WHAT IS THE Pa.C.P. CREDENTIAL?

The Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal Program (the “Program”) is a voluntary certification program regulated by the Keystone Alliance. The Program requires paralegals working within the Commonwealth, whether physically or remotely, to meet minimum educational and employment standards in order to qualify for and maintain the Pa.C.P. Credential. Paralegals certified by the Alliance receive the Alliance’s express authorization to use the credential “Pa.C.P.,” which is the designation and registered state trademark for “Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal.”

The Program identifies individuals whose education, training, and work experience have equipped them with the knowledge, skills and proficiencies to perform substantive legal work in a professional and ethical manner. These individuals are employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity to work under the direction of a lawyer or pursuant to state statute, administrative regulation, or court authority in a capacity that, in most instances, would be performed by a lawyer in the absence of a paralegal. The Pa.C.P. Credential offers employers a benchmark for hiring and promoting paralegals. It is the hope of the Keystone Alliance that the Program will become the standard for hiring and/or promoting experienced paralegals.

Qualifications

To become a Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal, an individual must satisfy each of the following criteria as well as one of the criteria under the Educational Requirements:

  • Applicant must be a legal resident of the United States of America; and
  • Applicant must satisfy one of the criteria set forth under Educational Requirements; and
  • All years of substantive paralegal experience under Educational Requirements shall be consecutive; and
  • Applicant must submit a declaration from an attorney in good standing who will attest to his/her direct knowledge of the Applicant’s skill level and his/her work as a Paralegal; and
  • Applicant must be currently employed as a Paralegal pursuant to the definition established and approved by the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations.

Educational Requirements

Applicant must meet one (1) of the following criteria in addition to the foregoing Qualifications :

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Paralegal Studies from an ABA-approved Paralegal Program AND one (1) year of substantive Paralegal experience; OR
  • Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from an accredited institution AND a Certificate/Associate’s Degree from an ABA-approved Paralegal Program AND one (1) year of substantive Paralegal experience; OR
  • Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from an accredited institution AND three (3) years of substantive Paralegal experience; OR
  • Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies from a Paralegal Program AND five (5) years of substantive Paralegal experience; OR
  • Certificate from a Paralegal Program AND five (5) years of substantive Paralegal experience; OR
  • Designation of CLA, CP or RP AND two (2) years of substantive Paralegal experience.

Fees*:

  • $50.00 non-refundable application fee for members of a Keystone Alliance member association. ($25.00 non-refundable renewal application processing fee for each two-year renewal period thereafter.)
  • $200.00 non-refundable application fee for applicants not affiliated with a Keystone Alliance member association. ($100.00 non-refundable renewal application processing fee for each two-year renewal period thereafter.)

* Fees are non-refundable