Paralegal certification requirements: how to become a certified paralegal
To become a NALA Certified Paralegal you must meet one of three eligibility categories: a qualifying paralegal education, a bachelor’s degree plus one year of experience or 15 semester hours of paralegal courses, or a high school diploma plus five years of experience and 20 hours of recent CLE. Final-term paralegal students can also apply. Then you pass the Knowledge and Skills Exams.
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Paralegal requirements: certification is voluntary
NALA states that certification is voluntary and not imposed by the government. So the requirements to be a paralegal in a job are set by whoever hires you, while the requirements on this page are the ones NALA sets for its Certified Paralegal credential.
If you are asking how to get a paralegal license, the national credentials are certifications, not licenses. Any state rules on paralegal work are outside this page; check them with your state’s courts or bar.
Source: NALA — Certified Paralegal (CP) Program. Checked 19 October 2026.
Certified paralegal requirements: the three NALA categories
You need to meet one of these categories to apply for the CP exam. Each is a complete route on its own.
- Category 1: enrollment in or graduation from a paralegal or legal studies program that is ABA approved, an associate degree in paralegal studies, a post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies, a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, or a program of at least 60 semester hours with at least 15 in substantive legal courses.
- Category 2: a bachelor’s degree in any field plus one year of experience as a paralegal, or plus at least 15 semester hours of substantive paralegal courses.
- Category 3: a high school diploma or equivalent, five years of experience as a paralegal and at least 20 hours of substantive continuing legal education completed in the two years before you apply.
Source: NALA — The Certified Paralegal Program FAQs (2025). Checked 19 October 2026.
What are the education requirements for a paralegal?
For the CP, there is no single education requirement, because Category 3 accepts experience in place of a degree. The paralegal education requirements in Categories 1 and 2 are flexible: a paralegal program of several types, or any bachelor’s degree combined with experience or 15 semester hours of substantive paralegal coursework.
If you are choosing an education path now, pick one that matches a category so you can apply as soon as you finish. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, Category 2 asks for 15 semester hours of substantive paralegal courses or one year of paralegal experience, not a full program.
Source: NALA — The Certified Paralegal Program FAQs (2025). Checked 19 October 2026.
Applying as a paralegal student
Students in the last semester or quarter of their paralegal or legal studies program can apply before they meet one of the three categories, at a student fee. Your final official transcript or letter of completion must reach NALA within 30 days of your graduation or completion date.
Source: NALA — CP Exam Paralegal Students. Checked 19 October 2026.
How to get your paralegal certification, step by step
This is how to get a paralegal certification from NALA once you meet the requirements for paralegal certification. The process runs in this order.
- Submit a complete application with documentation and fee. Incomplete applications must be completed within 60 days, or they are denied with a $75 processing fee.
- Approval and the authorization to test take about 72 hours for a complete application.
- Pay the testing center fee and schedule and pass the Knowledge Exam.
- Pass the Skills Exam within 365 days of being authorized for it.
- Renew every five years with 50 CLE hours, including five hours of legal ethics.
Source: NALA — Certified Paralegal Exam FAQs (2025). Checked 19 October 2026.
Who cannot apply
NALA’s exam policies state that individuals currently incarcerated for a felony, or under felony-related probation, parole or court supervision, are ineligible to apply for the Certified Paralegal Exam.
Source: NALA — General Exam Policies. Checked 19 October 2026.
Preparing once you are eligible
Meeting the requirements gets you to the exam; passing it takes preparation across ten areas of law. Certsqill’s Paralegal practice questions are expert-developed, with an explanation for every answer option and a readiness score per Knowledge Exam area.
Paralegal requirements: questions people ask
What are the requirements to be a paralegal?
For employment, the requirements are set by the employer; NALA states that certification is voluntary. For the NALA CP, you must meet one of three eligibility categories. Source: NALA, checked 19 October 2026.
What are the requirements to become a paralegal certified by NALA?
A qualifying paralegal program, a bachelor’s degree plus one year of experience or 15 semester hours of paralegal courses, or a high school diploma plus five years of experience and 20 hours of recent CLE. Source: NALA, checked 19 October 2026.
What are the requirements for a paralegal certificate from a school?
Each school sets its own admission and completion requirements; NALA and the ABA do not publish them on the pages checked. Checked 19 October 2026.
How do you get a paralegal certificate that counts for the CP?
Complete a program that fits NALA’s Category 1, such as an ABA approved program or a post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies. Source: NALA, checked 19 October 2026.
Can I take the CP exam without a degree?
Yes, under Category 3: a high school diploma or equivalent, five years of paralegal experience and 20 hours of substantive CLE in the two years before applying. Source: NALA, checked 19 October 2026.
How long does NALA take to approve an application?
About 72 hours for a complete application. Source: NALA, checked 19 October 2026.
