Paralegal Certification Guide 2022

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

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations Inc. (NFPA) recommends paralegals seek certification to stand out in the application process.

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.

Pepperdine University

Caruso School of Law

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Master of Legal Studies

The online Master of Legal Studies program from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. No GRE or LSAT scores are required to apply.

  • No GRE or LSAT scores required to apply 
  • Complete in as few as 16 months 
  • Dispute resolution concentration available

American University

Washington College of Law

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Master of Legal Studies

American University’s online Master of Legal Studies program prepares students to apply legal concepts to their everyday role. The program can be completed in 12 months. No GRE/LSAT required to apply.

  • Complete in as few as 12 months 
  • No GRE/LSAT scores required to apply 
  • Four tracks available: General MLS, Business, Health Care Compliance, and Technology 
  • Three certificates available: Business, Health Care Compliance, and Technology

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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 acquiesce 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 required examinations and fulfill ongoing requirements may become 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

There are several organizations that 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-recognized program. 

NALS Certified Professional Paralegal

NALS-The Association for Legal Professionals, offers the professional paralegal exam. To be eligible to sit for the exam and become a certified professional paralegal, candidates have to meet one of the following requirements:

  • Minimum of five years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant.
  • Have a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies.
  • Graduated from an ABA-recognized program.
  • Graduated from another accredited paralegal program with a minimum of 60 semester hours and/or 900 clock hours, with at least 15 semester hours and/or 225 clock hours in substantive law.
  • Have a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field and have a minimum of one year of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant.

NALA Certified Paralegal

The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) offers the certified paralegal (CP) credential. This credential is recognized worldwide and is the national professional standard for paralegals. Paralegals often choose to complete 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 take an exam on federal law and procedures to receive the credential. The exam consists of two section—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 to demonstrate that their education has prepared them for their career. The PACE exam has educational and professional experience requirements. Years of experience depends on education and degree. The PACE exam has two parts, one covering legal and ethics issues and another on specialty topics.

Paralegal Certifications by State

There are also voluntary state certification programs for paralegals. Some states, like Florida and New Jersey, offer state-specific exams or have associations that are affiliated with national organizations like the NALA. 

California is the only state that regulates paralegals directly, as outlined in the Business and Professions Code. Independent paralegals in California who wish to offer legal document preparation services must be certified through the California Association of Legal Document Assistants.

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.

StateAssociationCertification Program or Licensure
Arizona
Legal Document Preparer
California
California Certified Paralegal Exam
Legal Document Assistant (LDA)
Delaware
Delaware Certified Paralegal (“DCP”)
District of Columbia
Virginia Registered Paralegal Program (VARP™)
Florida
Florida Registered Paralegal
Florida Certified Paralegal
Illinois
Illinois Accredited Paralegal (ILAP)
Indiana
Indiana Registered Paralegal
Kentucky
Certified Kentucky Paralegal, CKP
Louisiana
Louisiana Certified Paralegal
Minnesota
Minnesota Certified Paralegal (MnCP)
Nevada
Legal Document Preparer
New Jersey
Certified Paralegal
New Jersey Certified Paralegal
New York
Certified Paralegal
Professional Paralegal
Accredited Legal Professional (ALP)
Professional Legal Secretary (PLS®) and/or Certified Legal Professional (CLP®)
North Carolina
North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal
Ohio
OSBACertified Paralegal
Oregon
Oregon Certified Paralegal “OCP”
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal
Professional Paralegal
Accredited Legal Professional (ALP)
Professional Legal Secretary (PLS®) / Certified Legal Professional (CLP®)
South Carolina
South Carolina Certified Paralegal
Texas
Board Certified Paralegal
Utah
Licensed Paralegal Practitioner
Washington
Limited License Legal Technicians
Limited Practice Officers
Professional Paralegal
Accredited Legal Professional (ALP)
Professional Legal Secretary (PLS®) / Certified Legal Professional (CLP®)
Wisconsin
State Bar of Wisconsin Certified Paralegal

Frequently Asked Questions about Paralegal Certifications

Certificated paralegal vs. certified paralegal: Are they the same?

No, and they are not interchangeable. A certificated paralegal usually refers to those who hold a certificate of completion from a paralegal education program.A certified paralegal is someone who fulfills requirements or passes an exam and eventually receives a paralegal certification from an organization.

How long does paralegal certification take?

The amount of time required to complete a paralegal certification can vary. Factors include candidates’ work, educational background and knowledge of the legal field. 
It’s also important to note that you may need to take continuing education courses to maintain your certification, which will require additional time.

Do you need certification to be a paralegal?

You do not need to complete a professional certification to become a paralegal. Many employed paralegals are not certified paralegals. However, some employers, including law firms, use the NALA’s professional standards to determine minimum qualifications for hiring a paralegal. Therefore, some employers may only hire certified paralegals. A certification is not necessary but it is recommended.

Paralegal Certifications vs. Master of Legal Studies: Which is more valuable?

A certification and a master’s degree are different ways to demonstrate your knowledge of the legal field. Both are valuable and may help you grow your career in the legal field. Consider your career goals or job requirements. Earning a  paralegal certification is not dependent on obtaining a Master of Legal Studies and vice versa.

What is the best paralegal certification program?

Paralegal certification programs may help you grow your career. Eligibility requirements, application process and recertification may impact which paralegal certification program you choose. It is worth noting that the NALA is the only National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredited paralegal certification program. The American Bar Association and other organizations recognize the NALA program as the paralegal standard.

Can I take a paralegal certification exam without a degree from an ABA-Recognized school?

Eligibility requirements of paralegal certification exams are typically based on education or experience. You do not need a degree from an ABA-recognized school to take a paralegal certification exam. There are several ways that candidates may be eligible to take a certification, and completion of an ABA-recognized program is just one of them. However, keep in mind that some employers may prefer that your degree is from an ABA-recognized school.

What is paralegal licensure?

Licensure refers to the authorization to use the title of “paralegal” and perform responsibilities of a paralegal. The only state that directly regulates paralegals is California. According to the ABA, Washington and Utah adopted licensing measures for those working in the legal field.

What is a paralegal credential?

Upon successful completion of a certification exam, paralegals may use a credential after their name. The credential you use should come from the organization that administered your exam. For example, a paralegal who passed the NALA’s exam should use Certified Paralegal® as their credential. A paralegal who is certified through the NFPA’s PACE exam should use Registered Paralegal (RP).

Information on this page was retrieved in October 2021