Keeping Up With PACE
by Diane L. Soroko
Grandparenting Period Expires Soon
The grandparenting period to take PACE will expire on December 31, 2000. Until the end of the year, you may use four years' experience to waive the education requirement, which is holding a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor's degree plus a paralegal certificate. In order to apply during the grandparenting period, your application must be postmarked by December 31, 2000.
Grandparenting Is Looming - Getting Over the Hump
With the end of the grandparenting period staring us in the face, paralegals are scrambling to study for PACE. There are many sources available, including:
The first three items above may be ordered through the NFPA home page at www.paralegals.org or by calling NFPA at (816) 941-4000.
Inquiring Minds Want to Know...
Do you have questions regarding whether you are eligible to take PACE, how to apply to take PACE, how to prepare for PACE or the composition of the test?
All your questions will be answered if you participate in one of the Q&A PACE conference calls. The next conference calls will be
The only cost to participate in the conference call will be your long distance phone charges. To participate in the conference call, you must pre-register with NFPA.
Special 30-Day Waiting Period
The usual six-month waiting period to retake PACE is being waived for paralegals who must use experience to qualify during the grandparenting period in order to take PACE. Paralegals who do not pass PACE and who will not be eligible to take the exam after the grandparenting period will be granted a one-time opportunity to re-take PACE before the expiration of the grandparenting period.
These individuals who fail will be allowed to reapply to take the exam after 30 days. To qualify under the grandparenting period, your application must be postmarked by December 31, 2000.
PACE Review Course
If a study group is not available in your area, you can prepare for PACE by taking the PACE Review Course. The Review Course was developed by NFPA and the Consortium for Advanced Legal Education (CALE) to help paralegals prepare for PACE by using distance learning. The Review Course gives you the freedom to study at your convenience.
When you decide to take the Review Course, you will receive the software. After a one-week orientation to familiarize you with the software, the course will run for an additional seven weeks. Each week there will be an electronic lecture, reading assignments in the study manual, homework assignments, and discussion questions. Students can communicate with the instructor and the other students anytime by e-mail. The cost of the Review Course is $350.
Several Review Courses have successfully concluded. See page 35 for future start dates. Courses will be held quarterly or, if there is sufficient demand, more often. Check NFPA's web site for the latest details on the Review Course.
PACE Coordinator Diane L. Soroko coordinates the immigration practice at Long, Aldridge & Norman in Atlanta, GA. A member of the Georgia Association of Paralegals, she is a past NFPA president and the 1997 Robie Award winner.
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PACE Application Process
Step 1 - Order Your Application. Applications can be ordered through NFPA's homepage at www.paralegals.org or by calling NFPA at (816) 941-4000. The $15 cost will be applied towards the PACE exam fee of $225. Step 2 - Gather Supporting Documentation.
If you cannot meet the above requirements, you may apply for a waiver to the Standards Committee by mailing your request to the PACE Coordinator, P.O. Box 33108, Kansas City, MO 64114-0108. Step 3 - Complete Your Application. You should read all of the candidate's handbook. If you have questions, call or e-mail NFPA. Step 4 - Send Application and Supporting Documentation to PES. Use the checklist to make sure you send everything that is requested. An incomplete application will be returned, and you will be required to submit an additional processing charge of $25. Payment can be made by cashier or certified check, VISA or MasterCard. Step 5 - Receive Notice from PES That You Are an Eligible Candidate. This process takes approximately 20 working days. Step 6 - Call Sylvan and Schedule an Exam Date and Time. The approval letter you receive from PES will have a number for you to call to schedule the exam. As soon as you receive your approval letter, call Sylvan. You have 90 days to take PACE. The 90 days start from the date of PES' letter approving you as an applicant. Step 7 - Take the Test on the Scheduled Date. You should arrive 15-30 minutes before the scheduled test time. You will have four hours to answer 200 multiple choice questions. Step 8 - Wait for Test Results. PES will score the test. You should receive the test results in 20 working days. A copy of the test results will be mailed to NFPA. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||