CCRA Voice Writer Education

Voice Writer Education

Have you heard the ongoing conversations about the shortage of stenographers across the state? The CSR Board has created a task force to study voice writers taking the CSR exam to become licensed in California. Earlier this year your CCRA Board appointed a Task Force to study how licensing voice writers could increase our numbers statewide and combat unlicensed imposters. Here’s what we’ve learned.

Myth: Voice writing method is inferior to steno due to faster schooling/training

Fact: Voice writers licensed in California would have to pass the same CSR test administered to steno writers, and they would need to qualify for the state exam via the same path.

Myth: Voice Writers are not making a record; they are simply recording audio.

Fact: Voice writers use voice tokens, briefs, and phrases spoken into their silencer mask during proceedings to make a verbatim record using CAT software. They are not simply recording/monitoring room audio for later transcription.

Myth: Voice writers can’t perform readback, rough drafts or realtime for clients/judges.

Fact: Through the use of CAT software as well as Dragon Professional which acts as their personal dictionary, voice writers are highly skilled realtime writers. Many hold NVRA certifications in both speed and realtime which are comparable to NCRA’s RMR and CRR.

Myth: Voice writers are distracting

Fact: Voice writers are silent. In order to pass any state or federal exam for certification you should not hear any sound from their speech silencer mask, or Stenomask.

Did you know voice writers are also working in the area of captioning and CART? With this skill in high demand, especially after the onset of the pandemic, we need to ensure the deaf and hard-of-hearing community receives the quality captioning it deserves. Voice writers working in California can increase access to these valuable services.

For a brief introduction to voice writers and how they make a record, please watch this short video by Sarah Flynn, CCR, CVR-M, RVR