This can add to their over-all compensation. Vacation, sick leave, dental and medical benefits are usually paid by employers. Freelance reporters are paid by the job, a percentage of the billing for the deposition page, or per appearance, or a combination of these. The customary workweek is 40 hours, but freelance and hearing reporters may work 12 hours a day for weeks at a time. Workweeks may be longer if they produce the transcripts themselves.
Travel is also common for freelancers.
Their income is sometimes limited only by the number of assignments they desire to undertake. They must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Verified certificate of satisfactory completion in a recognized California Court Reporting School and have the ability to make a verbatim record from dictated material, or National Court Reporters Association certificate of proficiency or certificate of merit, or Passing grade on the California State Hearing Reporter examination, or Valid Certified Shorthand Reporters certificate or license issued by another State which is approved by the board. The State examination is very difficult, and most persons who take the test do not pass. Only 14 percent of the persons who took the November 1997 test passed.