuilding during the first couple weeks of a student's first semester. When this theory was developed, the educators only had the students’ best interests in mind. They made the rules of writing easy to understand – rules that don’t require hours of analyzing and memorizing!

By the end of Theory 1, students learn how to write every English word with a strong foundation of the basic theory. During their second semester, conflict resolution is introduced. Since students do not have to resolve conflict in Theory 1 and are able to focus only on learning the basic theory; therefore, it is easy for them to make minor changes to groups of words with conflict. Since CCR has taught the EV360 Realtime Theory, students enter their first semester of speedbuilding writing on an average of 80 words per minute. This is 20-40 words per minute faster than they were writing with the Phoenix theory CCR taught before developing the EV360.

How do the online classes work?

Academic classes typically consist either recorded lecture classes that are accessible 24/7 or meet live with their instructor and fellow students. Theory classes consist of live classes to interact with their instructor and fellow students in addition to recorded video instructional content.  All content is available within the learning management system 24/7.  For classes that are offered live, students may have the opportunity to view the recordings instead of attending live.

Sample schedule: Wednesday, Theory, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Central time. Wednesday, keyboarding, from 8:45-9:45 p.m. Central time. Monday, English, from 8:00-9:00 p.m. Central time. Students must be available Monday-Thursday after 7 p.m. central time.

How much is the tuition?

We charge by the credit hour. All of our machine shorthand classes are six credit hours, our academics are three credit hours, and internships are one credit hour. Tuition is $395 per credit hour.  A monthly payment plan may be arranged whenever necessary. There is no service charge if tuition is paid monthly. A late charge may be assessed when payment is made past the due date. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover may be used for all payments. Financial Aid is also available to those who qualify.

We participate in the Federal Pell Grant and student loan programs. Our school code is 026158. Our financial aid officer would be happy to assist you in what you are eligible for in terms of aid.  In determining a students financial aid eligibility, we will notify you of your Pell Grant and Direct Student Loan eligibility.  CCR does not require students to borrow student loans, but will provide information regarding estimated eligibility if the student chooses to utilize the loans to assist with paying for their cost of education.  It is up to the student to determine if they want to use students loans.

If you have further financial aid questions, please contact 866-294-3974 ext. 223 in our financial aid team.

What is the weekly time commitment?

A student is expected to spend between three and four hours per week for each credit earned for an academic or a speedbuilding course. It is recommended that the court reporting student plans to practice computerized machine shorthand 18 hours each week (three hours per day, six to seven days per week) in order to learn machine shorthand and develop the skill, speed, and realtime proficiency needed to complete the program within the maximum time frame.

Does CCR sell the equipment?

The College of Court Reporting does not sell, rent, or lease machines or software. It is the student's responsibility to purchase equipment. To see a list of vendors who rent equipment or allow payment clicks, click the following link: Equipment Rental and Software Payment Plans.  

How long is the program?

In answering this question it is important to understand a few terms when we discuss program length.  As an accredited college, we are required to state what the minimum and maximum time frames are for each accredited program.  The stated time frame, or program length, is different for each of accredited program.  The definition of the minimum time frame is the period of time we are required to offer the entire program's curriculum.  If the minimum time frame is 28 months, we are required to offer each course in the program within 28 months.  A student has an opportunity to complete the program in 28 months if they progress at a regular rate, do not repeat any courses, and are enrolled full time (12 credits) each semester. The definition of the maximum time frame is the period of time a student is allowed to be enrolled in a program and earn the academic credential for that program.  If the maximum time frame is 44 months, the student must complete all required course work within 44 months.  Can a student attend beyond 44 months of enrollment?  Yes, but they cannot receive the program's academic credential such as a diploma, certificate, or degree.  They will receive an official academic record indicating all completed course work.

Now, stating that our minimum and maximum time frames are 28/44 months for our associate degree court reporting program does not mean that a student will complete the program in 28 or 44 months.  It is important to understand that court reporting programs consist of academic course work and skill development course work.  The skill development component is where program completion times vary from student to student.  Every student learns, develops, and progresses with their skill at different rates.  Please speak with our administrative staff regarding the average completion time for our students who complete their respective programs.

How much can I borrow in student loans?

A first year dependent student can borrow up to $5,500; and second year dependent student can borrow up to $6,500; and a third year student can borrow up to $7,500. The aggregate loan limit for a dependent student is $31,000. A first-year independent student can borrow up to $9,500 for the first two semesters; a second-year independent student may borrow up to $10,500; and a third year independent student can borrow up to $12,500. The aggregate limit for independent undergraduate students is $57,500.

Does CCR offer job placement?

CCR has a full-time Director of Alumni & Employer Relations who works with both students about to graduate and those that have already graduated on finding positions both locally and across the United States in their desired court reporting or captioning field.  Although CCR cannot guarantee job placement, we do work very hard to make sure graduates are provided all the tools they need to succeed in their job search, including a stellar resume, a persuasive cover letter, and top-notch interviewing skills.  Additionally, graduates are sent job opportunities almost every week through a Job Drawer email, and CCR contacts employers regularly to discuss open positions.  Networking is such an important part of the job search that students are encouraged from the beginning of their education to join their state and national court reporting associations as well as to engage the professionals they meet during their internship since many internships lead to employment.  All of these services are provided to a CCR graduate for a lifetime!

What is a mentor?

A mentor acts as a proctor of dictation tests at various speed building levels. CCR will provide testing materials to your mentor when you are ready to move into the next speed building level. Arrangements will be made between you and your mentor for this testing. It should take no longer than a couple of hours, and it will give you the vital opportunity to connect with a professional in the field of court reporting. Hopefully, this relationship will be dynamic in that your mentor will be your friend, coach, and support system. Ultimately, your mentor could assist in your placement into an internship or employment opportunity. Click the following link for more information about the program: Mentor Program Information

What type of operating system should I be using?

Students should plan on using a Windows operating system. Currently, our EV360 technologies do not fully support other operating systems such as Apple's OS or Linux.

What type of students attend CCR?

Our future court reporters are very self-motivated and self-disciplined. They have good English and grammar skills and are detail oriented. Those who attend CCR must be willing and able to devote 18-20 hours per week on their steno machines.

What sets CCR apart from other court reporting schools?

CCR has a rich history, philosophy, and reputation. CCR has been in teaching court reporting for over 35 years. It started with the simple philosophy of providing students with the best faculty, resources, curriculum, and educational program possible. This philosophy was the brainchild of its founder, who first and foremost is an educator, not a business person. CCR has always been about educating students, not making profits. This is still today the guiding principle of our approach to those seeking a quality education to enter the careers of the court reporting profession. We take a family approach to working together where each student's success is every individual on our staff's success.

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