Certified Paralegal (CP®) Exam FAQs

Contents
Certified Paralegal (CP®) Exam FAQs ................................................................................................. 2
What are the eligibility requirements to apply for the Certified Paralegal (CP®) Exam? ......................... 2
When will the Certified Paralegal (CP®) Exam be administered? ............................................................. 2
How long is the application process? ....................................................................................................... 3
What is the application process? .............................................................................................................. 3
What are the Exam application fees? ....................................................................................................... 3
Do I have to pay a Testing Center fee? ..................................................................................................... 4
How do I know what to study? ................................................................................................................. 4
Where can I take the Exam? ..................................................................................................................... 5
Will I receive my score at the testing center? .......................................................................................... 5
I passed my Knowledge Exam. When may I take the Skills Exam? ........................................................... 5
I passed my Skills Exam. What happens next?......................................................................................... 6
I didn’t pass my Exam. What happens next? ........................................................................................... 6
CP® Exam Specifications ....................................................................................................................... 7
 Certified Paralegal (CP®) Exam FAQs

What are the eligibility requirements to apply for the Certified

Paralegal (CP®) Exam?
• Category 1: Graduation from or completion of a paralegal program that meets one of the
criteria listed in sections (a) through (e) below.
o (a) a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association; or
o (b) an associate degree program in paralegal studies; or
o (c) a post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies; or
(In addition to the official school transcript, candidates must submit an original course
catalog or an original letter from the school registrar or program director attesting that
the program is a post-baccalaureate certificate program requiring a bachelor’s degree as
a prerequisite.)
o (d) a bachelor’s degree program in paralegal studies; or
o (e) a paralegal program which consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours (or
equivalent quarter hours) of which at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter
hours) are substantive legal courses.
(Candidates applying under Category 1(e) may combine college hours from more than
one institution. The candidate must have graduated from a paralegal program consisting
of a minimum of 15 semester hours [or 225 clock hours or equivalent quarter hours].
Evidence of the minimum hours required under Category 1(e) must be provided with
the application form.)
• Category 2: A bachelor’s degree in any field plus one year of experience as a paralegal or
successful completion of at least 15 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of substantive
paralegal courses.
o (Those applying under the provision allowing for additional course work in lieu of the
one-year work experience must submit an official school transcript showing completed
course work.)
• Category 3: A high school diploma, or equivalent, plus five (5) years of experience as a paralegal
plus a minimum of twenty (20) hours of substantive continuing legal education completed
within the two-year period prior to application for the exam.
o (Evidence of continuing legal education credit is documented by the attorney/employer
attestation that must be signed as part of the application form or by submitting
certificates of completions for CLEs taken.)

When will the Certified Paralegal (CP®) Exam be

administered?
• The Knowledge Exam is administered year-round, on-demand with the exception of holidays.
• The Skills Exam is administered during the months of: February, April, July, and October

1
How long is the application process?
• 72 hours - If the application, fee, and supporting documentation are submitted and meet the
eligibility requirement(s), the approval process - including both the approval acknowledgment
and the authorization to test notification - takes approximately 72 hours.
• TBD - If any portion of the application is incomplete, a notification will be sent requesting the
additional information. The deadline to submit additional information is 60 days from the
notification date.
o If the additional information is not received by the 60-day deadline, the application is
voided, and a $75 processing fee is required.

What is the application process?

• Submit the application, fee, testing center fee, and supporting documentation via online, email,
fax, or mail. Depending on your application pathway, supporting documents are as follows:
o Official transcript, letter of completion, or diploma showing proof of graduation for
Category 1 and Category 2. Foreign degree transcripts must be evaluated to show U.S.
equivalency.
o Employer attestation for Category 2 (page 5)
o Employer attestation for Category 3 (page 6)
o ADA form if accommodations are being requested
▪ Personal statement describing your disability and its impact on your daily life
▪ Documentation from a qualified medical professional certifying to your disability
or qualifying medical condition, with specific identification of the requested
accommodation and the medical basis for the request

• NALA staff reviews the application and supporting documentation.

o If the eligibility requirement is met and the testing center fee is submitted, the
application is approved.
▪ An official application approval acknowledgment is sent via email.
▪ An Authorization to Test is sent via email.
• The Authorization to Test provides the link to schedule your exam using
the PSI portal.

o If the eligibility requirement is not met, the application is in pending status and a
notification requesting additional information is sent via email. A 60-day deadline is
provided to submit the requested information.
▪ If the additional information is not received by the deadline, the application is
voided, and a $75 processing fee is required.

What are the Exam application fees?

• First time candidates:
o Standard (not military, not student)
▪ $325 member
 ▪ $375 non-member
o Paralegal Student (The Paralegal student fee is for paralegal students currently in the
last semester or quarter of the Paralegal program and who do not currently qualify
under category 1, 2, or 3.)
▪ $150 member
▪ $175 non-member
o Military (active-duty, veterans, guardsmen, reservists, and their spouses)
▪ $240 member
▪ $280 non-member
o Includes one attempt for the Knowledge Exam and one attempt for the Skills Exam.
• Candidates who do not pass the first attempt of the Knowledge or Skills Exam:
o Candidates are not eligible to apply for a subsequent attempt until 90 days from the
previous attempt
o $150 (per subsequent attempt for the Knowledge and Skills Exam)
o A maximum of three attempts are available during the 365-day eligibility period

Do I have to pay a Testing Center fee?

Yes. The PSI testing center fee will be required for examinees to be authorized to schedule their exam
and are paid to NALA on behalf of PSI.
• Onsite Testing
o Knowledge Exam - $67
o Skills Exam - $60
• Remote Proctoring (Knowledge Exam only)
o Knowledge Exam - $50
• Partner Testing (must be preapproved)
o Knowledge Exam - $20
o Skills Exam - $20

How do I know what to study?

The Exam Format and Specifications on the last page provides the breakdown of subjects tested on the
exam and is based on federal rules and procedures. The exam tests general knowledge and concepts in
each of the areas listed on the outline. Most areas are included in paralegal studies curricula or are
areas commonly practiced by paralegals as evidenced by the responses to the 2022 Job Task Analysis
Survey conducted in the spring of 2022.

Suggested sources for study are listed on the NALA website. These sources are provided for information
only; candidates are not required to purchase any of these materials. Successful completion of the
Certified Paralegal Exam depends on many factors, including educational background and experience. It
may be helpful to determine the most familiar areas and focus on areas that may require additional
study.

The function of the NALA Certifying Board (“Certifying Board”) is to test knowledge, rather than teach
the test. In accordance with the NCCA accreditation requirements, the Certifying Board is not involved in
the development or delivery of any CP® Exam study materials, preparation materials, or products; and
the developers of those materials and products do not have access to any CP® Exam content. The
Certifying Board does not require, approve, endorse, or recommend any specific study materials or
methods to be used by examinees. The Certifying Board has no involvement with the NALA online study
group nor does the Certifying Board provide any information, answers, or responses to questions posed
by the online study group.

Where can I take the Exam?

• PSI Testing Centers – The Knowledge and Skills Exams are administered at a PSI testing center.
You will create an account in PSI’s system when you receive the Authorization to Test from
NALA. Click here to watch an informative video about the test center experience.
• PSI Remote Proctoring (online testing) – Only the Knowledge Exam is administered via online
(remote proctoring). The Knowledge Exam may be taken at your home. Click here to watch an
informative video about the online testing experience.
• Partner Testing Center – To review the current Partner Testing Center options, type or click
https://nala.org/certification/examinee-information/ and scroll to the Partner Testing Centers
section.
o If your employer, college, or military base is eligible to administer the Exam for you, the
required forms are located below or on the website
(https://nala.org/certification/examinee-information/ and scroll to the Partner Testing
Centers section):
▪ Partner Testing Center Handbook
▪ Partner Testing Center Application
▪ Partner Testing Proctor Application

Will I receive my score at the testing center?

• Yes. The results for the Knowledge Exam will be available at the testing center. NALA will upload
the official score to your NALA account and send you an email within 72 hours of your exam
completion.
• No. The score for the Skills Exam is not available at the testing center. The score for the Skills
Exam will be released after the post-administration analysis, scoring, and standard setting has
been completed. Results are expected to be released 6-8 weeks after the testing window closes.

I passed my Knowledge Exam. When may I take the Skills

Exam?
• Candidates who pass the Knowledge Exam will receive official scores within 72 hours of
completing the Exam.
• Within the next 72 hours, an Authorization to Test for the Skills Exam will be sent via email if the
Skills Exam testing center fee has been submitted.
o 365 days will be provided for completion after receiving notice of eligibility from NALA.
o Candidates who do not pass the Skills Exam must wait 90 days before re-taking it and
are provided a total of three attempts to successfully complete the Skills Exam in the
365-day period.
 o If the Skills Exam is not successfully completed in the 365-day period, candidates will
start over by submitting a new application, fee, and testing center fee and retake the
Knowledge Exam.

I passed my Skills Exam. What happens next?

• Candidates who pass the Skills Exam will receive official scores within 6-8 weeks after the closing
of the testing window.
• NALA will mail the new Certified Paralegal (CP®) a certificate along with important information
on how to maintain your certification within three weeks of releasing scores.

I didn’t pass my Exam. What happens next?

• Candidates who do not pass the Knowledge or Skills Exam must wait 90 days after the initial
attempt before applying for the next attempt.
• Candidates must purchase another attempt for the Knowledge or Skills Exam by submitting a
Retake Application and testing center fee.
• Candidates filing a Retake Application for the Knowledge or Skills Exam will receive a Testing
Ticket from NALA after the application is processed and the testing center fee is submitted. The
Testing Ticket provides the link to schedule your exam using the PSI portal.
• Candidates who do not pass the Knowledge or Skills Exam on the third attempt are required to
submit a new application, fee, and testing center fee.

Note: Please allow additional processing hours for weekends and holidays.
CP® Exam Specifications