Build court reporter speed. Score every take. Pass the CVR.
VerbatimPrep is the scored practice platform for voice writers. Real dictation at 120 to 225 words per minute across all three CVR legs. Instant accuracy scoring against a gold-standard transcript, graded on the error categories NVRA publishes. Speeds unlock only when you have proven you are ready.
Start free See a scored transcriptFree forever at 120 and 140 WPM. Headphones and a keyboard are all you need today.
Who this is for
Enrolled in a voice writing or court reporting program?
Your program teaches the method. VerbatimPrep gives you scored reps between classes. Practice at your current speed, see exactly which error types are costing you, and walk into your next class with data.
Studying on your own?
There was no self-serve way to build exam speed with feedback until now. Start at 120 WPM, climb the ladder rung by rung, and let the mastery gate tell you when you are ready to move up.
CVR or state CSR sitting on the calendar?
Exam mode runs the real conditions: a five-minute dictation, a 75-minute transcription clock, auto-submit when time is up. Sit the exam before you sit the exam.
Proof, not promises
+ DC2
How it works
Listen, transcribe, get scored.
Put on headphones. A passage plays at a fixed speed. You transcribe it at your own pace. The scoring engine compares your transcript to the gold standard and returns your accuracy, your error count, and each error by category. WPM is the speed of the speaker, not the speed of your typing; the skill you are building is accurate listening.
Equipment: headphones + keyboard. That's it.
Climb the speed ladder.
120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 225. Each rung unlocks when you hit 95% accuracy on the one below it. No guessing about whether you are ready. Everything through 180 WPM is headphones and a keyboard.
Add the mask.
At 200 WPM and above you switch from typing to voice writing: you repeat the dictation into a stenomask and speech recognition software produces the transcript. You bring your own stenomask and software; the platform scores the output the same way. Estimated equipment cost is listed on the pricing page.
Sit the exam before you sit the exam.
Exam mode locks the passage to five minutes of audio, starts a 75-minute transcription clock, and submits automatically when time runs out. Literary at 180, Jury Charge at 200, Q&A at 225, exactly as NVRA administers them.3 Pass a leg twice in exam mode and you know what you will do on test day.
Training programs on NVRA's education list report timelines of six to nine months at your own pace, or as little as three to six months with dedicated daily practice.9 Individual results vary; the ladder shows you exactly where you stand.
Why voice writing
Same courtroom, same credential, faster path. Voice writers and steno writers sit the same three-leg exam at the same speeds and the same 95% standard.3 NVRA's Certified Verbatim Reporter is accepted in 38 states plus the District of Columbia, in federal court, and in the military courts.2 Florida's court rules define court reporting to include stenomask equipment by name.4 California, the highest-paying state for this occupation, began accepting voice writers in 2021 and lists NVRA reciprocity effective January 1, 2025.15
The exam data favors voice. California is the only state that publishes pass rates by school and by method every exam cycle. Over the last three cycles, voice writing candidates from California schools passed the dictation exam 104 times out of 128 attempts (81%). Steno candidates from the same schools: 17 of 61 (28%).1 Voice writers now make up two-thirds of California's school candidates.
| Steno (machine shorthand) | Voice writing | |
|---|---|---|
| Credential | NCRA RPR or state CSR | NVRA CVR or state CSR |
| Exam standard | 180 / 200 / 225 WPM at 95% | 180 / 200 / 225 WPM at 95% |
| CA dictation pass rate, last 3 cycles | 28% (school candidates) | 81% (school candidates) |
| Typical training | 2 to 4 years | 6 to 9 months at your own pace; 3 to 6 with daily practice |
| Equipment to start practicing | Steno machine | Headphones and a keyboard |
Sources: NVRA facts and figures.2 Court Reporters Board of California, dictation examination statistics, July 2025, November 2025, March 2026.1 Steno training duration is the range published by the programs on NVRA's education list.
What the career pays
Freelance court reporters choose their assignments and set their own calendar. Official court positions pay a salary with benefits; the BLS median for local government reporters is $78,430.6 Earnings vary by market, certification, and specialty.
Pricing
Free
Practice at 120 and 140 WPM. Literary, jury charge, and Q&A passages. Full scoring on every take.
- Full scoring on every take
- Progress dashboard
- Certificate when you clear 140 at 95%
Equipment: headphones and a keyboard.
Start freePro
Everything in Free, plus 160 through 225 WPM, the full passage library, voice writing scoring, exam mode on all three legs, and deposition Q&A practice.
- Founding members: code FOUNDING10 takes 10% off for as long as you stay subscribed
What certification itself costs (not included, paid to NVRA): Dictation Skills Test $185 for members ($235 non-member). Written Knowledge Test $160 ($210). Optional Test Readiness Session $125 ($175). Passed legs never expire while your NVRA membership stays current. The skills test is in person only; NVRA runs sittings roughly monthly in cities including Jacksonville, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Nashville, and San Jose.38
For context, the training programs on NVRA's education list that publish prices charge $4,000 to about $16,500.9 VerbatimPrep is not a program. It is the practice hours around one, or the practice hours instead of one if you are studying on your own.
Start at 120 WPM today.
Put on headphones, transcribe one passage, and see how the scoring works. No card. No equipment. Nothing to install.
Start freeFrequently asked questions
Is VerbatimPrep a court reporting school?
No. It is a practice platform. It does not replace a training program, an instructor, or the NVRA exam. It gives you scored dictation practice at exam speeds, with a mastery gate and an exam simulator, for $0 to $99 a month.
What is voice writing?
A court reporting method where the reporter repeats everything said in a proceeding into a stenomask, a hand-held, sound-shielded microphone, and speech recognition software produces the transcript. The certification exam (NVRA's CVR) tests the same speeds and the same 95% accuracy standard as the steno exam.3
Do I need a degree?
No. BLS lists the typical entry-level education for court reporters as a postsecondary nondegree award.6 NVRA requires a high school diploma or equivalent to sit the CVR.3
Do I need to buy a stenomask to start?
No. Everything through 180 WPM is listen-and-type with headphones and a keyboard. Voice writing equipment comes in at 200 WPM, and the ladder will tell you when you are there.
How long does it take?
Training programs on NVRA's education list report timelines of six to nine months at your own pace, or as little as three to six months with dedicated daily practice.9 The CVR can be taken one leg at a time and each passed leg is banked as long as your NVRA membership is continuous.3
What do court reporters earn?
The national median is $72,420 and the top ten percent earn more than $130,560 (BLS, May 2025).6 California's median is $116,020.6 Freelance reporters typically bill an appearance fee plus a per-page transcript rate, which works out to $550 to $1,000 or more for a deposition day.7 Earnings vary.
I am a notary in Florida. Does that help?
Yes. Florida court reporters administer oaths under their notary commission for deposition work, so you already hold the legal authority; VerbatimPrep builds the skill.
Will AI replace court reporters?
Certified legal records and oath administration require a human officer under court rules, and BLS projects about 1,800 openings a year through 2035.6
Is this really free?
The 120 and 140 WPM tier is free forever, no card required. Pro is $99 a month or $799 a year when you are ready for 160 and above.
What does the full path to certification cost?
VerbatimPrep is the practice platform ($0 for free tier, $99/mo or $799/yr for Pro). The certification itself is separate, paid directly to NVRA: Skills Test $185, Written Knowledge Test $160, and membership $75 to $225 depending on category.3 Equipment (stenomask and speech recognition software) runs $400 to $700 when you reach 200 WPM. Total estimate for the full path: under $3,000 depending on how long you subscribe and which equipment you choose. See the pricing page for the full breakdown. VerbatimPrep does not administer the exam, sell equipment, or provide instructor-led training.
What computer do I need for voice writing software?
For the free tier (120 and 140 WPM), any computer with a web browser and headphones works. No special hardware or software required.
At 200 WPM and above, when you add a stenomask and speech recognition software, you will need: a Windows PC (Dragon Professional does not run natively on Mac), at least 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended), an SSD for faster processing, and a USB port for the stenomask. An internet connection is required for cloud-based speech engines like Speechmatics. Check the specific system requirements for whichever speech recognition software you choose (Dragon Professional or Eclipse with Speechmatics), as they may update over time.
Sources
- Court Reporters Board of California, Dictation Examination Statistics, July 2025, November 2025, and March 2026 cycles. courtreportersboard.ca.gov/applicants
- National Verbatim Reporters Association, Facts and Figures. nvra.org/facts-figures
- NVRA, "CVR, CVR-S, CM, CM-S Certification Rules, Policies, and Procedures," revised August 2026. nvra.org/test-schedule-and-registration
- Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, Rule 2.535(a), definition of "court reporting."
- Court Reporters Board of California, on AB 156 and voice writer certification. courtreportersboard.ca.gov/lawsregs/voice_writers
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, and Occupational Outlook Handbook, Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners, updated August 2026. bls.gov/ooh/legal/court-reporters
- Composite freelance day-rate estimate from published appearance fees and per-page transcript charges (CourtScribes 2026 rate guide; OnCall Legal, updated August 2026) anchored to Tehama County Superior Court's pro tem reporter per diem (Standing Order 2026-10).
- NVRA 2026 Onsite Testing Schedule. nvra.org/test-schedule-and-registration
- Published pricing from NVRA-listed voice writing and court reporting training programs, reviewed September 2026.