OSU-OKC court reporting program addresses statewide shortage

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City’s court reporting program is helping fill a critical need for court reporters across the state and beyond.

The program launched in 2020 after state courts approached OSU-OKC seeking help to address a growing shortage of certified reporters. Since then, the campus has trained six cohorts, with the seventh beginning Jan. 12.

“It’s one of my most favorite programs that we have to offer,” said Kristen Rowan, OSU-OKC’s training and development coordinator. “The courts came to us almost begging for help, trying to find a school that would open so that we could supply court reporters for our state.”

The 18-month program combines theory, academics and speed-building to prepare students for certification. The first phase focuses on theory, taught by instructor Alison Hall using the Magnum Steno method developed by Mark Kislingbury, who holds a Guinness World Record as the world’s fastest court reporter.

Students then move into academic coursework, including grammar and medical terminology, before tackling speed-building — a crucial step toward meeting the 225-word-per-minute requirement for certification.

“Think about it as learning a musical instrument,” Rowan said. “You have to learn the lyrics, but you also have to get there in musical time and speed.”

Graduates earn microcredentials for each phase and are eligible to sit for state certification exams. According to Rowan, demand for certified court reporters is so high that employment is virtually guaranteed.

“We can pretty confidently say that 100% of our certified court reporters will be able to be employed immediately,” she said. “You won’t just get one offer — there’ll be multiple offers.”

Career opportunities extend beyond state courts to federal and tribal courts, freelance work, and even international positions.

Rowan said the program’s impact on Oklahoma’s workforce has been significant. 

“The courts cannot run without the court reporters in-house,” she said. “The demand is endless.”

For more information or to enroll in the upcoming cohort, contact OSU-OKC’s Training and Development department at okc.tdc@okstate.edu or call 405-945-3383.