An individual applying for the VARP™ credential must be a voting member of any VAPA member association and/or liaison of VAPA, in good standing, and meet at least one of the following criteria:
A. A Bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from an accredited institution AND one (1) year of substantive paralegal experience; or
B. A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited institution AND a certificate from an institutionally accredited paralegal program AND one (1) year of substantive paralegal experience; or
C. A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited institution AND three (3) years of substantive paralegal experience; or
D. A Bachelor’s degree in any subject AND a paralegal certificate from any paralegal program not institutionally accredited AND two (2) years of substantive paralegal experience; or
E. An Associate’s degree in paralegal studies AND two (2) years of substantive paralegal experience; or
F. A Certificate from an institutionally accredited paralegal program AND three (3) years of substantive paralegal experience; or
G. An Associate’s degree in any discipline from an accredited institution AND four (4) years of substantive paralegal experience; or
H. A Certificate from a paralegal program not institutionally accredited AND four (4) years of substantive paralegal experience; or
I. Five (5) years of substantive paralegal experience AND six (6) hours of Continuing Legal Education taken within the preceding two years before application for VARP™ registration. At least one (1) of the six (6) hours being in ethics; or
J. A Certified Paralegal (i.e., CLA, CLAS, ACP, CP, CRP, and/or RP) in good standing or other paralegal credential approved and recognized by VAPA.
About the Alliance
VAPA was formed by six associations in 1989 and is now comprised of paralegal associations and individual area liaisons located within the Commonwealth of Virginia. It represents over 1,500 paralegals and students across the state. The Alliance is non-partisan, non-profit, and non-union.
