Apply for your CRP ™ or RP ® Credentials
 

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICATIONS

• Completed and Executed Application, which includes applicant’s agreement to each of the following:
  • Applicant Attestation
  • Confidentiality Agreement
  • Limited License to Use NFPA Credentials Agreement
• $300 Member/$325 Nonmember PCCE Application Fee and  $325 Member/$350 Nonmember PACE Application Fee (The Retest Fee for both exams is $150 if within 2 years of original application. If submitted within 2 years, no need to submit all of the supporting documentation again; after 2 years, it is considered a new application.)
• Affidavit of Education and Experience/Letter from Employer verifying Substantive Paralegal Experience – Substantive paralegal experience is defined below. Sample letter template can be found here. 
• Employment Verification Letter(s) totaling the length of experience outlined in chosen eligibility pathway. (Original employer letter(s) must: a) be on company letterhead; b) include the specific dates of employment; c) verify your work experience was substantive paralegal work (as defined by the PCCE Handbook); and d) bear the original signature of the employer. May be signed by an attorney, judge or the HR dept. Letters from previous employers should be attached as necessary to verify the length of employment specified in the selected qualifying eligibility criteria. This document can be combined with the Substantive Paralegal Experience (template above) listed in the above bullet point.
• Personal Affidavit of Education and Work Experience Form Page. This document should be downloaded and prepared ahead of beginning your application. This form can be found here.
• Copy of Diploma & official Education Transcripts (Please see FAQs regarding foreign degrees).
• Copy of DD214 or equivalent (if eligibility relies on military service)
• Paralegal Certificate (from an ABA-approved paralegal or LLLT program or AAfPE member program. See below for certificate programs accepted) if eligibility pathway requires it.
• Copy of CRP Renewal Certificates for 2 renewal cycles (if eligibility relies on CRP Renewals)
• Sufficient CLE Certificates meeting NFPA guidelines to satisfy the eligibility pathway requirement (see CLE page for CLE guidelines).

NO REFUNDS will be provided on any application or fee except in the case of an error on the part of NFPA in accounting or administrative processing.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS ACCEPTED

• ABA-approved paralegal or LLLT programs
• AAfPE-member paralegal programs

SUBSTANTIVE PARALEGAL EXPERIENCE IS:
“Minimum work experience” is defined as full-time employment performing the duties of a paralegal at least 80% of the time. Part-time employment is calculated on a pro-rata basis. 
“Substantive Paralegal Experience” is defined as the performance of substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. The paralegal may be contracted with or employed by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency, or other entity, or may be authorized by administrative, statutory, or court authority to perform this work.

Substantive paralegal work experience must be verified by each employer (or previous employers, if necessary) by letter from the employer/attorney. Each employer must verify the applicant’s substantive paralegal experience (as defined above) and the time during which the work was performed. The “Substantive Paralegal Employment Verification Letters” must be on the employer’s letterhead and specify dates, capacity of employment, and confirm the substantive paralegal experience with a statement from the employer that: verifies the work would have otherwise been performed by an attorney; the paralegal performed the substantive work at least 80% of the time, whether the paralegal was full time or part-time; the average number of hours worked per week and the time period of the employment. The Employment Verification Letters must match the employment history listed on the application and equate to the total experience required for the applicant’s selected eligibility pathway.

SUBSTANTIVE CLE IS:
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) shall include seminars on substantive legal topics, or topics applicable to substantive law issues, or must be oriented to the specific nature of the paralegal profession, such as  enhancing computer skills, research techniques, increasing paralegal management skills, issues related to, or affecting, the paralegal profession. CLE also includes authorship of articles and/or paralegal certification exam writing by an individual paralegal, including research time, and/or speaking to paralegals regarding substantive law issues are topic oriented to the specific nature of the paralegal profession, including preparation time for such presentations and attendance and successful completion of law-related classes at community colleges, colleges and universities.

Substantive shall mean work requiring recognition, evaluation, organization, analysis, and communication of relevant facts and legal concepts.

PACE® Synthesized Pathways

Click here for the PACE® Exam Application.
Click here to purchase the PACE Study Manual

Policy & Procedure Manual - Last Updated: 1/19/2021 Page 62 of 279

PCCE® Synthesized Pathways

Click here for the PCCE® Exam Application.
Click here to purchase the PCCE Study Manual

Policy & Procedure Manual - Last Updated: 1/19/2021 Page 62 of 279

Audit of Application Submission
Eligibility Applications will be approved, if all documentation and fees have been submitted. The applications are subject to a random audit to verify the submission documentation and information provided. Staff will assign 5% of the applications to a Reviewer to confirm the application and documentation meets NFPA guidelines. The Reviewer will review the documents and information submitted, verifying the information and documentation meet NFPA guidelines at the beginning of each month for submissions during the previous month. If the application and supporting documents do not meet NFPA guidelines, the applicant will be given thirty days to cure the deficiency or the application will be denied and the eligibility to sit for the exam revoked. No extensions will be granted to cure any deficiencies identified on a completed application.

Exam Retakes
If you do not pass the PCCE/PACE exam and it has been 30 days since your last attempt, you can apply for an exam retake request here. 
Please note this is not the application itself, but it confirms you are eligible to retest. Upon approval, you will receive instructions on how to submit properly.

You’ve Passed! Now what?
If you have passed the PCCE, please read more here.
If you have passed the PACE, please read more here.