Real-time captioning frequently asked questions
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you can’t find an answer here. We’re happy to help!
Real-time captioning is used to provide communication access for individuals who have hearing loss, whose first language is not American Sign Language, those learning English as a second language, or individuals with other learning disabilities or visual learners. By providing instantaneous speech to text, it benefits all participants.
In most instances, you will also receive a roughly edited file of the captioning output for your internal purposes. Some exceptions would be in the medical or legal setting. The file will only be delivered to the hiring party or those approved by the hiring party.
At Caption Pros, we like to think outside of the box. Any event that requires communication access would benefit from captioning. We caption events at the Desert Botanical Gardens, large theaters, conferences, conventions, webinars, business meetings, educational classes in the K-12 setting as well as post-secondary. We have crafted solutions for internships in the aviation setting as well as the culinary setting working in a restaurant and kitchen. From weddings, funerals, church services and multi-lingual conferences, Caption Pros has a solution.
You will be provided a web link specifically for your event to be able to view captions. No specific software is needed. Our platform incorporates a chat room to be able to communicate directly with your captioner. If your event is for a large group, we will eliminate the chat room for a better viewing experience. We can also password-protect your event for your security. Click here to view a demo of our platform.
In most states, certification or licensure is not required. Exceptions are Nevada and Massachusetts. All captioners who are associated with Caption Pros hold some level of certification with the National Court Reporters Association, the association for captioners and court reporters.
NER-Certified Speech-to-Text Professional (NCSP)
Consists of a 10-minute dictation including the nuances of the service a captioner provides. It is graded on the NER model which is the best reflection of the daily job of a captioner. This certification lasts for four years, and attestation of working at least 10 hours a year to maintain the status is required. This certification is offered by the Global Alliance of Speech-to-Text Captioning.
Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC)
Consists of a 50-question written knowledge and skills test as well as a mandatory training workshop. The skills test consists of 5 minutes of literary material dictated at 180 wpm, (96% passing – grading based on the accuracy of the realtime transcript produced without any editing). The written knowledge test must be passed with a scaled score of 70 or higher. This certification is designed to measure the knowledge, skill, and ability of the candidate to produce an accurate, simultaneous translation and display of live proceedings utilizing computer-aided translation for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The reporter must be a member in good standing of NCRA to sit for this examination.
Registered Merit Reporter (RMR)
Consists of a skills test. The skills portion consists of 5 minutes of literary material dictated at 200 words per minute (wpm), jury charge dictated at 240 wpm, and testimony/Q&A dictated at 260 wpm (95% passing – grading based on the accuracy of the transcripts produced within 75 minutes of completion of the dictation). The reporter must hold an RPR to be eligible to sit for this examination.
Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR)
Consists of a skills test. The skills portion consists of 5 minutes of Q&A material dictated at 200 words per minute (wpm), (96% passing – grading based on the accuracy of the realtime transcript produced without any editing). The reporter must hold an RPR to be eligible to sit for this examination.
Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR)
Consists of a written knowledge test. The highest level of certification available to court reporters. This examination is designed to test the advanced knowledge and experience of seasoned reporters. The reporter must hold an RMR to be eligible to sit for this examination.
