Meet one of the three possible eligibility requirements. Category 1 applicants have graduated or are graduating from an accredited paralegal program. Category 2 applicants do not have a degree but are enrolled in an accredited program. These applicants may substitute one to six years of experiences for 15 semester hours before completion of the degree program. Category 3 applicants do not have a degree but do have seven or more years experience under an attorney and at least 20 semester hours of continuing education.
Go to the NALA website to apply for the Certified Paralegal program. All applications require a copy of your transcript and a letter of attestation from an attorney for those without a degree, where applicable. You can apply online and send supporting material later or print the application and mail it and the supporting material together.
Wait for NALA notification of acceptance. Once NALA has received your application and determined you meet the qualifications to take the CLA exam, you will receive and email notifying you of your acceptance and providing you with a examinee ID number and PIN to be used once contacted by ACT. Without NALA approval, ACT will not contact you for testing.
Wait for the ACT testing notification. Prospective examinees may not contact ACT prior to receipt of this email. The email will contain the same examinee ID number as the previous email from NALA and a web link to the ACT testing center website.
Use the web link to make an appointment at the testing center of your choice in Louisiana. Exams are given during the months of January, May and September. The CLA consists of five sections to be taken over the course of one or more days. If you do not complete all five sections within the testing month, you may take the remaining sections during the next testing month.
Pay for the examination at the time of the appointment. The price per test varies. The ACT testing centers only accept credit or debit card payments online. Your appointment will not be finalized without payment.
Repeat Steps 5 and 6 until you have taken all five sections of the CLA.