Scoping International is an online education platform where you can learn to assist court reporters by checking transcripts for accuracy, formatting, and editing for grammar and punctuation. In addition to our signature course, we have a selection of proofreading and steno note-reading courses to enhance your skills coming soon.
The course is divided into eight sections composed of modules. These modules and sections are designed to build upon each other to help students grasp the fundamentals of scoping. Each section will need to be completed before moving on to the next section. Key sections will have tests that must be passed to gain access to the following sections. There are three critical tests: punctuation, software, and the final transcript.
The final transcript is critical and is an opportunity to scope a real transcript with audio. This is a unique opportunity that is not offered by any other course to date. Without audio training, you will not be able to fulfill the demands of modern scoping. This isn’t a skill that stays frozen in time; it is an ever-evolving process that makes use of technology as it progresses. You have two chances to pass the final test*. The final test unlocks the last sections of the course that teach you how to get started as a professional scopist.
*Footnote
*Critical tests are used to ensure that students understand and apply the information being taught in the course. If a student cannot pass the critical tests, it indicates there is a lack of understanding of an essential skill needed to become a successful scopist. We offer as much support as possible to our students, including one-on-one coaching, free drop-in sessions with one or more of the SI team present, and the support of fellow students. We also understand that the course is an investment, and in order to offer our students an opportunity to continue the course, we will allow students additional opportunities to take the test for a fee of $100.
$2,995
Scoping International stands behind the courses and products we offer. Section 1 is completely free for potential students to access and complete. If you make payment for Section 2 but do not access it within 14 days, you may request a refund within those 14 days. There may be a cancellation fee, depending on the payment method. However, once you access any paid section, no refund will be issued even if you do not complete the section.
Scoping isn’t a get-rich-quick program, but it is a real, flexible career with strong earning potential. Your income depends on your experience, speed, and how much you’re willing to work. Our aim is to have our graduates scoping at least 20+ pages per hour, and as you gain skill and consistency, you’ll be able to take on more work and higher-paying jobs.
Most scopists earn between $30,000–$50,000 USD/year, with experienced full-time scopists making $50,000–$70,000+ USD annually. As a freelancer, you’re in charge, how much you make depends on the hours you commit and the relationships you build.
Although it is a self-paced course, students have completed a course like this within 6-12 months. The eight-section course is made up of 35 modules, and each module takes approximately 2-6 hours to complete. The practice section is the longest. It may take weeks to complete as it is the most intensive part of the course.
Once a year, Scoping International sponsors a scholarship program. Every spring, we award one full scholarship and two partial scholarships. Sign up for our newsletter to get advance notice.
Starting your own scoping business is an exciting step, and like any new venture, it comes with some essential tools to set you up for success. After graduating from The Complete Scoping Course, you’ll be ready to work with a laptop or desktop computer, plus a few key items like editing software, headphones, and (optionally) a foot pedal. And remember these expenses can typically be written off. The day-to-day overhead costs of being a freelance scopist are very minimal.
To make this transition smoother, Scoping International proudly partners with Stenograph to offer our students meaningful discounts. We’re committed to helping you launch with confidence and ease..
No, not to begin with. Because a scopist works so closely with the written and spoken word, they do eventually need to have excellent grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and research skills, but those skills can be learned, and that’s where we come in.
That being said, it is also not necessary to be a native English speaker to work with English legal transcripts. We have trained many scopists whose first language is something other than English, and they are successful in their business.
Critical tests are designed to make sure you truly understand the key skills needed to succeed as a scopist. If you don’t pass a critical test, it’s a sign that you may need more support in mastering an essential concept.
The good news? We’ve got you covered.
Scoping International offers multiple layers of support—including one-on-one coaching, free drop-in sessions with our team, and encouragement from fellow students in the community. Our goal is to help you succeed, not just pass.
We also understand this course is a significant investment. If you need to retake a critical test, you have two chances to pass included in your course package. We offer additional attempts for a $100 fee, giving you the opportunity to continue your learning journey with confidence and support.
Does scoping sound interesting, but you’re not quite sure if it’s a good fit for you? Well, we suggest exploring a little more.
“I’m almost halfway through the program, and so far it’s been great. What I appreciate is that faculty are all currently working in the industry so the information we are learning is up-to-date and relevant to what is being used currently in the field. The multifaceted use of text, videos, interviews, quizzes etc. keeps self-paced […]
“Program was very thorough and by the end of the course, you have the knowledge and confidence to move forward with scoping professionally. Of course, I was nervous at first to go from practice transcripts to real transcripts, but this course and the instructors prepared me well so that it was a smooth transition.”
“I’d say that if this is a good job for them, this is the best course to take. It’s clearly organized, the instructors work well together to help students do their best, and they will have what they need by the end to begin working.”
“Going through this course has been so exciting. The team at Scoping International brings to the table a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience, and enthusiasm for the field of scoping. The course is challenging, but I like that, because I want to complete this course feeling confident to start this new career.”
“Coralie, Rachel, and Heidi don’t only want you to pay a fee and pass a course; the teachers genuinely want to open up a possibility for you to earn a decent income in a new and exciting career. Easily the best and most valuable vocational course I have taken and absolutely worth the investment!”
If you haven’t confidently signed up for the course by now but you’ve read this far, there must be some larger roadblocks holding you back. So let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the price tag.
It’s probably the biggest obstacle for most when deciding if they will buy an online course.
There are other factors to consider as well, like whether you have the time to devote to finishing the course or if you’ll even like the work. But we can assure you that the cost-benefit analysis is solid. You will make the tuition back! This is a real job with a real paycheck!
That being said, you can’t sit back and wait for work to come to you. Scoping requires networking. Your reputation matters. Whether the reporters use you regularly or not depends on how you treat them.
We guarantee that, if you put the work in, effectively network, build a community, and perfect your skill set, you will reap the rewards of working for yourself from anywhere.
Scoping International is committed to your success, and as difficult as it is in this economic climate, we are confident that the investment is worth it.
As an example, after working together on the same RealTeam job, our team figured out that in 17 days of RealTime scoping, you can make the investment back. Now, that sounds like a really good return to us.
But we get it; sometimes it takes time to take that leap into a new career, and we will be here when you are ready. To learn more about the ins and outs of scoping, building your own business, and that work-from-anywhere life, sign up to get our once-a-month newsletter, Off the Record, where we talk about all things scoping and proofreading.
If you are like us, a bit of a grammar nerd, someone who wants to control their own hours and their own paycheck, and loves watching all the legal dramas, then scoping might be for you.
Understandably, it’s an investment, and you might need a little more information before handing over your credit card info.
So here are a few details for you about scoping. By now you probably know it is a career in assisting court reporters by checking legal transcripts for accuracy, formatting, and editing for grammar and punctuation.
The faculty at Scoping International created a comprehensive and up-to-date scoping course so you can get the skills and confidence you need to succeed in your new career. Get a taste for the course before committing.
Sign up for the first section today with no obligation. You’ve got nothing to lose.
Scoping International offers 60-minute one-on-one sessions for current students and graduates.
Learning online has its own set of challenges for some, and for other students, it fits their learning style perfectly.
One-on-one sessions have been shown to improve the online learning space in many ways for all kinds of students. So if you feel you are struggling to understand concepts, wrap your head around the grammar, or set up your business, then book a session to get the support you need.
These sessions not only create a sense of community within our industry as we come together for our monthly discussions, but it also is an easy way to access the faculty of Scoping International and to ask questions that come up in the course or as you set up your business.
Come for the whole session, or just drop in and get your question answered.
$10/session
FREE for Scoping International students and graduates.
Not all scopists know steno, but knowing how to read steno notes will ensure you are fully qualified. Steno note reading is the ability to read stenography, the shorthand language of stenographers like court reporters.
Our comprehensive course is an intro to steno, and the skills you will learn will aid you in supporting your court reporting clients more fully.
The majority of industry leaders agree that steno is an asset to your education.
More details coming soon.
What’s the difference between scoping and proofreading?
Proofreading is the better-known cousin of scoping. They are distinct from each other yet related somehow.
Proofreading is about:
– the final pass over a transcript
– reading for context
– checking for consistency
– fixing missed spelling and punctuation
If proofreading sounds more in your wheelhouse, then do we have good news for you! This winter, we are releasing our long-awaited addition to the Scoping International roster, THE COMPLETE PROOFREADING COURSE.
More details coming soon.
Knowing the software can be intimidating, but being efficient at auto-indexing can boost your profitability as an additional service you can offer and help you get the job done faster. In this course, we teach you about auto-indexing within the Case CATalyst software. This will give you the skills you need to support your clients fully.
More details coming soon.
RealTeam scoping is simultaneously scoping while the reporter is writing on the record. RealTeam is potentially the most profitable area of scoping and is the next step after you have gained confidence working with your first few clients.
Are you a team player looking to maximize your profit? Then stop hesitating and learn everything you need to know about RealTeam scoping.
More details coming soon.