Paralegal Certification Guide for Students and Professionals

Many people who earn their degree in legal studies, such as an online Master of Legal Studies, may seek a career as a paralegal. While passing an exam or certification is not required to become a paralegal, voluntary certifications are available to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in the field.

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations Inc. (NFPA) notes that because employer requirements vary widely, earning a widely recognized paralegal credential can be one practical way to stand out in the job market.

Holding a paralegal certification can potentially increase your salary and job prospects.

Check out our list of national paralegal certifications and those issued by states.

Paralegal Certifications vs. Paralegal Certificates: What are the Differences?

Associate, bachelor’s, master’s and even non-degree programs may offer paralegal certificates. People who complete these programs and earn a certificate of completion may then become certificated in paralegal studies. Some paralegal education programs are granted accreditation by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Paralegal certifications may indicate completion of an exam and fulfillment of work or meet certain established requirements. Paralegal certifications are offered by certifying organizations, such as the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) or the National Association for Legal Assistants (NALA). Paralegals who have passed the required examinations and meet ongoing requirements may be certified. Some credentials may include CORE or PACE Registered Paralegal, Certified Paralegal, Certified Legal Assistant or Professional Paralegal. To maintain these credentials, paralegals may also be required to complete continuing legal education (CLE).

National Paralegal Certifications

Several organizations offer paralegal certifications. Each has different eligibility requirements, designations and exams.

American Alliance Certified Paralegal (AACP)

The American Alliance of Paralegals Inc. (AAPI) offers a certification program. Notably, paralegals must be members of the AAPI to receive the credential. However, there is no exam. Candidates must apply, and if they meet the education and experience criteria, they can receive the AAPI certification.

To be eligible for the certification, candidates need at least five years of paralegal experience and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or an associate degree or certificate from an ABA-approved program.

NALS Certified Professional Paralegal

NALS (The Association for Legal Professionals) offers the Professional Paralegal (PP) certification exam for paralegals seeking a national credential. The PP is designed for students graduating from an ABA-approved legal studies or paralegal studies program, or for professionals with at least 5 years of paralegal/legal assistant experience. Membership in NALS is not required to sit for any of its certification exams, and candidates should confirm they meet the exam’s eligibility requirements before applying.

NALA Certified Paralegal

The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) offers the certified paralegal (CP) credential. This credential is recognized nationally and internationally and is the national professional standard for paralegals. Paralegals often choose this program because the NALA is the only National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)- accredited paralegal certification program. Eligibility is determined based on education or experience criteria.

Candidates must pass a broad, competency-based exam covering multiple legal subject areas to earn the credential. The exam consists of two sections—knowledge and skills. Candidates must complete the knowledge portion before they are eligible to take the skills exam.

NFPA Paralegal Certification

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) offers two credentialing exams, the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) and the Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE).

The PCCE is an entry-level exam for paralegals that demonstrates their education has prepared them for their careers. The PACE exam has educational and professional experience requirements. Years of experience depend on education and degree. The PACE exam has two parts: one covering legal and ethical issues and the other covering specialty topics.

Paralegal Certifications by State

There are also voluntary state certification programs for paralegals. Some jurisdictions offer state-level registration or certification programs administered by a state bar or a state paralegal association (for example, The Florida Bar’s Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) program), while other credentials are offered by independent state or regional paralegal associations.

California is the only state that regulates paralegals directly under the Business and Professions Code. In California, Legal Document Assistants (LDAs) (a separate category from attorney-supervised paralegals) generally must be registered under California law to provide certain compensated self-help document services.

The table below outlines some programs and certifying associations in each state. Note that there may be other state associations excluded from this list, including organizations that do not offer exams or credentials.

Information on this page was retrieved and last updated in January 2026