| What is Scoping? |
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Scoping is editing court reporter's transcripts from raw stage to nearly finished stage and ready for the proofreader. This is not transcribing notes or typing things out longhand. We use a special software program called a CAT program. It is computer-assisted transcription. When you see how these programs work you won’t ever want to do any editing on Microsoft Word. A court reporter hires a scopist to edit their court transcripts or depositions. Usually everything is transferred via the Internet. You can work for either free-lance reporters or officials, who work within the court systems. It took me less than two months to learn scoping using an on-line school program. Scoping schools teach you the steno language, how to punctuate transcripts, learning how to work with court reporters preferences and marketing yourself. In scoping, most turnaround times are 5 - 7 days or 3 - 5 days. You do the number of pages you can with no one hovering over you with pressuring expectations. Once you have gained experience, you can easily handle expedites or dailies which are often needed for official court reporters working within the court system as opposed to working for free lance reporters. Scopists are paid on a per-page rate. Most scopists charge from $.95 up to $1.25 per page, depending in whether or not they are listening to audio or not. Depending on the writing skills of the court reporter, I can scope 14 - 20 pages in an hour. Videotape jobs are the most detailed jobs that we do. And depending on the court reporter and their pay schedule will determine whether you're paid within 10 days to two weeks or within a month. When I first started advertising my scoping services in October 2006, I had an official court reporter within three days. That was simply by emailing court reporters in select cities that I chose within the United States. In the last six months, the only slow time that I have experienced was the week of Thanksgiving. I had work to do for one or more of my four court reporters throughout that entire time. If you are interested in learning more about scoping, send at email to info@joyfulscoping.com. |
| Joyful Scoping & Scoping Made Affordable |
| Are you a Medical Transcriptionist?? Learning to scope will certainly be a stress reliever for you, if you've been working in the medical transcription arena. And you will do very well in this field because of your previous experience. Scopists are very helpful with each other. There are many scopists who were medical transcriptionists prior to entering the scoping field. |
| New formatting coming soon!! |
| About CAT Progams Be sure to check out the different CAT (computer assisted transcription) programs. When you are checking them out be sure you get information about their technical service they provide to you. This is an added cost that you need to be aware of. Technical assistance is a must in the beginning year. Most CAT Programs cost just under $2,000. (That cost includes tech support.) **Check the DigitalCAT info below. I realize that sounds like a lot. I took out a loan for my software program and I would say that your work will pay for the program within your first year. **DigitalCAT from Stenovations is the least expensive CAT program at $50. |
| Voice Writer Scoping Scoping for Voice Writers is also another way to edit their transcripts. You don't have to learn the steno language if you scope for them. |