Of the 10 hours, at least one hour must be devoted to the areas of professional responsibility or professionalism or any combination thereof. A maximum of 10 hours may be carried forward to the next certification year, of which one hour may be professional responsibility or professionalism credit.

Courses by the national certifying entities (NALA, NFPA and NALS) and courses produced by the South Carolina Bar are automatically approved. CLE activity approved for lawyers by the South Carolina Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization are also automatically approved. See a list of approved sponsors here. Additional sponsors approved for the 2021-22 FY include the Charleston Association of Legal Assistants, Hilton Head Legal Staff Professionals, Legal Staff Professionals of Greenville, Legal Staff Professionals of the Lowcountry, Legal Staff Professionals of the Midlands, Legal Staff Professionals of Orangeburg, Legal Staff Professionals of SC, Palmetto Paralegal Association and SC Upstate Paralegal Association.

General Course Approval

Continuing education activities may be approved by the Board upon the written application of a sponsor or of a certified paralegal on an individual program basis. If advance approval is requested by a sponsor, the application and supporting documentation must be submitted at least 45 days prior to the date on which the course or program is scheduled. If advance approval is requested by a certified paralegal, the application need not include a complete set of supporting documentation.

If more than five certified paralegals request approval of a particular program, either in advance of the date on which the course or program is scheduled or subsequent to that date, the program will not be accredited unless the sponsor applies for approval of the program and pays the accreditation fee.

Where advance approval is not requested, the application and supporting documentation must be submitted not later than 45 days after the date the course or program was presented.

Accredited Sponsor Approval

Sponsors may seek accredited status by submitting an application and an annual fee of $200. A sponsor granted accredited status is not required to pay the $75 fee for approval of each CPE program or submit an application form; however, the sponsor must submit the program agenda for approval of each program. The status shall be effective from July 1 through June 30.

Teaching Credit

CPE credit may be earned for teaching an approved continuing education activity or for teaching a course at a qualified paralegal studies program.