Certification Connection: Sidebar
Certified Paralegals (CPs)! Please find below the most current certification updates and requirements for maintaining your Certified Paralegal (CP®) credential. Be sure to visit your NALA account regularly to review your CLE credits and certification expiration date.
Report CP® Exam Cheating and Misconduct
CP® Exam cheating and misconduct are not tolerated in the Certified Paralegal (CP®) Program. We have created a designated portal to receive reports if either are suspected. The form is for the submission of a complaint against a NALA CP® Exam candidate, individual, or organization suspected of cheating and/or misconduct. If you believe you have witnessed either, please submit the form here.
To access the portal from our website, go to the Certification page, scroll to the Report CP® Exam Cheating or Misconduct box.
CP® Retired
The CP® Retired criteria has been updated to reflect the following:
- 1. I am currently and have been certified for more than five years;
- 2. I am at least 55 years of age or older;
- 3. I am no longer employed in the legal field
If you are approaching retirement, please be sure to submit your request by clicking here.
Recertification Appeal
The recertification appeal request now includes the following language:
Pre-Certification appeals must be filed within 30 days after the application decision or the release of the CP® Exam results. Certification appeals must be filed within 30 days after the expiration date of the certification. CLE Extension requests for hardships or extenuating circumstances must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the end of the certification period. Appeals may be mailed, faxed, or emailed to cle@nala.org. Click here to review the Hardship or Extreme Circumstances as Basis of Appeal.
NALA Sponsored CLE
CLE credits from any course that NALA offers (on-demand webinars, live webinars, self-study courses, ACP® courses, or conference sessions) will automatically upload to your CLE account. Please do not enter those credits, as it creates duplicate entries and false totals. NALA staff will remove any duplicate entries, and your total CLE hours will decrease. This can potentially require you to earn additional CLE hours to make up for what was deleted.
Recertification Requirements
Certified Paralegals (CPs) must complete a total of 50 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) programs, including a minimum of five hours of legal ethics and no more than 10 hours of non-substantive credits during each five-year recertification period.
All CLE for the recertification period must be entered into your NALA account prior to your certification expiration date.
In order to recertify, you MUST meet the following three Certifying Board requirements by your certification expiration date:
1. Completion and submission of 50 CLE hours, including five hours of legal ethics and no more than 10 hours of non-substantive credits
2. Signed Recertification Affidavit
3. Recertification fee paid to NALA
CP® Recertification and Membership Renewal Fees
Certification and Membership are two separate divisions within NALA. Your certification is not dependent upon being a member and vice versa.
Certification is awarded after successfully passing the Certified Paralegal Exam. It must be maintained by participating in the required CLE along with submitting the Recertification Affidavit and fee. Recertification occurs every five years.
Membership is renewed annually. Being a NALA member provides you with a tremendous amount of benefits, including discounts on online education, products, and conference registration.
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