A certified transcript carries the transcriber's formal attestation that it is a true, accurate, and complete record of the proceeding. Courts require certification for filing, and every transcript we deliver is certified by our AAERT-credentialed team.
Anyone can type up a recording. What courts accept is something narrower: a transcript certified by a qualified transcriber who attests, on the certificate page, that the record is true, accurate, and complete. That certificate is what turns pages of text into the official record.
Certification is also where our company identity lives. Our staff hold national credentials from the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers, the recognized certifying body for this profession, and we are proud of it: certified is the first word in our tagline.
What AAERT certification involves
AAERT credentials are earned through national examinations covering transcript production, formatting standards, legal terminology, and professional ethics. Our team includes holders of the Certified Electronic Reporter, Certified Electronic Transcriber, and Certified Digital Reporter credentials, spanning both the capture and the production sides of making a record.
Beyond the individual credentials, certification shapes how our shop runs: industry-standard formatting, confidentiality protocols, and a quality program led by our director of quality, who reviews output and tracks accuracy across every transcriber we work with.
| Question | Certified | Uncertified |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted for court filing | Yes | Usually not |
| Carries a transcriber's attestation | Yes | No |
| Prepared to court formatting rules | Yes | Varies |
| Defensible if challenged | Yes | Weak |
When you specifically need certification
Filing a transcript with any court. Designating the record on appeal. Quoting testimony in a brief or motion. Using a transcript to impeach a witness. Submitting an agency record for judicial review. In each case the document's authority comes from its certification, and an uncertified transcript risks objection or rejection.
Approved-provider status is the other half: many federal courts, including the more than 30 bankruptcy courts where we hold approved status, release audio to and accept filings from their approved transcribers.
If you are unsure whether your situation calls for a certified transcript, the safe answer is that it does. The cost difference between doing it right once and re-ordering under deadline pressure is never in your favor, and opposing counsel will notice an uncertified record before the judge does.
