The NCA uses one standard of evaluation across the country. This means you can qualify to enter law society bar admissions programs in any Canadian common law jurisdiction by going through just one process.
Who can apply
All internationally trained legal graduates can apply, whether you are:
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a newcomer to Canada with a law degree
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a Canadian citizen who got a legal education in another country
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a legal graduate thinking of immigrating to Canada
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a Canadian civil law graduate
You can apply from anywhere in the world – citizenship, nationality and where you live do not matter in the assessment process.
The NCA does not assess the legal education and experience of people who want to practice civil law in Canada, or who want to become members of the Barreau du Québec or the Chambre des notaires du Québec. They each have their own evaluation process.
Dates
2023 Registration Deadlines
| Exam Session |
Registration Opens |
Registration and accommodations requests close at 23:00 ET |
| January |
November 21, 2022 |
December 15, 2022 |
| February |
December 5, 2022 |
January 5, 2023 |
| March |
January 16, 2023 |
February 9, 2023 |
| April |
February 13, 2023 |
March 12, 2023 |
| May |
March 6, 2023 |
March 30, 2023 |
| June |
April 17, 2023 |
May 11, 2023 |
| July |
May 15, 2023 |
June 8, 2023 |
| August |
June 12, 2023 |
July 6, 2023 |
| September |
July 17, 2023 |
August 10, 2023 |
| October |
August 21, 2023 |
September 14, 2023 |
| November |
September 5, 2023 |
September 28, 2023 |
For more detailed information click here.
Required documents
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You may mail your original or official pre-law university transcripts or arrange for your university to send the NCA official pre-law university transcripts (if applicable)
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Arrange to have sent, by the school that issued them, official transcripts (detailed mark sheets) for your legal education. DO NOT mail your original law school transcripts or degree certificates to the NCA. We do not accept these original documents directly from applicants and are not responsible if they are lost or damaged during shipment.
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You need to upload an updated outline of your education and work experience (résumé or Curriculum vitae) in the application form. And, if you are a lawyer, arrange to have sent, an
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An official letter or certificate of good standing from the bar association or bar council (This must outline the date you were called to the bar and your status as a member in good standing.)
The NCA only accepts official law school transcripts sent directly by the law school that issued them and letters of good standing sent directly by the organization that issued them. The NCA will not accept these documents if you send them to us.
Delivery of documents by secure share services
If your law school cannot send official transcripts for your legal education by post or courier, they may send them through secure document share service to Transcripts@flsc.ca. The NCA is able to accept documents through the services listed below (listed alphabetically):
Digitary CORE
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eScript-Safe
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ETranscript (Michigan State University)
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ETX-NG
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Grad Intel
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HEAR
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MyCreds (https://mycreds.ca/)
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My eQuals
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National Student Clearing House: Electronic Transcript Exchange
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OpenCerts™
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Parchment: Digital Credential Service
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PremierCert
TranscriptsNetwork by Credentials Solutions
Translation required for documents in languages other than English or French
If any of your documents are in a language other than English or French, they must be sent to the NCA with an exact English or French translation that has been completed by:
a Canadian certified translator, or
a non-certified translator or translator recognized outside Canada, with an affidavit of the translator indicating the translator’s qualifications and that the translation is of the original document.
Do you want NCA to return your original documents?
All documents remain the property of the NCA. If you want us to return your pre-law university transcripts, please include a copy of them along with the originals. We will keep the copies and return the originals to you.
Once the NCA receives your completed application form and payment, within ten business days, we will send you an email that explains how to use the NCA portal. The NCA may also ask you for more information or documentation.
After we have the documents we need, the NCA takes about six to eight weeks to process your application and email you your assessment.
NCA Mailing Address
Documents should be addressed to:
Federation of Law Societies of Canada
c/o National Committee on Accreditation
World Exchange Plaza
1810 – 45 O’Connor St.
Ottawa, ON
K1P 1A4
For more information click here.
