PACE® QUALIFICATIONS

Requirements to Sit for the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE®)

To be eligible to take PACE, each candidate must meet both education and work experience requirements. In addition, the paralegal cannot have been convicted of a felony nor be under suspension, termination, or revocation of a certificate, registration, or license by any entity. Categories of eligibility include paralegals who have:

• An Associate's Degree in Paralegal Studies obtained from an institutionally-accredited and/or ABA approved Paralegal Education Program; and at least (2) years substantive paralegal experience; or
• A Bachelor's Degree in any course of study and three (3) years of substantive paralegal experience; or
• An associates degree in paralegal studies obtained from an institutionally-accredited school, and/or ABA approved Paralegal Education Program; and six (6) years substantive paralegal experience; or
• An associate’s degree in any course of study obtained from an institutionally-accredited school, and/or ABA approved Paralegal Education Program; and seven (7) years substantive paralegal experience; or
  
• An associate’s degree in any course of study obtained from an institutionally-accredited school, and/or ABA approved Paralegal Education Program; successful completion of the PCCE, and 2 consecutive renewals of the CRP credential; or
  
• A member of the active duty, retired, former military, or the reserve component of any branch of the US Armed Forces, qualified in a military operation specialty with the rank of at least an E6 in a paralegal rate as a Staff Sergeant (Army and Marines), Petty Officer First Class (Navy), Technical Sergeant (Air Force), or higher as a supervisory paralegal within that branch of service and 12 hours of continuing legal education (“CLE”), including 1 CLE hour of ethics, within 2 years preceding the Application; or
  
• Have four (4) years of substantive paralegal experience on or before December 31, 2000.

Andrea Lupanze, RP PACE Memorial Scholarship

The National Capital Area Paralegal Association has established the Andrea Lupanze, RP, PACE® Memorial Scholarship to recognize the extraordinary contributions of Andrea Lupanze, RP, who passed away unexpectedly on June 25, 2007. Andrea served on the Board of Directors of NCAPA from 1999 to 2004 and held the office of President for four terms. She was a strong advocate for the paralegal professional and believed in continuing education for paralegals. Andrea received her Registered Paralegal (RP) designation on July 8, 2002, upon passing the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam® (PACE®), and worked tirelessly to encourage other paralegals to join the RP ranks. As a tribute to Andrea's dedication and spirit, NCAPA hopes to continue her legacy through this scholarship.

Application Information: The Scholarship will be awarded annually, customarily at NCAPA's Annual Meeting in November. Applications are now being accepted.  Click here for the PACE Scholarship Application.

Eligibility: Applicants must be a current member of NCAPA and have been a member for at least one year at the time of submission, and meet the qualifications for PACE.  Click here to view qualifications. 

Scholarship Award: The recipient of the PACE® scholarship award will receive a reimbursement of up to $800 for expenses related to the preparation, application and completion of the PACE® exam. (Scholarship award subject to change based on increases in the cost of PACE® and the study materials.)

For more information, contact: scholarship@ncapa.com.

PRESS RELEASE

Scholarship Sponsors and Recipients

• 2007: Heather Howard
• 2009: Aprille Sherman
• 2011: Tima Hawes
• 2012: Kathryn Wray
• 2013: Pascalle Goddard
• 2014: Angela M. King
• 2016: Svetlana Peshkoff