Professional Paralegal certification (PP)

With the increasing requirement for certification for paralegals and many employers seeking certification even when it is not required, the PP certification exam offers a great new opportunity to demonstrate your skills and preparedness for paralegal work in today’s demanding legal climate.

The PP exam builds on the skills developed through PLS certification and certifies a paralegal who has:

• A mastery of procedural skills and people skills.
• An advanced knowledge of procedural law, the law library, and the preparation of legal documents.
• A working knowledge of substantive law and the ability to perform specifically delegated substantive legal work under an attorney’s supervision.
• The ability to interact on a professional level with attorneys, clients, and other staff.
• The discipline to assume responsibility and exercise initiative and judgment.

PP Examination Eligibility

Any person who has had five years of experience in paralegal work may take the examination. Membership in NALS is not required. A partial waiver of one year may be granted for a post-secondary degree, other attained certification or paralegal certificate, or successful completion of the PLS examination. A two-year partial waiver is granted for a candidate with a paralegal degree.

The Examination Covers

Part 1—Written Communications
Part 2—Legal Knowledge and Skills
Part 3—Ethics and Judgment
Part 4—Substantive Law

PP Resource Manual

The PP Resource Manual is designed to help you achieve the goal of becoming a certified PP. It contains information about the program, includes an application to take the examination, an overview of the topics covered by each part, and the reference list for additional study guides. The manual can be used for studying alone, with a group, or by an instructor preparing lesson plans.

Exam Reference Books

The PP Resource Manual, a PP mock exam, and exam reference books are available for purchase through the NALS Bookstore at http://fpsecure.tulsaconnect.com/nals/bookstore.htm.

Examination Guidelines

All four parts of the examination must be taken on the first attempt. If you do not pass the entire examination on the first attempt, but do pass one or more parts, you may retake the part or parts you failed. All failed parts must be retaken at the same time.

Certified PLSs may be certified by taking only Part 4 of the exam.

Examination Dates

March: First Saturday
July: In conjunction with region conferences in July only
September: Last Saturday

The Certifying Board may select additional times for the examination to be administered. Contact the Education and Certification Department at the NALS Resource Center for further information.

Application Deadlines

March: Postmarked by January 1
July: Postmarked by June 15
September: Postmarked by August 1

Applications postmarked after the deadline date but no later than ten days after the deadline must be accompanied by a $35 late fee.

Examination Fees

Certified PLS (member) $150
Full examination (member) $200
Retake fee per part (member) $ 50
Retaking all four parts (member) $200
Certified PLS (nonmember) $200
Full examination (nonmember) $250
Retake fee per part (nonmember) $ 60
Retaking all four parts (nonmember) $240
Late Fee (members and nonmembers) $ 35

Transfer/Refund Policy

If you are unable to sit for the examination at your chosen time, you may transfer to another examination date by paying a $25 transfer fee and by making the request no later than two weeks prior to the test date.

If you are unable to sit for the examination at any time following submission of your application, the entire fee, less a 25 percent processing fee, may be refunded if requested 30 days or more before the scheduled examination date. If you are unable to sit for the examination after transferring to another examination date, no refund will be given, nor will additional transfers be allowed.