By Lynette L. Mueller
I. Introduction
Gratitude and Purpose: To every member who completed the 2025 Member Needs Survey — thank you. Your time, thoughts, and perspectives have given us far more than data. You’ve offered a vision for the future, anchored in experience and passion for our profession. More than 1,000 members responded, submitting over 3,400 detailed comments. This wasn’t just a survey but a collective conversation about what matters most to you. The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) is listening, and your voices guide our way forward. We recognize the privilege and responsibility of representing the stenographic and captioning community. Your feedback has made it abundantly clear: This is a profession built on purpose and unity, but also in need of renewed connection, clearer communication, and bold, strategic action.
II. Survey Participation and Engagement Overview
The Member Needs Survey engagement was not only strong, but it was also deeply insightful. With 1,049 member responses and 593 participants providing emails for a buy-one, get-one CEU offer, this was one of NCRA’s most participatory feedback initiatives to date, while reinforcing the value of affordable, member-focused continuing education. But perhaps even more telling than the numbers was the tone: thoughtful, concerned, hopeful, and constructive. From members celebrating decades of involvement to students just beginning their journey, comments revealed a vibrant tapestry of professional experiences. Members spoke candidly about what they appreciate and what they feel is lacking. That honesty is invaluable. It proves that our community doesn’t just care about the Association, they care enough to speak up, engage, and push us to be better.
III. Positive Feedback and Association Perception
Despite the challenges facing our industry, many members praised the Association’s work and underscored its essential role in their professional lives. “The NCRA has always been the foundation of the court reporting world,” one respondent wrote. Others echoed that sentiment: “The National Association is essential to our profession,” and “NCRA is invaluable to the court reporting profession and deserves our full support.” Key areas members frequently applauded include national advocacy efforts, support for certification and education, networking opportunities, and the ethical standards NCRA upholds. Some praised specific leadership, programs, or initiatives. Several credited NCRA for helping them find community, improve professionally, and stay informed about critical industry developments. These are the pillars that many believe still set NCRA apart, and they serve as a foundation to grow upon.
From members celebrating decades of involvement to students just beginning their journey, comments revealed a vibrant tapestry of professional experiences. Members spoke candidly about what they appreciate and what they feel is lacking. That honesty is invaluable. It proves that our community doesn’t just care about the Association, they care enough to speak up, engage, and push us to be better.
IV. Identifying Core Priorities from Member Feedback
Amid the praise, the survey also identified urgent areas for growth and change. Four key themes emerged repeatedly:
a. Certification
i. Certification and credentialing programs: There is a desire to develop ways to have certification and credentialing programs be the gold standard in the court reporting industry. Our webinars are created by respected volunteer leaders from across our profession and are presented by members, for members. The content is fresh and current, so definitely the “gold standard.”
ii. Online education opportunities: Members expressed appreciation for CEU opportunities but called for more technical and advanced content, especially in software and captioning fields. NCRA should be recognized as the leader with the most up-to-date, highest-quality, and greatest value continuing education available.
iii. Online testing platform: Many members pointed to high costs and online testing frustrations. They want certification to be both meaningful and attainable. Members would like to see NCRA fast-track steps to improve the online testing platform.
b. Government relations/lobbying resources: Members want to better understand what NCRA is doing to support government relations. Did you know that information is sent out regularly in the JCR Weekly, as well as in the JCR? Contact headquarters to ensure your email address is correct if you are not receiving the notifications. [Contact membership@ncra.org with your name and member ID.] In addition, the NCRA website has an Advocacy Resources Center where you can look for all the updates about AI, lobbying efforts, state associations, and more.
c. Networking opportunities: Members expressed an interest in having more cost-effective ways to network with peers. The Board will be considering options to improve this area.
d. Online resource center: The online resource center can be beefed up to better support the above opportunities. As a court reporter, your work demands precision, efficiency, and clarity — and we believe your online experience should reflect the same. With a wide range of resources available on our website, we understand that finding exactly what you need can sometimes be a challenge.
To streamline your experience, we encourage you to make use of the search feature. Whether you’re looking for reference materials, best practices, or support tools, the search function is designed to quickly guide you to the right information, so you can stay focused on what matters most.
There is a sentiment that members would like to better understand the overall value of their NCRA membership. There are so many existing benefits that members are not aware of. Look to your JCR Weekly for an already-started series of articles related to unlocking the full value of your NCRA membership.
One long-time member emphasized: “I believe it is extremely important for court reporters to have this organization support us. NCRA has stood by our profession for so long. I am proud of my association.” Others urged leadership to focus more visibly on advocacy and action, especially regarding threats like AI and digital recording. The call is clear: Maintain what’s working and modernize what isn’t.
Other areas expressed were the following:
Transparent communication: Calls for clarity in leadership decisions and financial accountability were prominent. Transparency is indeed critical to member trust, and your Board is committed to clear and honest communication. In addition, our members said their social media of choice is Facebook — far and above any other social media platform. In fact, NCRA has already implemented an updated policy regarding the groups for members only. Read more about NCRA’s Facebook changes.
Support for all modalities: A desire was relayed for more inclusion of voice writers, while captioners expressed a desire for more inclusion and standards alignment.
Transition to digital platforms: Many advocated moving away from a printed Journal of Court Reporting in favor of robust digital alternatives. If you are inclined to receive your JCR in a digital format only, you may opt out of the printed edition by contacting headquarters.
V. Conclusion: Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Thank you for sticking with us to the end of this important member update.
We hope this update has made it clear just how seriously your Board is taking your feedback. The survey results and recommendations are shaping real changes, many of which are already being implemented in close partnership with our incredible staff.
This survey marks not an end, but a beginning — a renewed chapter in NCRA’s journey to better serve its members. It confirmed our strengths, illuminated our blind spots, and gave us a clearer path forward. As one member so succinctly stated, “NCRA is what keeps us working, keeps us relevant.” That relevance must now be earned every day.
Your input is not just heard — it’s guiding change. We are committed to acting with urgency, clarity, and respect for the community that makes this profession possible. In the months ahead, we will continue sharing progress, welcoming feedback, and refining our efforts to better reflect the needs and aspirations of court reporters and captioners nationwide.
We’re excited about what’s ahead and grateful to have you with us on this journey. Stay tuned — there’s more to come! We’re in this together. And together, we’re stronger.
Authored by Lynette L. Mueller, FAPR, RDR, CRR, on behalf of the REAL Task Force.
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