Eligibility Requirements

CP Examinee Eligibility

As making the decision to apply for the Certified Paralegal Exam is a commitment, please take some time to review the Certification Process to determine if the NALA CP Certification fits your career goals. You may also consider watching a brief video on Planning for NALA Certification by clicking the button below.

Planning to Apply for the CP Exam

Candidates for certification must meet one of the following requirements outlined below in Categories 1, 2, or 3 at the time of filing an application form. (The deadline to submit additional documentation is 60 days from the notification date from NALA.) To help determine if you are eligible to take the CP Exam, please select the category below that best applies to you.

*Foreign degrees must be evaluated by a reputable company to determine the equivalency to U.S. education.

If you have any questions, please contact us at testing@nala.org or 918-587-6828.

I’m Ready to Apply Now I Have More Questions What Can I Study?

Requirements:

Graduation from, completion of, or current enrollment in the last semester or quarter of a paralegal program that meets one of the criteria listed in sections (a) through (e) below.

(a) a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association; or

(b) an associate degree program in paralegal studies; or

(c) a post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies; or
(In addition to the official school transcript, candidates must submit an original course catalog or an original letter from the school registrar or program director attesting that the program is a post-baccalaureate certificate program requiring a bachelor’s degree as a prerequisite.)

(d) a bachelor’s degree program in paralegal studies; or

(e) a paralegal program which consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of which at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) are substantive legal courses.
(Candidates applying under Category 1(e) may combine college hours from more than one institution. The candidate must have graduated from a paralegal program consisting of a minimum of 15 semester hours [or 225 clock hours or equivalent quarter hours]. Evidence of the minimum hours required under Category 1(e) must be provided with the application form.)

I’m Ready to Apply Now I Have More Questions What Can I Study?

Requirements:

A bachelor’s degree in any field plus one year of experience as a paralegal or successful completion of at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of substantive paralegal courses.

(Those applying under the provision allowing for additional course work in lieu of the one-year work experience must submit an official school transcript showing completed course work.)

I’m Ready to Apply Now I Have More Questions What Can I Study?

Requirements:

A high school diploma, or equivalent, plus seven (7) years of experience as a paralegal plus a minimum of twenty (20) hours of continuing legal education completed within the two-year period prior to application for the examination.

(Evidence of continuing legal education credit is documented by the attorney/employer attestation that must be signed as part of the application form or by submitting certificates of completions for CLEs taken.)