Iowa Certified Paralegal (IaCP) Program

The IPA IaCP Committee is looking for your comments on what each member would like to see the State of Iowa implement.

Would you like to see IPA maintain a database of individuals who meet specific education, training and/or testing qualifications to be called a paralegal within our state?  The committee is discussing and researching options regarding a database of members meeting qualifications and the development of the Iowa Certified Paralegal (IaCP) credential.  IPA's recent technology upgrades are providing the necessary tools for implementation of this program. 

What Do We Need to Do?

Many other paralegal associations have already laid the framework for creating and implementing a voluntary paralegal certification program.  There have been questions by paralegals about why they should want to be an IaCP and whether any attorney will care if they have that designation or not.  Attorneys will come around once more and more paralegals realize the importance of being certified and set this standard for themselves.  So then, the question becomes: why should YOU care?  

Iowa Certified Paralegal says that you have met the standard of competence set out by the Iowa Paralegal Association, the only professional association for paralegals in Iowa.  Being an IaCP evidences that you are receiving a credential for education and experience already achieved, and you are committing yourself to staying on top of your game by dedicating yourself to continuing legal education, including ethics training.  Making a commitment to stay on top of new legal developments and learn new skills says a lot about you taking your career seriously.  Please consider joining the Iowa Certified Paralegal Program Committee.

NALA’s Professional Certification Description

In the working environment, professional certification is a time honored process respected by both employers and those within the career field. The following is a definition used by many to describe professional certification:

Professional certification is a voluntary process by which a nongovernmental entity grants a time-limited recognition to an individual after verifying that the individual has met predetermined, standardized criteria.

The definition hits the high points. Certification is voluntary, not imposed by government. It is time limited, which means that those with the certification must fulfill ongoing educational requirements to keep the certification current, and the criteria for certification is recognized in the community.