AAERT CET Certified Electronic Transcriber study guide
AAERT CET Certified Electronic Transcriber · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET®) is a credential issued by the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT) for professionals who transcribe digitally recorded court and non-court proceedings verbatim. AAERT describes its certifications as recognized by many courts and businesses, and the CET is aimed at working transcribers as well as newcomers preparing to enter the field. The AAERT CET Certified Electronic Transcriber study guide has 5 sections and about 1,502 words.
01Transcript Formatting and Proofreading
Formatting questions reward consistency more than creativity. Know the standard elements of a verbatim legal transcript: a title/caption block identifying the proceeding, the case, the date, and the reporter; speaker designations (often a short form such as Q.
311 words, about 2 min02Transcription Software and Equipment
This domain covers the practical toolchain: audio playback software with variable speed, foot pedal control, time-code display, and a text-expansion utility. Candidates should understand why each tool exists - foot pedals let the transcriber control playback without leaving the keyboard; variable speed preserves pitch while slowing audio; time codes let a reviewer jump to a cited passage.
301 words, about 2 min03General Legal Procedures
You are not expected to practice law, but you must recognize the stages and vocabulary of a proceeding so you can label and structure a transcript correctly. Know the arc of a civil or criminal matter: pleadings and filing, discovery (including depositions and interrogatories), pre-trial motions, trial (opening statements, direct and cross-examination, redirect, closing arguments, jury instructions, verdict), and post-trial or appeal.
304 words, about 2 min04Ethical and Professional Behavior
Ethics questions ask what a competent, impartial professional does when pressure, ambiguity, or error appears. Core duties: accuracy and completeness , impartiality , confidentiality , integrity of the record , and scope of competence - knowing when to decline or refer work you cannot do well.
296 words, about 1 min05Vocabulary
Legal transcription vocabulary splits into three buckets: procedural terms (arraignment, deposition, voir dire, sidebar, stipulation, continuance, subpoena), roles and documents (affidavit, complaint, exhibit, indictment, docket, caption), and transcription mechanics (verbatim, unintelligible, time code, speaker designation, certification). Expect homophone and near-miss traps, since transcription errors often come from sound-alikes.
290 words, about 1 min