NALA ACP Real Estate
NALA Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP®) – Real Estate Principles
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP®) credential is awarded by NALA – The Paralegal Association to current Certified Paralegals (CP®) who complete a curriculum-based ACP® course in a specialized practice area and satisfy its assessment component. Real Estate Principles is one of the ACP® course offerings, written for paralegals who already hold the CP® credential, or who work in real property practice and want structured, advanced-level coverage of it. Delivery is entirely online and available 24/7, organized into multiple chapters with interactive exercises and an assessment component; the average course runs about 20 hours and carries up to 20 hours of CLE on successful completion. Subject matter tracks what a real estate paralegal handles: ownership and estates, contracts and transactions, title, deeds, recording and closing, mortgages, financing and foreclosure, and leases, landlord-tenant, zoning and land use. Preparation means working the chapters in sequence, actually completing the interactive exercises instead of skipping to the assessment, and drilling the procedural mechanics of title review, recording and closing, where the detail is densest. Note the split: anyone may take an ACP® course, but the ACP® credential itself goes only to current CP® holders - and passing the CP® Exam within one year of completing an ACP® course also earns the credential.
What you'll study
About NALA ACP Real Estate preparation
Do I need to be a Certified Paralegal to take the Real Estate Principles course?
No. Anyone can enroll in an ACP® course, and you do not have to be a NALA Certified Paralegal to do so. The restriction applies to the credential, not the course: ACP® status is only available to current CP® holders. Separately, if you pass the CP® Exam within one year of completing an ACP® course, NALA awards the ACP® credential.
What is the format, and how long does the course take?
It is a web-based course available 24/7, organized into multiple chapters with interactive exercises and an assessment component built into the curriculum. The average course is about 20 hours in length, so plan roughly that much working time. Because it is always open, you set your own pace; NALA's page does not publish a separate completion deadline or seat-time requirement.
How much CLE does it carry?
Up to 20 hours of CLE for completing an ACP® course, matching the roughly 20-hour average course length. CLE is granted only after successful completion, so partial progress earns nothing. If you take the same course more than once, CLE is not granted for the additional completions.
How difficult is it, and is there a test?
An assessment component is part of the curriculum-based program, alongside interactive exercises. NALA does not publish a pass rate, question count, or time limit for the assessment. Treat it as advanced-level: the program is designed for paralegals deepening a specialty, so plan to demonstrate command of the full chapter set rather than skimming.
Can I retake the course or the assessment if I fail?
The published rule addresses CLE, not attempts: if the course is taken more than once, CLE is not granted for the additional completions. NALA's page does not state an exam retake policy, a waiting period, or a fee. Confirm the current policy directly with NALA before you plan a second attempt.
Does the ACP® require extra CLE to maintain?
No. To maintain your ACP® credential you do not need additional CLE beyond the 50 required CLE hours to recertify as a CP®. The ACP® adds no separate hour requirement on top of that. Because the credential depends on current CP® status, keep your CP® recertification on schedule.
In what order should I study the material?
Work the chapters in the order presented. The course is sequenced, and the closing, recording, and financing chapters assume the ownership and contract foundations. Budget the full 20 hours, complete the interactive exercises as you go rather than batch-skipping them, and reserve your final pass for the assessment component instead of treating the exercises as optional.
What topics should I expect in a real estate course?
Expect the threads a real estate paralegal touches: ownership and estates; contracts and transactions; title, deeds, recording, and closing; mortgages, financing, and foreclosure; and leases, landlord-tenant, zoning, and land use. Weight review toward title review, recording mechanics, and closing procedure, where the procedural detail is densest and easiest to blur together.
What are the most common mistakes candidates make?
Treating a 20-hour course as a light refresher, skipping the interactive exercises, and memorizing vocabulary without learning the document flow from contract to closing to recording. Candidates who can trace a transaction end to end and spot a title or priority defect in it generally fare better than those who only review definitions the night before the assessment.