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Paralegal certification is not required; however, paralegals invest in certification to bolster their resumes by establishing that they have certain skills and knowledge and that they are committed to the legal field and their long-term success as a paralegal.
Several organizations offer certification for paralegals. Below are four of the most reputable paralegal certification programs.
Different Types of Paralegal Certification:
The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) offers a certification that allows paralegals to can receive the designation of Certified Paralegal.
To become a Certified Paralegal, you must score 70% on a five-part test administered by an approved NALA testing site. The five parts consist of communications, ethics, legal research, judgment and analytical ability, and substantive law.
If you’re interested in taking the test and becoming certified, there are 3 ways to qualify to test for the Certified Paralegal certification:
* graduation from an approved paralegal program;
* a bachelor’s degree plus one year’s experience as a paralegal; or
* A high school diploma or equivalent plus seven (7) years’ experience as a paralegal under the supervision of a member of the Bar, plus at least twenty (20) hours of continuing legal education credit completed within a two (2) year period prior to the examination date.
NALA also offers an advanced paralegal certification. This certification is offered to those who already have the designation of certified paralegal. The certification is based upon completion of a 20-hour course. The materials for the course are all found on-line.
2. National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) offers a paralegal certificate through a test referred to as PACE (Paralegal Advanced Competency Examination).
Basic requirements to sit for the PACE include:
* the applicant cannot have a felony record;
* the applicant cannot be under suspension, termination, or revocation of a certificate, registration, or license by any entity
* the applicant must have the requisite combination of experience and education
1. An associates degree in paralegal studies from an institutionally accredited school, and/or ABA approved paralegal education program; and six (6) years substantive paralegal experience; or
2. A bachelor’s degree obtained from an institutionally accredited school and three years of paralegal experience; or
3. A bachelor’s degree and completion of a paralegal program with an institutionally accredited school and two (2) years substantive paralegal experience; or
4. Four years substantive paralegal experience on or before December 31, 2000.
The PACE is a two tier exam. Each tier focuses on different areas. Tier I addresses general legal issues and ethics. Tier II addresses specialty sections.
The National Association of Legal Professionals offers what it calls a Professional Paralegal certification. To test to receive a professional paralegal certification, a paralegal must meet one of the following criteria:
* 5 years of paralegal experience; or
* 4 years of paralegal experience plus post-secondary degree, other certification or paralegal certificate plus request for partial waiver; or
* 3 years of paralegal experience plus paralegal degree plus request for partial waiver
Once qualify to test, the applicant must pass one-day four-part exam, which consists of written communications; legal knowledge and skills; ethics and judgment skills; and substantive law.
The American Alliance of Paralegals does not require applicants to take any type of test. Instead AAPI looks at the applicant’s level of experience to qualify her for certification.
Paralegals seeking American Alliance certification must have at least five years of paralegal experience and meet one of the following three educational criteria:
1. A Bachelor or advanced Degree in any discipline from an accredited institution; or
2. An Associate Degree in paralegal studies from an ABA approved paralegal program or a program which is a voting institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal Education; or
3. A Certificate from an ABA approved paralegal program or a program which is a voting institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal Education.
Every American Alliance Certified Paralegal (AACP) has to renew their paralegal certification status every three years and complete eighteen hours of continuing legal education, with three of the eighteen hours being in ethics.
Individuals seeking paralegal certification have quite a few options. The organizations listed above should give you a good place to start your research into where you can get your paralegal certification.
