In order to be a Florida Registered Paralegal under this chapter, an individual must meet 1 of the following requirements.
(a) Educational and Work Experience Requirements. A person may become a Florida Registered Paralegal by meeting 1 of the following education and paralegal work experience requirements:
(1) a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from an approved paralegal program, plus a minimum of 1 year of paralegal work experience;
(2) a bachelor’s degree or higher degree other than a juris doctorate from an institution accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education or the Florida Department of Education, plus a minimum of 3 years of paralegal work experience;
(3) an associate degree in paralegal studies from an approved paralegal program, plus a minimum of 2 years of paralegal work experience;
(4) an associate degree from an institution accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education or the Florida Department of Education, plus a minimum of 4 years of paralegal work experience;
(5) a juris doctorate degree from an American Bar Association accredited institution, plus a minimum of 1 year of paralegal work experience; or
(6) a juris doctorate degree from an American Bar Association accredited institution and licensure in good standing in a United States jurisdiction other than Florida, with no minimum paralegal work experience.
(b) Certification. A person may become a Florida Registered Paralegal by obtaining 1 of the following certifications:
(1) successful completion of the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE certification as offered by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations “NFPA”) and good standing with NFPA; or
(2) successful completion of the Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal examination (CLA/CP certification as offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants “NALA”) and good standing with NALA.
(c) Designation by Attestation. A person who does not meet the requirements of subdivisions (a) or (b) may become a Florida Registered Paralegal by meeting the following requirements:
(1) providing attestation from an employing or supervising lawyer on a form approved by The Florida Bar that the person has paralegal work experience as defined elsewhere in these rules for 5 of the 8 years immediately preceding the date of the attestation and a statement of proficiency describing the applicant’s work experience as a paralegal; and
(2) submitting at the time of the application proof that the applicant has completed the following continuing education requirements within the prior 3 years from the date of the application: 30 hours of general continuing education including 10 hours of ethics/professionalism, and 3 hours of technology. Acceptable courses include those approved for credit by The Florida Bar, NALA, or the NFPA.
Added November 15, 2007, effective March 1, 2008, (SC06-1622), (969 So.2d 360); amended July 7, 2011, effective October 1, 2011 (SC10-1968); amended May 29, 2014, effective June 1, 2014 (SC12-2234); amended Jan. 4, 2019, effective March 5, 2019 (SC18-1683); amended and effective September 19, 2019 (SC19-520); amended May 9, 2024, effective July 8, 2024.