Cerritos College News Releases -- March 2008

NORWALK, Calif. – March 12, 2008 –Cerritos College announced today that its court reporting students achieved a 100 percent passage rate on the Certified Shorthand Reporters (CSR) exam given in October 2007.

The average pass rate for the state was 27.7% with the second highest school having a pass rate of 50%. These figures speak for themselves – Cerritos College students’ performance was exceptional.

“The 100 percent pass rate at the last test is significant because the pass rates in the past have varied considerably from 19 percent to 60 percent,” says Mary Balmages, who co-chairs the court reporting department along with Vykki Morgan. “Each test is different and the students' nerves are put to the test as they must demonstrate their skill and composure on the spot.”

The state exam is given three times a year and is equivalent to the bar exam. It is a two-day test, with academic subjects tested on the first day and machine dictation given on the second day.

Balmages stresses that the amazingly successful performances of her students come from their maturity, dedication, the will to succeed and family support. “We could not ask for anything more gratifying,” Balmages describes her pride in her students, "than to have students who agree to work as hard as Vykki and I will work in order for them to succeed.”

It takes substantial learning and training to take the test. To be eligible to take the test, students must have completed 660 hours of academic training in English, legal studies, medical terminology, court procedures, California Codes and computer training. They must also have completed 2,300 hours of class time practicing on the steno machine and 60 hours of apprenticeship training in court and depositions.

“In addition to the excitement of the great accomplishment of a 100 percent pass rate,” says Balmages, “we are excited to be expanding our online program so that students from all over can become involved in the wonderful career opportunities that court reporting has to offer.”

Cerritos College court reporting program has been in existence since 1972 and the program graduates have an excellent reputation in the legal community. The successful program graduates work in Superior Court and Federal Court, own deposition agencies, provide transcripts for the Academy Awards, and caption national news broadcasts. Cerritos College offers a full program of day and evening classes, weekend classes and now an online program in court reporting.

Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 200 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently nears 20,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

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Cerritos College

Releases 2008