Leading the Way - December 2009
CERTIFICATION - YOU CAN MAKE THE TIME!
by Robin Kunce, PLS, NALS of NevadaCertification. No one who has taken any of the NALS certification exams will tell you it is easy. It takes a lot of work to study and prepare to take the exam. I’ve heard many people say they don’t know where they could find the time to study.
Becoming certified as an ALS, PLS or PP is as important a skill as learning new computer software programs to stay marketable in the workplace. Many states are now requiring paralegals or legal administrators to have a certain level of skills and education, and the future outlook is for certification.
There are many options available for you, if you are serious about becoming certified as either an ALS, PLS or PP. Listed below are just a few of the study methods that I have learned about since I have become a member of NALS.
First, many chapters, both local and state, offer study groups, with a certified member (or members) assisting with the study process. Some study groups meet once a week after work, with homework assignments each week. Our local chapter recently offered a study group for the last exam session that met twice a week during their lunch hour. Two members of the study group passed the PLS exam on their first try.
Secondly, NALS offers study sessions through the NALS Online learning center. These sessions allow you to study from home after work with no interruptions.
Third, you can obtain the material to study for an exam through from the NALS bookstore and study on your own. You can study on your own, but studying for a certification exam with an instructor, either in a study group or through the online learning center will help you with any areas of the law you may not be familiar with.
Members in our chapter made flash cards with questions on one side and answers on the other to study. Using flash cards, which is a great way to learn vocabulary, gives you the opportunity to study while waiting in line, commuting, or on a break or lunch hour. How many times do you wish you had something to do while waiting in a long line at the bank or grocery store?
Taking the time to study for a certification exam is not easy and takes a person commitment not only by you, but your family members. Studying for a certification exam is positive reinforcement to your children (or grandchildren) that continuing education is important to you, no matter how old you are or how long you have been in the workforce. If you have been in the workplace for more than 10 years, you recognize the need to continue your education to be prepared for any changes in the workplace, and that includes certification.