NALS has three levels of certification.  NALS of Washington holds at least one cram session every year to help people Prepare for these exams.  For more detailed information on these cram sessions, study groups, mock exams, and other Help preparing for these exams, contact our Certification Director.

Below are the eligibility requirements for each exam:

ALP Examination Eligibility

To sit for the exam, you must have completed one of the following:

• Completion of an accredited business/legal course,
• Completion of a NALS Legal Training Course, or
• One year of general office experience.

The Exam Covers

PART 1: Written Communications
PART 2: Office Procedures and Legal Knowledge
PART 3: Ethics, Human Relations and Judgment

*Membership in NALS is not a requirement.

For more information about this exam, deadlines to register, and study materials, visit http://www.nals.org/?page=alp

PLS and/or CLP Examination Eligibility

Any person who has had a minimum of three years of experience in the legal field may take the examination. Membership in NALS is not a requirement. A partial waiver of the three-year legal experience requirement may be granted for post-secondary degrees, successful completion of the ALP exam, or other certifications. The maximum waiver is one year.

The Exam Covers

PART 1: Written Communications
PART 2: Office Procedures and Technology
PART 3: Ethics and Judgment Skills
PART 4: Legal Knowledge and Skills

*Membership in NALS is not a requirement.

For more information about this exam, deadlines to register, and study materials, visit http://www.nals.org/?page=pls

PP Examination Eligibility

To be eligible to sit for the Profession Paralegal exam, candidates must meet one of the following criteria:

• Have a minimum of five years of experience performing paralegal/legal assistant duties.
• Hold a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies.
• Have graduated from an ABA-approved Paralegal Program.
• Have graduated from another accredited paralegal program which consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours and/or 900 clock hours, of which a minimum of 15 semester hours and/or 225 clock hours were in substantive law.
• Hold a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field and have a minimum of one year of experience performing paralegal/legal assistant duties.

Student Waiver

Students of an accredited or ABA-approved paralegal studies program who are near graduation may sit for the PP exam provided that NALS receives a Paralegal Student Waiver Form, signed by the program director confirming the student’s graduation date (must be within a three-month window), and by the student agreeing that if the student does not successfully graduate from his/her program, the results of the PP exam will become null and void and the exam fee forfeited. PDF waiver is available for download at the bottom of this page.

Request For Partial Waiver

A partial waiver of the five-year requirement for paralegals is possible if an individual has a minimum of three years experience performing paralegal duties. The maximum waiver is two years. PDF waiver is available for download at the bottom of this page.

The Exam Covers

PART 1: Written Communications
PART 2: Legal Knowledge and Skills
PART 3: Ethics and Judgment Skills
PART 4: Substantive Law

*Membership in NALS is not a requirement.

For more information about this exam, deadlines to register, and study materials, visit http://www.nals.org/?page=pp