Online Training for Broadcast Captioning

All digital televisions have closed captioning display capabilities.

Broadcast captioners instantly convert audio to text for deaf and hard-of-hearing television viewers as required by the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. Online training prepares job seekers for entry into this fast growing occupation, which according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, will increase by 18 percent.

Time Frame

Programs take up to two years to complete. The online program at Alfred State College in Alfred, New York, requires students to complete four semesters plus one summer session of online courses to receive a Court Reporting and Captioning Certificate. At Huntington Junior College in Huntington, West Virginia, an associate degree with a specialization in broadcast captioning can be completed online in as little as 18 months.

Considerations

Students who train online for a career in broadcast captioning must determine whether they can afford to purchase a shorthand machine and software needed for coursework. In 2010, Alfred State College advised students to expect to spend at least $2,000 for equipment and software.

Benefits

According to The College of Court Reporting website, online training replaces unreliable home study kits for students who desire the convenience of studying outside the classroom. The College of Court Reporting is the first online program certified by National Court Reporters Association.

References

• Federal Communications Commission: Telecommunications Act of 1996
• United States Department of Labor: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition
• Alfred State College: Court Reporting and Captioning
• Huntington Junior College
• College of Court Reporting: Distance Learning