Certification Reminders

Certified Paralegals (CPs)! Please find below the most current 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.

Disciplinary Procedures Update

Disciplinary action may be taken against an Examination candidate or a Certified Paralegal if it is found that either has committed any of the offenses listed here. In 2024, the Certifying Board updated the last bullet below:

    • Falsified information on any document submitted to the Certifying Board
  • Been convicted of the unauthorized practice of law since applying for the Certified Paralegal credential.
  • Failed to meet continuing legal education requirements
  • Divulged the contents of any examination question
  • Been convicted of a felony since applying for the Certified Paralegal credential
  • Failed to notify NALA of updates to their application for the Certified Paralegal credential
  • Violated the NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility
  • Violated the “Terms and Conditions of Testing”
  • Engaged in any other conduct determined by a majority vote of the Certifying Board to be unethical or unprofessional (including, but not limited to, any oral or written communication with NALA staff or volunteers that includes intimidating, abusive, threatening, or derogatory language).


To submit a Disciplinary Complaint Form, click here.

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 Fee Increase

The prices for recertification are:

– Member: $125
– Non-member: $175

For more details, click here.

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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