Horry-Georgetown Technical College Launches Court Reporter Programs
Online programs designed to meet nationwide shortage.
(Conway, SC) February 20, 2019 - Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) announced today the
launch of its new court reporter programs, created to meet the severe shortage of court reporters across not only South Carolina,
but the entire country.
The college will be offering three online programs in court reporting: voice writing, stenography, and digital. The digital court reporter program, which will begin in March and will take students 15 to 18 weeks to complete, will be the first of its kind in South Carolina, and will help further the state court system’s effort to supplement the court reporting workforce with digital technology. Stenography and voice reporting programs are expected to begin in April and will take approximately 18 months to complete.
“South Carolina’s courtrooms will always need qualified employees who are able to perform the essential work of preserving the record,” said Supreme Court of South Carolina Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty. “I sincerely appreciate the work of everyone involved in creating this new court reporting program that will help develop a qualified workforce and keep South Carolina’s courtrooms operating.”
Through the court reporter programs, HGTC hopes to meet the need for court reporters both in the private sector and in South Carolina’s court system. South Carolina State Senator Stephen Goldfinch saw the need first-hand and was instrumental in getting the program off the ground.
“We are in desperate need for additional court reporters in South Carolina,” Goldfinch said. “We’re at the lowest level of qualified court reporters that we've seen in 50 years. I'm pleased to have played a part in the creation of this program and am happy to help HGTC continue its legacy of growing our local economy and providing a well-trained workforce for South Carolina.”
A recent needs assessment found 164 court reporter positions will need to be filled in South Carolina between 2019 and 2021. The average entry level salary for a court reporter in South Carolina is $41,150.
Workforce development tuition assistance is available for the court reporter program. Interested students can learn more and enroll by calling 843-477-2020 or visiting https://www.hgtc.edu/jobtraining/court-reporting.html.