The Supreme Court of South Carolina
Re: Amendments to Appendix H to Part IV, South Carolina Appellate Court Rules
Appellate Case No. 2016-002489
ORDER
The South Carolina Board of Paralegal Certification (the Board) has requested the Court approve several amendments to the regulations that govern the process to certify a person as a South Carolina Certified Paralegal. Those regulations are contained in Appendix H to Part IV, SCACR, and are governed by Rule 429, SCACR.
We grant the Board's request to amend Section IX(A)(2) of Appendix H to add another method for certification by obtaining the Professional Paralegal designation offered by the National Association for Legal Professionals (NALS).
We also grant the Board's request to amend Section XV of Appendix H, with some modifications, to permit sponsors of Continuing Paralegal Education Programs to seek accredited status and permit Certified Paralegals to seek accreditation and teaching credit for Continuing Paralegal Education Programs where sponsors have not sought accreditation.
We deny the Board's request to amend Appendix H to permit a person to be certified by experience.
Appendix H is amended as set forth in the attachment to this Order. These amendments are effective immediately.
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s/Donald W. Beatty C.J. s/John W. Kittredge J. s/Kaye G. Hearn J. s/John Cannon Few J. s/George C. James, Jr. J. |
Columbia, South Carolina
April 19, 2017
Section IX(A), Appendix H to Part IV, SCACR, is amended to provide:
A. To qualify for certification as a paralegal, an applicant must:
(1) Pay an annual fee of $50.00; and
(2) At the time of application, be designated as a Certified Legal Assistant (CLA)/Certified Paralegal (CP), Professional Paralegal (PP), or PACE-Registered Paralegal (RP).
Section XV, Appendix H to Part IV, SCACR, is amended to provide
XV. FEES
A. Sponsors seeking accreditation for a particular CPE program that has not already been approved or accredited by the South Carolina Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization shall pay a non-refundable fee of $75.00.
B. Sponsors may seek accredited status by submitting a form provided by the Board and an annual fee of $200.00. A sponsor granted accredited status is not required to pay the $75.00 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.
C. Individuals seeking accreditation of a course for which the sponsor has not sought accreditation may submit the form provided by the Board together with a non-refundable fee of $25.00.
D. Individuals seeking teaching credit for a course for which the sponsor has not sought accreditation may submit the form provided by the Board together with a non-refundable fee of $25.00.