Click Certification at the top for details on benefits of becoming a certified paralegal
PACE®
The requirements for a paralegal to take the PACE® exam include both work experience and education, as summarized in the following table from NFPA’s website:
|
Education, Military Service, CRP™ credentials |
Years of Substantive |
CLE |
|
Bachelor Degree in paralegal studies |
2 years |
None required preceding the application |
|
Bachelor's Degree (any subject) plus paralegal certificate |
2 years |
None required preceding the application |
|
Associate's Degree in paralegal studies |
6 years |
None required preceding the application |
|
Associate's Degree (any subject) |
7 years |
None required preceding the application |
|
Associate's Degree (any subject) plus CRP™ credential plus 2 successful renewals of credentials |
Defined by PCCE™ |
Defined by PCCE™ |
|
Military Paralegal Rank of E6 or higher |
Defined by rank |
12 hours of NFPA®-approved CLE, including 1 CLE hour of ethics |
Applicants must not have been convicted of a felony and must not be under suspension, termination, or revocation of a certificate, registration, or license by any entity.
PCCE™
The requirements for a paralegal to take the PCCE™ exam are summarized in the following table from NFPA’s website:
|
Education, Military Service, CRP™ credentials |
Years of Substantive Paralegal Experience |
CLE |
|
Bachelor Degree in paralegal studies |
None required |
None required preceding the application |
|
Bachelor's Degree (any subject) plus a paralegal certificate |
None required |
None required preceding the application |
|
Bachelor's Degree (any subject) - no paralegal certificate |
6 months |
1 hour of NFPA®-approved ethics CLE, within the year preceding application |
|
Associate's Degree in paralegal studies |
None required |
None required preceding the application |
|
Associate's Degree (any subject) plus a paralegal certificate |
None required |
None required preceding the application |
|
Associate's Degree (any subject) - no paralegal certificate |
1 year |
6 hours of NFPA®-approved CLE, including 1 CLE hour of ethics, within the year preceding the application |
|
Paralegal Certificate |
1 year |
6 hours of NFPA®-approved CLE, including 1 CLE hour of ethics, within the year preceding the application |
|
Military Paralegal Rate (Job) |
Defined by rank |
1 CLE hour of ethics, within the year preceding application |
|
NFPA® Assurance of Learning Education Partner Students |
N/A |
N/A |
|
High School or GED |
5 years |
12 hours of NFPA®-approved CLE, including 1 CLE hour of ethics, within 2 years preceding the application |