Court Reporting and Stenography School in Buffalo, New York
The Stenographic Institute of Western New York, founded in 1971, is a registered private business school that specializes in every phase of court reporting using a stenotype writer and computer aided transcription (CAT). For more than fifty years, our Buffalo campus has trained students to capture the spoken word at speeds of up to 225 words per minute and turn it into an accurate, verbatim transcript.
Our diploma program leads to careers in official court reporting, freelance and deposition reporting, hearing and convention reporting, and realtime closed captioning. Evening classes meet Monday through Thursday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, so you can train for a rewarding new profession while keeping your current job.
Where a Court Reporting Career Can Take You
Court Reporting
Freelance Reporting
Realtime Captioning
Why Train at the Stenographic Institute
Words Per Minute to Graduate
Weeks, Start to Diploma
Core Courses
Plus Years Teaching Reporters
Nine Courses That Build a Complete Court Reporter
Every student moves through the same nine core courses, blending stenotype theory and speedbuilding with the academic knowledge a working reporter needs every day.
- Machine Shorthand Theory: the methodology and techniques of writing and reading shorthand on a stenotype.
- Machine Shorthand Speed Building: daily practice that takes you to the 225 words-per-minute graduation standard.
- Keyboarding: reach 40 adjusted words per minute while learning to navigate Windows.
- Computer Aided Transcription (CAT): produce realtime translation and manage your personal dictionary.
- English for Court Reporters: standard English and the punctuation of unscripted, extemporaneous speech.
- Legal Terminology, Medical Terminology, and Court Procedures: the specialized vocabulary and courtroom knowledge reporters rely on.
Invest in a New Career
- $10,400 tuition for the 108-week program
- $865 due at registration (fees plus the first month)
- $400 per month thereafter, with no loan required
- Tuition reimbursement and workforce programs accepted
Frequently Asked Questions About Court Reporting School
The diploma program runs 108 weeks (432 hours). Evening classes meet Monday through Thursday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, and students typically add two to three hours of practice at home each day, for roughly ten hours of practice a week.
Students build speed on the stenotype machine until they reach the graduation benchmark of 225 words per minute. Keyboarding reaches a minimum of 40 adjusted words per minute.
Tuition is $10,400 for the 108-week program, or about $10,865 with the registration, textbook, and media fees. A payment of $865 is due at registration, which covers fees and the first month, and the balance is paid at $400 per month.
New classes are formed in September and March. Transfer students may begin at the start of any month and may receive credit for qualifying English, legal, and medical coursework.
Applicants need a high school diploma or equivalency and proof of being at least 18 years of age. Students also need a digital recorder and a computer with a USB 2.0 connection.
Graduates work as official court reporters, freelance and deposition reporters, hearing and convention reporters, and realtime closed captioners. Court reporters in New York earn a mean annual wage of $106,340 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022).
The Institute is at 4525 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14226. You can reach the office by phone at (716) 839-1322, Monday through Thursday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.
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