National Committee on Accreditation

Internationally trained lawyers must apply to the NCA to have their education and work experience assessed in order to receive a Certificate of Qualification. Obtaining a Certificate of Qualification means the student meets the academic requirements necessary to apply to begin the licensing process of any provincial common law jurisdiction law society in Canada.

Foreign law graduates may satisfy NCA requirements through the following successfully:

• Passing examinations administered by the NCA

• Completing the assigned subjects at an approved Canadian law school

• Completing a combination of these methods

Examinations administered by the NCA are offered four times per year in some subjects (January, May, August and October) or twice per year in others (January and August). NCA candidates who choose to register to complete challenge exams through the NCA should plan their exam schedule based on the information provided by the NCA.

The Accreditation Process

1. NCA candidate submits an application along with required documentation and payment

2. NCA reviews the candidate's file and assesses their credentials

3. NCA notifies the candidate of assignments or deficiencies

4. NCA candidate completes the assigned requirements

5. NCA issues a Certificate of Qualification to the NCA candidate