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The Certified ParalegalProgram HandbookPublished by NALA, Inc. – 7666 E. 61st Street, Suite 315 – Tulsa, OK 74133This information appears on the NALA website (www.nala.org) under“Certification.” Please check the website frequently for updated information.The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) has grantedaccreditation to the NALA Certified Paralegal program for demonstratingcompliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of CertificationPrograms. Accreditation is effective through April 30, 2024. To maintainaccreditation, NCCA requires annual reports of all certification programs. Reaccreditation is required every five years.

Table of ContentsCertification . 1Description of Program . 1Purpose of the Certified Paralegal Certification Program . 1Administration. 1Accreditation of Certified Paralegal Program . 2Background and Numbers . 2The Certified Paralegal Credential . 2Is it Legal Assistant or Paralegal? . 2Am I a Certified Paralegal? . 3The Certified Paralegal Exam Description . 4How the Certified Paralegal Exam is Developed . 4Exam Specifications . 4Examination Format . 5Examination Points and Passing Scores . 6Passing Score for Each Section of the Certified Paralegal Examination . 72016 Job Analysis Report . 7Examinee Application and Policies . 8Steps - Application Procedure and Testing Appointments . 8Ineligibility .10Documentation Required to Complete the Application Form .10Examinee Attestation .11Fees .12Withdrawal, Incomplete, or Rejected Applications .12Testing Center Fees .12General Policies .12Appeal Process for Applicants who Receive an Adverse Eligibility Decision .14Cheating and Misconduct in the Certified Paralegal Examination Program .15Examination Results .16NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility .17Testing Centers and Policies Options of Testing Centers .19PSI Testing Center Network .19PSI Testing Center Network and Appointments .20Testing Center Locations .21Testing Center Rules – All Centers Terms and Conditions of Testing .23Terms and Conditions .23Presentation of Computer-Based Exam Questions .27Recertification Process Policies and Procedures for Certified Paralegals .29Limitations to the Definition of Continuing Competence .29Ethical Standards .29Types of CLE Programs and Calculation of Hours .30Reporting Hours in the Area of Legal Ethics .33Filing Procedures for All Types of CLE .33Recertification Affidavit and Fee .33Pre-Approval .34Retired Status of Certified Paralegals .34Procedure for Notice of Revocation of Certified Paralegal Credential for Failure to Meet CLERequirements .35i

Appeal of Revocation of Certified Paralegal Credential for Failure to Meet CLE Requirements.35Hardship or Extreme Circumstances as Basis of Appeal .35Use of Certification Mark .36Appendix A - Request for Accommodation.38Appendix B - Certified Paralegal Examination Screen Shots .40Appendix C – Certificate of Attendance .50Appendix D - Recertification Affidavit .53Appendix E – Request for Certified Paralegal Retired Status .52Appendix F – Request for Certified Paralegal Status – Permanent Disability .53Appendix G – Certified Paralegal Reactivation Affidavit .54Appendix H – Appeal Form .55ii

CertificationDescription of ProgramIn the working environment, professional certification is a time-honored process respected byboth employers and those within the career field. The following is a definition used by many todescribe professional certification: “Professional certification is a voluntary process by which anongovernmental entity grants a time-limited recognition to an individual after verifying that theindividual has met predetermined, standardized criteria” (Rops, M., Understanding theLanguage of Credentialing, American Society of Association Executives, May 2002).The definition hits the high points. Certification is voluntary, not imposed by government. It istime limited, which means that those with the certification must fulfill ongoing educationalrequirements to keep the certification current, and the criteria for certification is recognized inthe community.Purpose of the Certified Paralegal Certification ProgramEstablished in 1976, NALA's Certified Legal Assistant ("CLA") program allowed the paralegalprofession to develop a strong and responsive self-regulatory program offering a nationwidecredential for paralegals. The Certified Paralegal program establishes and serves as a: National professional standard for paralegals.Means of identifying those who have reached this standard.Credentialing program responsive to paralegal needs and responsive to the necessity ofself-regulation to strengthen and expand paralegal career development.Positive, ongoing voluntary program to encourage the growth of the paralegalprofession, attesting to and encouraging a high level of achievement.The Certified Paralegal credential has been developed to recognize paralegals who havedemonstrated entry-level knowledge and skill to provide competent assistance in the delivery oflegal services for lawyers, law offices, corporations, or governmental agencies in the UnitedStates. The CP credential is a prestigious indicator to clients, potential clients, employers, andthe public at large that the paralegal professional has proficiency in the legal services field.When the CLA program was developed, the preferred term was “legal assistant” to designate anon-lawyer employee with specialized education who does work of a legal nature that, absentthe legal assistant, the attorney would perform. Legal assistant time is billed to clients at marketrates in the same manner as other legal professional staff. By 2004, the preferred term changedto “paralegal” even though bar association rules and guidelines, and some statutes still used theterm “legal assistant.” In 2004 NALA registered the certification mark CP and in 2019encouraged paralegals to use the CP . Since 2011, the term “paralegal” is used almostexclusively, and the certification program is referred to as the Certified Paralegal program whichawards the Certified Paralegal credential.AdministrationThe NALA Certifying Board is responsible for content, standards and administration of theCertified Paralegal Program. It is composed of paralegals who have received the CertifiedParalegal certification designation, attorneys, and paralegal educators.1

Accreditation of Certified Paralegal ProgramThe National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) has grantedaccreditation to the NALA Certified Paralegal program since 2014 fordemonstrating compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation ofCertification Programs. NCCA is the accrediting body of the Institute forCredentialing Excellence. The NCCA Standards were created to ensurecertification programs adhere to modern standards of practice for thecertification industry. The NALA Certified Paralegal program joins an elitegroup of more than 120 organizations representing over 270 certificationprograms that have received and maintained NCCA accreditation. More information on theNCCA is available online at www.credentialingexcellence.org/NCCA. To maintain accreditation,NCCA requires annual reports of all certification programs. Re-accreditation is required everyfive years.Background and NumbersEstablished in 1976, the CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) program has enabled the profession todevelop a strong and responsive self-regulatory program offering a nationwide credential forlegal assistants. The Certified Paralegal program establishes and serves as a: National professional standard for legal assistantsMeans of identifying those who have reached this standard.Credentialing program responsive to the needs of paralegals/legal assistants andresponsive to the fact that this form of self-regulation is necessary to strengthen andexpand development of this career field.Positive, ongoing, voluntary program to encourage the growth of the paralegal/legalassistant profession, attesting to and encouraging a high level of achievement.There are more than 19,000 (active and inactive) Certified Paralegals and more than 4,000Advanced Certified Paralegals in the United States. More than 33,000 paralegals haveparticipated in this program. A table of the numbers of Certified Paralegals is included at the endof this document.The Certified Paralegal CredentialUse of the Certified Paralegal credential signifies that a paralegal is capable of providingsuperior services to firms and corporations. National surveys consistently show CertifiedParalegals are better utilized in a field where attorneys are looking for a credible, dependableway to measure ability. The credential has been recognized by the American Bar Association asa designation which marks a high level of professional achievement. The CP credential has alsobeen recognized by more than 47 paralegal organizations and numerous bar associations.Is it Legal Assistant or Paralegal?The terms "legal assistant" and "paralegal" are synonymous terms. The terms are defined assuch throughout the United States in state supreme court rules, statutes, ethical opinions, barassociation guidelines and other similar documents. These are the same documents whichprovide recognition of the paralegal profession and encourage the use of paralegals in thedelivery of legal services.i

NALA has become increasingly aware that while the terms are the same as "lawyer" and"attorney", a preference in terms is emerging. Different geographic areas use one term morethan another. For this reason, NALA filed for a certification mark "CP" with the US Patent andTrademark Office. The certification mark was successfully registered on July 20, 2004.Am I a Certified Paralegal?Occasionally, paralegals call themselves "certified" by virtue of completing a paralegal trainingcourse, or another type of preparatory education. Although a school may award a certificate ofcompletion, this is not the same as earning professional certification by an entity such as NALA.In this instance the school's certificate is designation of completion of a training program.3