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FAQs What is PACE? PACE stands for Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam. Professional Examination Service (PES) www.proexam.org assisted in development of the test in which paralegals demonstrate an established level of knowledge, skills, and competency. What does RP mean? RP is the designation for the paralegal who has successfully passed the PACE and stands for Registered Paralegal. The designation has been registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. What are the requirements for taking PACE? Because this exam is for experienced paralegals, the requirements are greater and include both experience and education. These can be found in detail on the NFPA website at www.paralegals.org What is the best way to study for the test? The right answer to this: whatever is the best way for you. Some people study better in groups while others do well studying alone. Some prefer online review courses. Some prefer to use a combination of these methods…it is entirely up to you. Are there any special study materials? NFPA sells a PACE Study Manual online $65 (plus $10 S&H). This is a “must” for preparing for the exam. Be sure you have the latest edition. There is a bibliography in the PACE Study Manual. The resources listed in the bibliography should be reviewed. Some candidates like to gather additional materials such as flash cards, bar charts, and manuals containing Federal Rules. It is very important that you study the Blue Book for all references to citations. The PACE Ambassador can also provide you with a suggested list of additional study materials which he/she has obtained through the PACE Coordinator for Study Materials who frequently updates the list of study materials. It is always a good idea to spend some time in the law library as well. How do I join a study group? MPA’s PACE Ambassadors will help interested persons form study groups. These groups meet on a schedule they set themselves at a mutually agreed location. Please contact the PACE Ambassadors for information regarding the current or next session. Who are MPA’s PACE Ambassadors? Doris S. Wente, RP and Lori Brandon, RP are MPA’s current PACE Ambassadors. Their contact information is as follows:
That is entirely up to you, but most paralegals who work full time take four to six months to prepare. What is the online review course? This course is offered through the American Institute for Paralegal Studies (AIPS). More information can be found on NFPA’s website (www.paralegals.org). The seven-week course starts approximately every other month. This is terrific for those who enjoy distance learning opportunities. The class is currently being taught by Loretta Nesbitt, RP, a DAPA Past President. Additionally, the online practice test is part of the package. The cost is $395 plus $65 for the PACE Study Manual. Tell me about the PACE online practice test. The test is taken on the computer (as the real test will be) and consists of 100 questions. This one-time practice exam is an excellent tool in preparing for PACE. The program will advise you of your total score, the missed questions as well as the correct answer and reference materials for the questions you missed. The test can be accessed via NFPA’s website for $50. How do I sign up to take PACE? Go to NFPA’s website where you can order an application to take the exam. The application fee is $25 for members and $75 for non-members. Once the fee is received by NFPA, you will receive an application, information on exam content, sample exam questions, and logistical information on taking the exam. The cost to take the test itself is $225. Where do I send my application? The completed form, along with your letters of reference, transcripts, and check, should be mailed to NFPA. After the fee is processed, all the information is forwarded to PES. PES enters PACE applications into its computer weekly and generates a receipt letter to the applicant. The application is reviewed for completeness and eligibility. Once the application has been deemed complete and the applicant clearly meets the eligibility criteria, PES sends a candidate eligibility statement. This processing generally takes about 20 to 30 business days after the application is received in its entirety. The candidate then has sixty days to sit for the exam. Where and how often are the tests administered? The tests are administered at any one of the 200 Thomson Prometric Testing Centers (www.prometric.com) across the country. The computer-generated test consists of 200 multiple choice questions, taken within a four-hour period. The test is available at your convenience on any days but Sundays and holidays. If you elect to take the test on a Saturday, you will need to reserve your spot several weeks in advance because these book up quickly. How will I know I passed? PES offers “instant results” immediately after taking the test. However, the final results are not “official” until the scoring runs occur at the end of June and December. Once the scoring run is complete, the candidate will receive a formal letter stating whether they passed or failed. Until this time, the official designation may not be used. I am an RP, now what? Congratulations! In order to maintain the RP credential, you are required to complete twelve (12) hours of CLE, including one (1) hour of ethics every two years. Please note that your renewal date is the date you took the exam, not the date you received your official notice of passing the exam. You may obtain CLE hours a number of different ways including attending seminars or taking on-line courses. Additionally writing articles, speaking and making presentations can be considered CLE, however you must submit those for approval from the NFPA CLE Coordinator. Anything else? Please check out NFPA’s website www.paralegals.org and look under “PACE Registered Paralegal.” Some paralegals negotiate with their employers to pay for the costs of the manual and exam during their annual review. Be sure to let your employer know you have achieved the status so the company directory, business cards, etc. may be updated. |
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MINNESOTA PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION
1711 W. County Road B #300N ♦ Roseville, MN 55113 The Minnesota Paralegal Association does not endorse or make referrals to any legal service providers. We strongly recommend that persons in need of legal services seek the advice of an attorney. At the present time, Minnesota has no minimum qualifications for persons calling themselves paralegals. The risk to the consumer of using such a person to provide legal services, without attorney oversight, is very high. The Minnesota State Bar Association offers attorney referrals as do both the Hennepin and Ramsey County Bar Associations. |
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