The next few months will be busy at NCRA, and there are plenty of ways for you to collect stamps for your NCRA Engage Passport. This month we’re looking at the following activity categories: Support and engagement, professional growth, and getting involved.
As always, remember the three required activities every participant must complete: Joining or renewing your membership, updating your profile, and engaging with designated social media posts. The first one is already posted!
Support and engagement
Students are the future of the profession, and at NCRA we strive to support them throughout their professional journey. You can help foster the next generation of court reporters and captioners when you facilitate an NCRA A to Z ® Intro to Steno Machine Shorthand program. NCRA A to Z program leaders work with small groups of participants as they learn how to write the alphabet and numbers in steno. This program does not follow any theory, and facilitators will receive training materials to use during the program. It’s a great way to give back and earn something for yourself in the form of an Engage Passport stamp.
You can also support the future of the profession when you sign up to be a mentor to students. NCRA’s Virtual Mentor Program is committed to excellence both in the court reporting and captioning professions and in the next generation of court reporters. It’s a way for today’s professionals to offer students the guidance and encouragement they need to navigate the challenges they face during school and beyond.
Finally, NCRA members are the best advocates for the profession and are an important engine for recruiting new members. When you do, you’ll be one step closer to earning your next NCRA Engage Passport stamp.
Professional growth
One of the most valuable benefits of NCRA membership are the various ways to grow professionally. We offer numerous certifications that will help you stand out. When you receive your certification, you’ll also receive an Engage Passport stamp to add to your collection. The first step toward those certifications, however, begins with testing. Registration is currently open until October 20 to take the Online Skills Test from Nov. 1-20.
Take your exam within the first 10 days
After you’ve registered, and once the testing registration period begins, don’t wait until the last few days of the testing periods to complete your exam. According to the NCRA testing department, those who take their test within the first 10 days have higher success rates. We have also rolled out some new upgrades to our online testing platform. Candidates are now offered an easy-to-follow path for each test they take. And a new dual-registration opportunity offers candidates the option to take two back-to-back tests of the same exam type (e.g., two RPR tests) in one testing session during each testing block. Take the stress out of testing and take the exam early! You’ll be rewarded with peace of mind and an NCRA Passport stamp!
Getting involved
This month we also take another look at how else you can get involved. Attending an NCRA event is a fantastic way to earn an Engage Passport stamp, and one of our most popular events is coming up in early 2027, the NCRA Leadership & Legislative Boot Camp in Washington, D.C. Save the date now for March 14-16, 2027, to join us in the nation’s capital and advocate for the profession we all love. You’ll get intensive, hands-on experience designed to prepare you to lead, influence, and advocate with confidence. Whether you’re new to grassroots engagement or looking to refine your skills, this event offers the tools, training, and connections to make a lasting impact on the future of court reporting, captioning, and related legal professions.
Other ways to win
Don’t forget the other rewards available through NCRA Engage: Skills Testing Rewards and Webinar Rewards. Right now, folks who register for any combination of WKT or SKT testing legs (for a total of five) are eligible to earn one free skills test. You can also earn rewards when you sign up for any of the webinars in the Learning Center. When you purchase seven webinars, you are eligible to earn an eighth one for free. Everyone is encouraged to participate in all three opportunities simultaneously. There is no limit to participation.
Visit the NCRA Engage page to get started! For additional questions or information, please contact NCRA Member Services at memberservices@ncra.org.
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