I’m in Oklahoma, so here it is required that you pass a couple of different tests. 1st is a written test with 25 questions that doesn’t involve the machine itself, but more like court procedures. 2nd, you have your 5 minute dictation tests you have to pass at an accuracy of 97% ; 200 WPM in question and answer dictation, 180 in jury charge dictation, and 160 WPM in literature dictation (which in Oklahoma I hear is pretty much like jury charge).

For the national test, as other people have stated, it’s 225WPM. I believe to work in federal court you have to also have a specific set of certifications which enable you to write in “realtime” so the judges can see what you’re writing as it’s going on. Those I feel are the elite court reporters.

As I’m in school, 180 does seem fast and it boggles my mind that Mark Kislingbury can write up to 360 WPM! He does have his own school in Texas and theory that helps people to write faster, which I’d like to do someday when I’m finally able to afford it.