Although NCPA does not regulate either the State or National Certification, as President and past Education Chair of NCPA, I get a lot of questions about certification. Hopefully this will answer some of those questions. I am by no means an expert so I encourage you to check the links below for more detailed information.
CLA/CLAS/CP/APC: These designations are obtained by taking the certification exam offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants. Since this a national exam, you are tested on Federal laws. Once you pass the exam, you can use the CLA or CP designation (Certified Legal Assistant or Certified Paralegal). You can then take a specialty exam in a particular area of the law. A few years ago, NALA changed how it does these specialty exams. For instance, I took my specialty in litigation prior to the change. Therefore, I could use CLAS behind my name. If you take any specialty exams now (called Advanced Paralegal Certifications), you would use the ACP (Advanced Certified Paralegal) after your name. As of March 1, 2010, there will be 8 areas of law you can take the specialty exam in. Visit www.nala.org and click the certification link for more information.
NCCP/NCSBCP: These designations are obtained by taking the certification exam offered by the NC State Bar. This is a state exam and you are tested on NC laws in 8 core areas. The exam is multiple choice. The Bar does not yet offer any specialty exams and I do not know it it ever plans to. Visit www.nccertifiedparalegal.org for more information.
Certification is not required to be a paralegal or legal assistant in NC, but you cannot use these designations unless you have passed the exam. Both exams do have strict qualifications to sit for the exam and both certifications require you have a certain amount of CPE every year to keep the designation.
If you are sitting for either of these exams this year, you may consider NCPA's review course offered in September of every year at various locations through out the State. This year, it will be in Asheville. www.ncparalegal.org
Good luck to you if you are sitting for either of these exams!
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