If you’re looking for a career in the legal field but aren’t quite ready to attend law school, becoming a paralegal is a great way to get started. By assisting attorneys, law firms, corporations, or government entities, paralegals are key players in many elements and procedures of the legal profession, including document drafting, case preparation, research, and managing client communications.
To ensure your credibility, top job prospects, and long-term career success as a paralegal, it’s important to become professionally certified. Certification usually requires an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, choosing a certification, and passing an exam. Let’s take a step-by-step look at this process and how to create the best possible foundation for a rewarding paralegal career.
Table of Contents
- Educational Requirements for Paralegal Certification
- Types of Paralegal Certifications
- Steps to Becoming a Certified Paralegal
- The Benefits of Paralegal Certification
- Conclusion: Certification Provides the Best Path to Career Success
Education Requirements for Paralegal Certification
Most paralegal certification programs require candidates to have achieved a certain level of college education, namely an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or paralegal certificate from an accredited institution. In some cases, a program may accept a combination of education and work experience in place of more formal education.
ABA-Approved Paralegal Programs
When considering any paralegal program, check to see if it’s approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). An ABA endorsement ensures the program has the highest legal and educational standards and can thus lead to better job prospects. In fact, many certification bodies give preference to candidates who’ve graduated from ABA-approved programs.
Types of Paralegal Certifications
Certified Paralegal (CP) by NALA
The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) is the leading paralegal organization in the U.S. It works to ensure that paralegals are recognized and valued as an important part of the legal system by providing certification credential programs, continuing education and development, and professional networking opportunities.
NALA’s Certified Paralegal (CP) Exam is a professional standard for paralegals and is acknowledged by the ABA as a mark of excellence throughout the legal field. Three factors determine if you’re eligible to take the exam:
- Your enrollment in or graduation from a paralegal studies program
- Your level and type of college degree
- Your years of paralegal experience plus any continuing legal education
The NALA CP Exam consists of two sections, Knowledge and Skills, and covers substantive law, procedural law, and ethics.
Professional Paralegal (PP) by NALS
The National Association for Legal Support Professionals (NALS) is a nonprofit organization that provides education, certification, and networking opportunities for legal professionals to enhance their skills and advance in the legal field.
NALS’s Professional Paralegal (PP) certification is designed for students who wish to establish their credentials nationwide as a professional paralegal. To be eligible for the exam, applicants must meet one of these criteria:
- Have graduated from an ABA-approved legal studies program, OR a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, OR an accredited paralegal program with a minimum of 60 semester hours
- Have a minimum of 5 years of paralegal/legal assistant experience
- Hold any bachelor’s degree and have a minimum of 1 year experience performing paralegal/legal assistant duties
The NALS PP Exam focuses on knowledge and understanding of legal terminology and procedures, as well as procedural and substantive law.
Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE) by NFPA
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) is a professional organization that promotes the advancement of paralegals through advocacy, education, and the development of standards for the profession.
NFPA’s Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE) is designed to assess the knowledge, skills, and ability of entry-level and early-career paralegals. To be eligible for the exam, you must meet one of these education or experience criteria:
- A bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, OR any bachelor’s degree plus a paralegal certificate, OR any bachelor’s degree plus 6 months of paralegal experience
- An associate degree in paralegal studies, OR any associate degree plus a paralegal certificate, OR any associate degree plus 1 year of paralegal experience
- An ABA-approved paralegal program certificate, OR a high school diploma or GED plus 5 years of paralegal experience, OR a military paralegal rate or job
The NFPA PCCE Exam covers core legal knowledge, ethics, and overall competency in the paralegal profession.
Steps to Becoming a Certified Paralegal
Step 1: Complete Educational Requirements
Earn an associate or bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, or pursue a paralegal certificate if you already hold a degree in another field. Whichever route you choose, select an ABA-approved paralegal program to maximize your credibility within the legal field and improve your career prospects.
Step 2: Choose a Certification Program
Research the three paralegal certification exam options (NALA, NALS, and NFPA), and select the one that aligns best with your education, legal experience, and career goals. Be sure to consider such factors as exam difficulty, industry recognition, and long-term employment and advancement.
Step 3: Prepare for the Certification Exam
Study the key areas covered in the certification exam, such as legal research, ethics, substantive law, and procedural law. The various paralegal certification bodies offer study guides, review materials, practice exams, and other resources to aid with exam preparation.
Step 4: Take the Certification Exam
Complete the application or registration process, pay the exam fee, and take your chosen paralegal certification exam. Exams are typically administered at testing centers or online.
Step 5: Maintain Your Certification
The law isn’t just what’s written in a book, it’s an ever-evolving system with new decisions being made every day. New technology is also constantly affecting the law. For these reasons, most paralegal certifications require continuing education credits (CLE) to maintain the credential. Courses, seminars, and webinars are available to stay current on ethics updates, legal developments, procedural changes, and more.
Benefits of Paralegal Certification
Better Job Prospects
Certification can be a key to success, respect, and opportunities throughout the legal profession. Certified paralegals are typically more competitive in the job market and often have better prospects for career and educational advancement.
Higher Salary Potential
Paralegals with certification generally earn higher salaries when compared to their non-certified peers, reflecting the official endorsement of the legal community regarding their knowledge, skills, expertise, and credibility. (According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for paralegals is nearly $61,000.)
Professional Credibility
Obtaining a paralegal certification demonstrates a long-term commitment to the profession and ensures you meet the national standards, proficiencies, procedures, and ethics of legal practice and precedent.
Conclusion
Establishing the right foundation as a paralegal will make your entire legal career go smoother. Following these easy steps to certification will earn you a powerful industry endorsement that will pay many long-term dividends, the most important being improved job prospects, better opportunities for advancement, and increased earning potential.
Ready to get started? National University offers three educational options to help you become a certified paralegal:
- The Paralegal Specialist Certificate
- The Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies
- The Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies
Choose the course of study that works best for your goals and begin your path to career success!
This content has been reviewed and approved by the National University Editorial Advisory Board. Learn more about our editorial process.