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A paralegal discovers that her supervising attorney has been billing clients for the paralegal's time at the attorney's hourly rate. What is the paralegal's ethical obligation?

Ignore the issue because the attorney controls all billing decisions

Report the conduct to the state bar's ethics committee

Discuss the matter with the supervising attorney and report to appropriate firm authority if necessary

Immediately resign from the firm to avoid complicity

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: PCCE Paralegal Exam

125

Total Questions (110 scored)

NFPA

2.5 hrs

Time Limit

NFPA

550

Minimum Passing Score

NFPA (scaled)

65-73%

First-Time Pass Rate

NFPA data

CRP

Credential Earned

NFPA

200+

Practice Questions Here

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The NFPA PCCE is a 125-question exam (110 scored, 15 pretest) lasting 2.5 hours. The passing score is 550 on a scaled system. The exam has two domains: Paralegal Practice (52%) covering ethics, research, writing, and civil litigation; and Substantive Areas of Law (48%) covering contracts, torts, criminal, family, business orgs, estates/wills/trusts, and real estate. The CRP (CORE Registered Paralegal) credential requires recertification every 2 years with 8 CLE hours including 1 hour ethics and 1 hour DEI.

Sample PCCE Paralegal Practice Questions

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1A paralegal discovers that her supervising attorney has been billing clients for the paralegal's time at the attorney's hourly rate. What is the paralegal's ethical obligation?

A.Ignore the issue because the attorney controls all billing decisions

B.Report the conduct to the state bar's ethics committee

C.Discuss the matter with the supervising attorney and report to appropriate firm authority if necessary

D.Immediately resign from the firm to avoid complicity

Explanation: Under the NFPA Model Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, paralegals must maintain integrity and avoid unethical conduct. The first step is to address the issue with the supervising attorney. If unresolved, the paralegal should report to appropriate firm authority (managing partner, ethics officer). Paralegals have an ethical duty to ensure accurate billing practices and cannot knowingly participate in overbilling.

2Which of the following constitutes unauthorized practice of law (UPL) by a paralegal?

A.Drafting a motion under attorney supervision

B.Conducting legal research and summarizing findings for an attorney

C.Giving legal advice to a client about settlement options without attorney supervision

D.Organizing discovery documents for trial preparation

Explanation: Unauthorized practice of law occurs when non-attorneys provide legal advice or represent clients without a license. Paralegals may assist with legal work under attorney supervision but cannot give legal advice, establish attorney-client relationships, or represent clients in court. Drafting documents, conducting research, and organizing files under supervision are proper paralegal functions.

3A client emails a paralegal directly asking whether she should accept a settlement offer. How should the paralegal respond?

A.Provide a recommendation based on the paralegal's analysis of similar cases

B.Forward the email to the supervising attorney and inform the client that only the attorney can provide legal advice

C.Share the opinion that the offer seems fair based on the facts

D.Ignore the email because paralegals cannot communicate with clients

Explanation: Paralegals cannot provide legal advice or opinions on legal matters—that constitutes unauthorized practice of law. The proper response is to involve the supervising attorney who can provide the legal advice the client seeks. Paralegals may communicate with clients regarding factual matters, case status, and administrative issues, but legal advice must come from licensed attorneys.

4Under the attorney-client privilege, which of the following is protected from disclosure?

A.Client statements made to the paralegal in the presence of a third party

B.Communications between the attorney and client made for the purpose of seeking or providing legal advice

C.Documents the client provided that were created before the attorney-client relationship began

D.Information the client disclosed to friends before hiring the attorney

Explanation: The attorney-client privilege protects confidential communications between a client and attorney (or their agents, including paralegals) made for the purpose of seeking or providing legal advice. The presence of third parties generally waives the privilege. Pre-existing documents and communications with non-attorneys are not protected by this privilege.

5A paralegal is handling a personal injury case and discovers that her cousin is the defendant's insurance adjuster. What should the paralegal do?

A.Continue working on the case but avoid contact with the insurance adjuster

B.Disclose the relationship to the supervising attorney and document any potential conflict

C.Keep the relationship confidential to avoid complications

D.Transfer the case to another law firm

Explanation: Paralegals have a duty of confidentiality and must avoid conflicts of interest. When a potential conflict arises, the paralegal must disclose it to the supervising attorney. The attorney can then assess whether the conflict is waivable or requires the paralegal's withdrawal from the case. Non-disclosure violates ethical obligations even if the paralegal believes she can remain impartial.

6Which action violates the paralegal's duty of confidentiality?

A.Discussing case details with the supervising attorney in a private office

B.Leaving a confidential document on a desk in an unlocked conference room overnight

C.Storing client files in a locked filing cabinet

D.Using encrypted email to send documents to opposing counsel with attorney approval

Explanation: The duty of confidentiality requires paralegals to protect client information from unauthorized access. Leaving confidential documents in an accessible area violates this duty. Proper safeguards include locked storage, password protection, secure disposal, and limiting discussions to appropriate settings. Encryption and locked storage demonstrate proper confidentiality practices.

7A paralegal is asked by a potential client to prepare a will. The person cannot afford an attorney. What should the paralegal do?

A.Prepare the will using a template and charge a reduced fee

B.Refer the person to legal aid services or a pro bono attorney

C.Prepare the will as a favor without charging

D.Offer to prepare the will if the person signs a waiver stating they understand the paralegal is not an attorney

Explanation: Drafting a will for a client constitutes the practice of law and cannot be performed by paralegals regardless of compensation or signed waivers. Paralegals should refer individuals needing legal services to licensed attorneys or appropriate legal aid organizations. Unauthorized practice of law statutes carry serious penalties and do not recognize "waiver" exceptions.

8What is the primary purpose of Shepard's Citations in legal research?

A.To locate secondary sources about a legal topic

B.To verify that a case is still good law and identify its subsequent history

C.To find the full text of federal statutes

D.To research legislative history

Explanation: Shepard's Citations (now part of LexisNexis) and Westlaw's KeyCite allow researchers to verify whether a case remains valid precedent and trace its subsequent history, including negative treatment (overruling, reversing, questioning). This process is called "Shepardizing" and is essential to ensure cited authority remains good law before submitting briefs or memoranda.

9Which of the following is a primary source of law?

A.Legal encyclopedia

B.Restatement of the Law

C.State appellate court decision

D.Law review article

Explanation: Primary sources of law are official documents that establish the law, including constitutions, statutes, regulations, and court decisions. Secondary sources (legal encyclopedias, Restatements, law reviews) analyze, explain, or critique the law but do not establish binding legal authority. Court decisions from appellate courts create binding or persuasive precedent.

10A paralegal is researching federal regulations. Which source contains codified federal regulations?

A.United States Code (U.S.C.)

B.Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.)

C.Federal Register

D.United States Reports

Explanation: The Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) contains the codified text of federal regulations organized by subject matter. The U.S.C. contains federal statutes. The Federal Register publishes proposed and final regulations daily but is not the codified version. U.S. Reports contains U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

About the PCCE Paralegal Exam

The NFPA Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE) is an entry-level certification for paralegals who have recently graduated from paralegal programs or are within their first two years of practice. The exam validates core competencies in paralegal practice including ethics, legal research, legal writing, critical analysis, and substantive areas of law including contracts, torts, criminal law, family law, business organizations, estates/wills/trusts, and real estate.

Questions

125 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours 30 minutes

Passing Score

550 (scaled)

Exam Fee

$300 (members) / $325 (non-members) (National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA))

PCCE Paralegal Exam Content Outline

52%

Paralegal Practice

Legal ethics including attorney-client privilege, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and UPL; legal research (primary/secondary sources, Shepard's); legal writing (pleadings, motions, briefs, memoranda); critical analysis and legal citation; civil litigation procedures; office administration and technology

48%

Substantive Areas of Law

Contracts (formation, consideration, breach, remedies); Torts (negligence, intentional torts, strict liability); Criminal Law (elements, defenses, procedure); Family Law (divorce, custody, support); Business Organizations (corporations, partnerships, LLCs); Estates, Wills & Trusts (probate, intestacy); Real Estate (property ownership, deeds, closings)

How to Pass the PCCE Paralegal Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 550 (scaled)
Exam length: 125 questions
Time limit: 2 hours 30 minutes
Exam fee: $300 (members) / $325 (non-members)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PCCE Paralegal Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus heavily on legal ethics — questions on attorney-client privilege, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and unauthorized practice of law appear frequently across the exam

2Know the Bluebook citation format basics — understanding how to cite cases, statutes, and secondary sources is tested on the exam

3For contracts, master the elements of contract formation: offer, acceptance, consideration, and defenses like Statute of Frauds and impossibility

4In torts, understand negligence elements (duty, breach, causation, damages) and the differences between comparative and contributory negligence jurisdictions

5For civil litigation, know the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure timelines: complaint filing, answer (21 days), discovery deadlines, and motion practice

6Study business organizations distinctions: corporations (C-corp vs S-corp), partnerships (general vs limited), and LLC characteristics (limited liability, pass-through taxation)

7For estates/wills/trusts, understand intestacy succession, will formalities (witness requirements), and the difference between probate and non-probate assets

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NFPA PCCE exam?

The Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE) is a national certification exam developed by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). It assesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities of early-career and entry-level paralegals. Passing the PCCE earns you the CRP (CORE Registered Paralegal) credential, which demonstrates to employers that you possess the core competencies required for paralegal work.

What are the eligibility requirements for the PCCE?

You may take the PCCE if you meet one of these pathways: (1) Bachelor's degree in paralegal studies; (2) Bachelor's degree + paralegal certificate; (3) Bachelor's degree + 6 months experience + 1 hour ethics CLE; (4) Associate's degree in paralegal studies; (5) Associate's degree + paralegal certificate; (6) Associate's degree + 1 year experience + 6 hours CLE; (7) Paralegal certificate + 1 year experience + 6 hours CLE; (8) Military paralegal with ethics CLE; or (9) High school/GED + 5 years experience + 12 hours CLE.

How is the PCCE exam structured?

The PCCE consists of 125 multiple-choice questions administered over 2.5 hours. Of these, 110 questions are scored and 15 are unscored pretest items used for future exam development. The exam is divided into two domains: Paralegal Practice (52%) and Substantive Areas of Law (48%). Questions test federal law and general legal principles rather than state-specific laws.

What is a passing score on the PCCE?

The PCCE uses a scaled scoring system where 550 is the minimum passing score. Raw scores are converted to scaled scores to ensure fairness across different exam forms. You receive preliminary results immediately upon completion, with official scores typically released monthly. The pass rate ranges from 65-73% for first-time test-takers.

What topics are covered on the PCCE?

Domain 1: Paralegal Practice (52%) covers ethics (attorney-client privilege, confidentiality, conflicts, UPL), legal research (primary/secondary sources, databases), legal writing (pleadings, motions, briefs, memos), critical analysis, legal citation (Bluebook), civil litigation procedures, office administration, and technology. Domain 2: Substantive Areas of Law (48%) covers contracts, torts, criminal law, family law, business organizations, estates/wills/trusts, and real estate.

How do I maintain my CRP credential?

CRP credential holders must recertify every two years by completing 8 hours of continuing legal education (CLE), including at least 1 hour in ethics and 1 hour in diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI). CLE hours must be from NFPA-approved providers such as NFPA itself, NFPA-member associations, bar associations, courts, or ABA/AAfPE-approved paralegal programs.

How much does the PCCE cost?

The PCCE exam fee is $300 for NFPA members and $325 for non-members, plus a $25 application processing fee. Optional study materials include the PCCE Study Manual ($75) and online review courses through the Advanced Paralegal Institute ($395). Military personnel may be eligible for discounted registration rates.