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The Certified Paralegal ProgramCandidateHandbookNovember 2018Published by NALA, Inc. – 7666 E. 61st Street, #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, 2019. To maintainaccreditation, NCCA requires annual reports of all certification programs. Reaccreditation is required every five years.

The Certified Paralegal ProgramCertificationSection 1Published by NALA, Inc. – 7666 E. 61st Street, #315 – Tulsa, OK 74133November 2018This information appears on the NALA website (www.nala.org) under “Certification.”Please check the website frequently for updated information.1

CertificationContentsDescription of program . 3Purpose of the Certified Paralegal Certification Program. 3Accreditation of Certified Paralegal Program . 4Background and Numbers . 4The Certified Paralegal Credential . 5Is it CLA or CP? . 5Am I a Certified Paralegal? . 5CP EXAMINATION DATA. 6The 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, 2019. To maintainaccreditation, NCCA requires annual reports of all certification programs. Reaccreditation is required every five years.2

Description of programIn the working environment, professional certification is a time-honored process respected by bothemployers and those within the career field. The following is a definition used by many to describeprofessional certification:Professional certification is a voluntary process by which a nongovernmental entity grants atime-limited recognition to an individual after verifying that the individual has metpredetermined, standardized criteria. (Source: Rops, Mickie S., CAE, 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 is timelimited, which means that those with the certification must fulfill ongoing educational requirements tokeep the certification current, and the criteria for certification is recognized in the community.Purpose of the Certified Paralegal Certification ProgramEstablished in 1976, NALA's Certified Legal Assistant ("CLA") program allowed the paralegal profession todevelop a strong and responsive self-regulatory program offering a nationwide credential 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 have demonstratedentry-level knowledge and skill to provide competent assistance in the delivery of legal services forlawyers, law offices, corporations, or governmental agencies in the United States. The CP credential is aprestigious indicator to clients, potential clients, employers, and the public at large that the paralegalprofessional has proficiency in the legal services field.Note: 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, absent the legalassistant, the attorney would perform. Legal assistant time is billed to clients at market rates in thesame manner as other legal professional staff. By 2004, the preferred term changed to “paralegal” eventhough bar association rules and guidelines, and some statutes still used the term “legal assistant.” In2004 NALA registered the certification mark CP and encouraged paralegals to use either markdepending on their preferred designation, their employer's preference, or the prevalent designation intheir geographic area. Since 2011, the term “paralegal” is used almost exclusively, and the certification3

program is referred to as the Certified Paralegal program which awards the Certified Paralegalcredential.AdministrationThe NALA Certifying Board for Paralegals is responsible for content, standards and administration of theCertified Paralegal Program. It is composed of paralegals who have received the Certified Paralegalcertification designation, attorneys, and paralegal educators.Accreditation of Certified Paralegal ProgramOn April 30, 2014, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) hasgranted accreditation to the NALA Certified Paralegal program for demonstratingcompliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs.NCCA is the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. The NCCAStandards were created to ensure certification programs adhere to modernstandards of practice for the certification industry. The NALA Certified Paralegalprogram joins an elite group of more than 120 organizations representing over 270 certificationprograms that have received and maintained NCCA accreditation. More information on the NCCA isavailable online at www.credentialingexcellence.org/NCCA. To maintain accreditation, NCCA requiresannual reports of all certification programs. Re-accreditation is required every five years.Background and NumbersEstablished in 1976, the CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) program has enabled the profession to develop astrong and responsive self-regulatory program offering a nationwide credential for legal assistants. TheCertified 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 and responsive tothe fact that this form of self-regulation is necessary to strengthen and expand development ofthis career field.Positive, ongoing, voluntary program to encourage the growth of the paralegal/legal assistantprofession, attesting to and encouraging a high level of achievement.There are over 19,000 (active and inactive) Certified Paralegals and over 3,900 Advanced CertifiedParalegals in the United States. Over 33,000 paralegals have participated in this program. A table of thenumbers of Certified Paralegals is included at the end of this document.4

The Certified Paralegal CredentialUse of the Certified Paralegal credential signifies that a paralegal is capable of providing superiorservices to firms and corporations. National surveys consistently show Certified Paralegals are betterutilized in a field where attorneys are looking for a credible, dependable way to measure ability. Thecredential has been recognized by the American Bar Association as a designation which marks a highlevel of professional achievement. The CLA or CP credential has also been recognized by over 47 legalassistant organizations and numerous bar associations.Is it CLA or CP?The terms "legal assistant" and "paralegal" are synonymous terms. This is not a choice or opinion ofNALA, but a fact. The terms are defined as such throughout the United States in state supreme courtrules, statutes, ethical opinions, bar association guidelines and other similar documents. These are thesame documents which provide recognition of the paralegal profession and encourage the use ofparalegals in the delivery of legal services.NALA has become increasingly aware that while the terms are the same as "lawyer" and "attorney", apreference in terms is emerging. Different geographic areas use one term more than another. For thisreason, NALA filed for a certification mark "CP" with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Thecertification mark was successfully registered on July 20, 2004. Most paralegals are now using the CPcredential.CLA is a certification mark duly registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (No. 113199). CP(design) is a certification duly registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (No. 78213275). Anyunauthorized use of these credentials is strictly forbidden.Am I a Certified Paralegal?Occasionally, paralegals call themselves "certified" by virtue of completing a paralegal training course, oranother type of preparatory education. Although a school may award a certificate of completion, this isnot the same as earning professional certification by an entity such as NALA. In this instance theschool's certificate is designation of completion of a training program.5

CP EXAMINATION DATAAs of December 21, 2018STATES REPRESENTED AT TIME OF CERTIFICATIONAlabama245 Louisiana208 OklahomaAlaska93 Maine81 OregonArizona1435 Maryland60 PennsylvaniaArkansas130 Massachusetts37 Puerto RicoCalifornia1384 Michigan226 Rhode IslandColorado309 Minnesota77 South CarolinaConnecticut31 Mississippi234 South DakotaDelaware6 Missouri146 TennesseeDistrict of Columbia14 Montana102 TexasFlorida4899 Nebraska250 UtahGeorgia254 Nevada347 VermontHawaii9 New Hampshire105 VirginiaIdaho55 New Jersey219 Virgin IslandsIllinois148 New Mexico230 WashingtonIndiana81 New York179 West VirginiaIowa159 North Carolina551 WisconsinKansas261 North Dakota136 WyomingKentucky38 Ohio218 CanadaFranceBelgiumJapanTaiwanTotalTest DateJanuary 2015May 2015September 2015CP CERTIFICATION ACTIVITYFull and Retake Candidates442573507January 2016425May 2016520September 2016472January 2017401May 2017476September 2017464March 1 – December 21, 2018410Total Certified Paralegal candidates examinedTotal candidates certified through December 21, 2018Total active Certified Paralegals through December 21, 121119,595New NOTE: Through the September 2017 testing window, the CP examination consisted of five separatesections. Candidates were not required to take all five sections during the same testing window. Allsections were required to be completed within a two-year application period.Effective with the 2018 CP examination structure, the exam consists of the Knowledge Exam administeredyear-round, and Skills Exam administered during the months of February, April, July, and October. Allcandidates must take and pass the Knowledge Exam before receiving authorization to take the Skills Exam.1

Effective with the 2018 CP examination structure, the exam consists of the Knowledge Examadministered year-round, and Skills Exam administered during the months of February, April, July, andOctober. All candidates must take and pass the Knowledge Exam before receiving authorization totake the Skills Exam.7

The Certified Paralegal ProgramExam DescriptionSection 2Published by NALA, Inc. – 7666 E. 61st Street, #315 – Tulsa, OK 74133November 2018This information appears on the NALA website (www.nala.org) under “Certification.”Please check the website frequently for updated information.1