Pennsylvania sets no licensing or education requirements for paralegals, so you can enter the field through a degree, a certificate, or on-the-job training. The voluntary Pa.C.P. credential from the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations signals competence to employers. Pennsylvania’s 14,670 paralegals earned a mean wage of $68,510 in May 2025.
National Paralegal Day falls on August 6th. The date marks August 6, 1968, when the American Bar Association created the Special Committee on Lay Assistants, the body that became today’s Standing Committee on Paralegals. States recognized paralegals on their own varying dates for years, until NALA, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, the National Association for Legal Support Professionals, and the American Association for Paralegal Education came together in 2024 to establish a single national observance, recognized that year in the Congressional Record. Pennsylvania was among the first states to recognize paralegals with their own day and an entire week, having established Paralegal Week through a proclamation by Governor Mark Schweiker in 2002. Pennsylvania governors still issue that proclamation each year, so check the current year’s dates. It’s a fitting tribute to the 14,670 paralegals working across the state, making Pennsylvania the fifth-largest employer of paralegal professionals in the nation.
From Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s legal sector spans diverse industries. Healthcare systems like UPMC and Penn Medicine, corporate employers like PPG Industries and United States Steel, and major law firms throughout the state create opportunities for paralegals. Whether you’re drawn to corporate law in Philadelphia’s headquarters district, litigation in Pittsburgh’s established firms, or public service in one of the nation’s largest unified court systems, Pennsylvania offers a robust professional landscape for paralegal careers.
Regulatory Framework
Pennsylvania takes a non-regulatory approach to paralegal practice, which means you won’t find mandatory licensing requirements or state-mandated educational standards. This gives aspiring paralegals flexibility in choosing their path into the profession, whether through formal education, on-the-job training, or a combination of both.
That said, Pennsylvania’s legal framework does establish clear boundaries. Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct 5.3, codified at 204 Pa. Code Chapter 81, is titled “Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance.” It places the duty on attorneys, not on paralegals. Partners and managing lawyers have to put measures in place giving reasonable assurance that a nonlawyer’s conduct is compatible with the lawyer’s own professional obligations, and a supervising lawyer has to make reasonable efforts to the same end. A lawyer becomes responsible for a nonlawyer’s misconduct when the lawyer orders it, ratifies it knowing the specifics, or learns of it in time to limit the damage and does nothing. Paralegals in Pennsylvania cannot give legal advice or deliver legal services independently of attorney supervision.
While certification isn’t required by law, the voluntary Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal (Pa.C.P.) credential has become increasingly valued by employers who want assurance that their paralegal staff meet recognized standards of competence and professionalism. If you’re curious about how to become a paralegal, Pennsylvania’s flexible requirements make it an accessible state to enter the profession.
Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal (Pa.C.P.) Program
The Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal Program was developed by the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations to establish a benchmark for paralegal qualifications and to demonstrate commitment to continued learning within the field. “Pa.C.P.” is the designation and registered state trademark for Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal, and the Keystone Alliance authorizes its use. Certification shows employers you’ve met specific education and experience guidelines and signals your dedication to professional excellence.
The program applies to paralegals working within the Commonwealth, whether they work on site or remotely. Certified paralegals renew every two years. Renewal requires twelve hours of continuing legal education in each two-year period, at least two of which have to be ethics credits, which keeps credential holders current with evolving legal practices, technologies, and ethical standards.
Every applicant has to be a legal resident of the United States, be currently employed as a paralegal, submit a declaration from an attorney in good standing attesting to their work, and hold consecutive years of substantive paralegal experience. On top of that, you have to meet one of the following educational pathways:
- A bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from an ABA-approved paralegal program and one year of substantive paralegal experience
- A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited institution, a certificate or associate degree from an ABA-approved paralegal program, and one year of substantive paralegal experience
- A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited institution and three years of substantive paralegal experience
- An associate degree in paralegal studies from a paralegal program and five years of substantive paralegal experience
- A certificate from a paralegal program and five years of substantive paralegal experience
- The CLA, CP, or RP designation and two years of substantive paralegal experience
Application fees run $50 for members of a Keystone Alliance member association and $200 for applicants who aren’t affiliated with one, with renewal fees of $25 and $100 respectively for each two-year period. All fees are non-refundable. Employers, the Keystone Alliance, and national paralegal associations may prefer that your program or degree come from an accredited institution or carry American Bar Association approval, so research these criteria before selecting a program.
National Certification Options
It’s worth understanding the distinction between paralegal certificates and paralegal certification. Certificates are earned by completing a paralegal educational program. When you finish your program of study, you receive a certificate of completion and become a certificated paralegal.
Certification is a professional credential earned by meeting eligibility requirements and passing an exam offered by a national paralegal association. Once certified, you become a certified paralegal. Three exams are currently open to individual candidates:
- The PACE (Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam), offered by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and leading to the Registered Paralegal designation
- The PCCE (Paralegal CORE Competency Exam), also from the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, leading to the CORE Registered Paralegal designation
- The CP (Certified Paralegal) exam from the National Association of Legal Assistants, which also offers the Advanced Certified Paralegal credential to paralegals who already hold the CP
The Professional Paralegal (PP) exam from the National Association for Legal Support Professionals (NALS) is not currently an option for new candidates. NALS has placed all of its individual certification exams on a temporary hiatus while it revises them, so it isn’t accepting new individual PP registrations. Paralegals who already hold the PP keep the credential and can still recertify. NALS has also renamed its former ALP credential the Certified Legal Support Professional (LSP), and during the pause it administers that exam only through partner school groups.
The Pa.C.P. program recognizes national certification as a pathway to state certification with a shorter experience requirement. If you already hold the CLA, CP, or RP designation, two years of substantive paralegal experience can qualify you.
Paralegal Education & Schools in Pennsylvania
The knowledge required to perform legal support work effectively is usually built through formal education in paralegal studies. As attorneys, corporations, and government agencies work within an increasingly complex legal framework, the level of responsibility they expect paralegals to handle keeps rising. Employers in Pennsylvania have come to rely on paralegals with the kind of expertise that comes from earning a certificate or a degree.
When choosing a program, weigh several factors. How much will it cost? Does it offer online courses? Can you enroll part-time? Since no two schools are alike, take your time. The schools below span Pennsylvania’s paralegal education landscape, from community colleges to universities, offering everything from certificates to bachelor’s degrees. Ten of these programs currently hold American Bar Association approval, and the ABA refreshes its directory every February and August, so confirm a program’s status directly before you enroll.
Bucks County Community College
AA-Paralegal Studies (Campus/Online)
Certificate-Paralegal Studies (Campus/Online, post-associate/post-baccalaureate)
Bucks County Community College is a two-year public school in Newtown. The AA program consists of 63 credit hours. The certificate program is 30 credit hours and is available only to students who already hold an associate or bachelor’s degree. Both are built around job readiness, and students complete a 120-hour internship and capstone course during their final semester, supported by seminar sessions with classmates. The ABA directory lists at least one online option.
ABA-Approved: Yes
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Central Penn College
AS-Paralegal (Campus)
BS-Legal Studies (Campus)
Central Penn College, formerly Central Pennsylvania College, is a private college in Summerdale offering an associate degree in paralegal studies built around hands-on learning. The AS program covers 76 credit hours and includes personalized instruction and an extensive 360-hour internship. The ABA directory also lists a joint degree option.
ABA-Approved: Yes
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Community College of Philadelphia
AAS-Paralegal Studies (Campus)
Certificate-Paralegal Studies (Campus, post-associate/post-baccalaureate)
Community College of Philadelphia offers an associate degree and a certificate in paralegal studies. The AAS program contains 60 credit hours, and students who already hold a bachelor’s degree or have completed most general education requirements can move onto an accelerated track that finishes in about eight months, with day, evening, and online course options. The AAS program adds guest lectures, field trips, and internship opportunities.
The certificate program comprises 27 credit hours and is available only to students who already hold a bachelor’s or associate degree. Its curriculum includes a 120-hour internship supported by weekly seminars and individual meetings with instructors.
ABA-Approved: Yes
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Delaware County Community College
Associate-Paralegal Studies (Campus)
Certificate-Paralegal Studies (Campus, post-baccalaureate)
Delaware County Community College is a two-year public school in Media offering an associate degree and a post-degree certificate in paralegal studies. The associate program requires 61 to 63 credit hours and the certificate 36 to 37. Both feature a 180-hour internship course that pairs fieldwork in real legal settings with weekly discussions of legal ethics.
ABA-Approved: Yes
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Certificate-Paralegal Studies (Online, non-credit, post-associate/post-baccalaureate)
The Paralegal Institute at Duquesne University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law offers a non-credit paralegal certificate delivered online, with a Certificate in General Practice and specialization options. Instruction is primarily live and instructor-led, with asynchronous material supplementing the scheduled sessions. Students can choose part-time or full-time enrollment, and a daytime summer intensive lets them finish the general practice certificate in eleven weeks. The program is open only to students who hold an associate degree or higher.
ABA-Approved: Yes
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Gannon University
BA-Legal Studies (Campus)
AA-Legal Studies (Campus)
Certificate-Legal Studies (Campus, post-associate/post-baccalaureate)
Gannon University is a private Catholic university in Erie offering a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, and a certificate in legal studies. The BA requires 120 credits and is aimed at students seeking advanced positions in the paralegal field. The AA covers 67 credit hours, with all work applicable toward a four-year degree. The certificate spans 25 credits and can be pursued alongside a four-year degree. Gannon also runs an accelerated 3+3 pathway with Duquesne University’s law school.
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Harrisburg Area Community College
AAS-Paralegal Studies (Campus)
Paralegal Studies Certificate (Campus, post-associate/post-baccalaureate)
Harrisburg Area Community College is the largest and oldest community college in the state. It offers an Associate in Applied Science and a post-degree certificate in paralegal studies, both ABA-approved, delivered at the Harrisburg campus through a mix of in-person, hybrid, remote, and online instruction. The certificate is selective, and admission requires either a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree carrying at least 60 semester credits from an accredited institution. Students can enroll in spring, summer, and fall. ABA rules require at least nine semester credits of legal specialty coursework to be taken through synchronous instruction.
ABA-Approved: Yes
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Lackawanna College
AS-Paralegal (Campus/Online)
BS-Paralegal (Campus/Online)
Certificate-Paralegal (Campus/Online, post-baccalaureate)
Peirce College merged into Lackawanna College on July 1, 2026, and its Center City campus now operates as Lackawanna College – Philadelphia Center. Fully online undergraduate and graduate students enroll through the newly created Peirce School of Online Education. The ABA-approved paralegal programs carried over, and the bachelor’s degree remains the only ABA-approved paralegal bachelor’s program in the Philadelphia area.
The BS program comprises 121 credits and the AS 61. Students in either degree track complete four classroom-based foundation courses, with the rest available online. The certificate covers 31 credits across 10 specialty courses, available in class, online, or in combination. All three culminate in a capstone or cooperative work experience.
ABA-Approved: Yes
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Lehigh Carbon Community College
AAS-Paralegal Studies (Campus)
Certificate-Paralegal Studies (Campus, undergraduate)
Lehigh Carbon Community College is a two-year public school in Schnecksville with satellite sites in Allentown, Tamaqua, Jim Thorpe, and at Lehigh Valley International Airport. The AAS program requires 63 to 65 credit hours including an internship, and the college has a collaborative agreement with Kutztown University for students who want to major in criminal justice. The certificate spans 39 credit hours with an optional internship elective. It isn’t a post-degree certificate, though admission requires at least 30 semester hours. The ABA directory also lists bachelor’s-level options at the college.
ABA-Approved: Yes
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Northampton Community College
AAS-Paralegal (Campus)
AAS-Legal Studies (Campus)
Northampton Community College is a two-year public school in Bethlehem. The paralegal AAS requires 63 to 64 credits and includes an internship placement with a local legal office. Students handle pleadings, forms, and software used across federal, state, and local practice, and attorneys teach most of the legal specialty courses. The college also offers an AAS in legal studies that shares courses with both the paralegal and criminal justice degrees, so students can switch majors with minimal credit loss.
Northampton’s paralegal program held ABA approval from August 2003 until the college voluntarily ended it on January 1, 2023. The college states the withdrawal doesn’t affect the content, rigor, or quality of the program.
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Penn Foster
AS-Paralegal Studies (Online)
Paralegal Career Diploma (Online)
Penn Foster is a private, for-profit college in Scranton offering an associate degree in paralegal studies that’s completed entirely online, which suits students juggling work and family. The AS program runs 24 courses across four semesters, supported by success coaches, webinars, progress tracking, and goal-setting tools, and each semester ends with a proctored examination. Graduates qualify to sit for NALA’s Certified Paralegal exam. A shorter paralegal career diploma is also available, and credits from it transfer toward the associate degree.
Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission
Pennsylvania College of Technology
AAS-Legal Assistant/Paralegal (Campus)
BS-Legal Assistant/Paralegal Studies (Campus)
Certificate-Nurse/Health Care Paralegal (Campus, post-associate/post-baccalaureate)
Pennsylvania College of Technology is a public college in Williamsport affiliated with Pennsylvania State University. The AAS houses 62 credits over four semesters and builds professional experience through a legal assistant internship, alongside coursework in civil litigation, family law, estate and trust administration, and criminal law and procedure. Students who begin the major in January need at least five semesters to finish. The bachelor’s degree admits students at junior-level standing once they’ve completed an associate degree at an accredited institution.
The Nurse/Health Care Paralegal certificate is unusual. It runs 21 to 22 credits over two semesters in evening classes, and it’s open only to students who already hold an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing or another health sciences field such as physician assistant, occupational therapy, or radiography. Coursework covers risk management and insurance alongside legal research and ethics, aimed at medical malpractice, personal injury, workers’ compensation, and disability practice.
One caution. Penn College’s course catalog describes these programs as ABA-approved, but the college doesn’t appear in the ABA’s current directory of approved paralegal programs. Confirm the approval status directly with the school if ABA approval matters to your plans.
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Pennsylvania Western University
BA-Legal Studies (Campus, Clarion in person; blended at California and Edinboro; also online)
Certificate-Legal Studies (Blended at California, Clarion, and Edinboro; also online)
Clarion University of Pennsylvania became part of Pennsylvania Western University in the 2022 merger of the Clarion, California, and Edinboro campuses. The legal studies program now runs university-wide rather than only at Clarion, with the bachelor’s taught in person at Clarion and in blended format elsewhere, and both credentials available fully online. Courses are taught by experienced attorneys, and the program has a long record of pro bono clinic work in the Clarion and Oil City area. The Advanced Paralegal Studies and Oil and Gas certificates that Clarion once offered no longer appear among PennWest’s programs.
PennWest announced an academic restructuring in July 2026 that phases out the legal studies bachelor’s degree beginning in fall 2026. Students already enrolled can finish, and the university says legal studies will remain available in other forms. Check directly with the university on which credentials are open to new applicants.
ABA-Approved: Yes
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Villanova University
Paralegal Professional Certificate (Campus full-time or online part-time, post-baccalaureate)
Villanova University has run its paralegal certificate program for more than 30 years. The full-time day track meets in person and compresses all 15 courses into a single semester of about four months. The part-time evening track is delivered entirely online and takes about ten months to complete all 15 courses. Both tracks require a bachelor’s degree before enrollment. Coursework covers legal writing, legal research, contracts, ethics, family law, and intellectual property, taught by practicing attorneys and paralegals.
ABA-Approved: Yes
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Paralegal Salaries in Pennsylvania
State Salary Overview
Pennsylvania employed 14,670 paralegals as of May 2025, more than every state except California, Florida, New York, and Texas. The mean wage was $32.94 per hour, or $68,510 per year. The median, meaning the midpoint of the distribution, was $30.47 per hour or $63,370 per year. The mean sits above the median, which tells you the range is wide rather than telling you which employers or specialties pay more.
Set against national figures, Pennsylvania lands close on both measures. The national mean was $69,700 and the national median $62,890, so Pennsylvania pays a little below the national mean and a little above the national median.
Pay varies widely across the state. The table below shows where the distribution sits. These are pay percentiles, not experience levels. A long-tenured paralegal in a smaller market can sit near the bottom of the range and a newer one in Philadelphia can sit near the top.
| Pay Percentile | Hourly Wage | Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21.98 | $45,710 |
| 25th percentile | $24.38 | $50,710 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $30.47 | $63,370 |
| 75th percentile | $37.97 | $78,980 |
| 90th percentile | $46.19 | $96,080 |
Pennsylvania compares well against its western and southern neighbors. Ohio paralegals earned a mean of $64,180 and West Virginia paralegals $63,590. The picture changes to the east and north, where New Jersey ($72,550), Maryland ($73,060), and New York ($76,890) all pay more on average, and Delaware ($69,860) edges ahead as well.
Paralegal compensation is almost evenly divided between hourly and salaried pay. NALA survey data found that 51% of paralegals were salaried, while about 49% were paid hourly. That’s why hourly and annual wages appear side by side throughout this page. The two are alternative expressions of the same OEWS estimates, not separate figures for separate halves of the workforce.
Salary by City
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area employs 11,150 paralegals, sixth among all metro areas nationwide, and pays the highest mean wage of any Pennsylvania metro. Note that this metro crosses four states, so that employment count covers its New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland portions too, not Pennsylvania alone. Philadelphia doesn’t top every measure either. Lebanon posts the highest 90th percentile wage in the state at $101,990. Opportunities exist across Pennsylvania’s metro areas, and the gap between them is narrower than it once was.
| Metropolitan Area | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Median Annual Wage | 90th Percentile Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $65,410 | $31.45 | $61,000 | $92,920 |
| Altoona | $53,960 | $25.94 | $49,110 | $74,800 |
| Chambersburg | $49,410 | $23.75 | $49,490 | $62,790 |
| Erie | $59,660 | $28.68 | $56,040 | $78,970 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $62,920 | $30.25 | $60,360 | $81,040 |
| Johnstown | $60,950 | $29.30 | $58,390 | $82,120 |
| Lancaster | $64,660 | $31.09 | $61,780 | $88,230 |
| Lebanon | $65,300 | $31.39 | $59,490 | $101,990 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $72,410 | $34.81 | $70,430 | $97,950 |
| Pittsburgh | $67,940 | $32.66 | $63,620 | $94,680 |
| Reading | $63,500 | $30.53 | $58,570 | $89,320 |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre | $58,130 | $27.95 | $57,600 | $76,950 |
| State College | $60,810 | $29.24 | $57,680 | $75,620 |
| Williamsport | $56,470 | $27.15 | $50,010 | $79,090 |
| York-Hanover | $60,520 | $29.10 | $59,400 | $78,010 |
Job Market & Employment Outlook
Pennsylvania’s legal industry supports a substantial paralegal workforce. The state’s diverse legal sector spans major law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and it ranks fifth nationally for paralegal employment.
Long-term state projections covering 2024 through 2034 anticipate paralegal employment in Pennsylvania growing 1.5%, with roughly 1,500 job openings a year on average. Most of those openings come from replacing workers who move to other occupations or leave the labor force rather than from newly created positions. Replacement openings and new jobs both produce hiring, but they describe different market conditions, so read the openings figure as turnover more than expansion.
Pennsylvania’s legal sector concentrates in three areas:
- Law firms: Pennsylvania has strong firms across the state, with the heaviest concentration in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. These firms handle everything from complex corporate transactions to high-stakes litigation, creating varied opportunities for paralegals.
- Corporate legal teams: Pennsylvania is home to major corporate headquarters including Comcast in Philadelphia and United States Steel in Pittsburgh. Corporations of this size maintain substantial in-house legal departments that rely on paralegal staff.
- Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania operates one of the largest unified state court systems in the nation, including magisterial district courts, courts of common pleas, the Commonwealth Court, the Superior Court, and the Supreme Court. That system creates ongoing demand for paralegals in public service roles.
Professional Associations
Pennsylvania’s local paralegal associations belong to a statewide alliance called the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations. Formally established in 1995 from groundwork laid in the 1980s, the Keystone Alliance represents in excess of 1,400 paralegals and gives them a voice in state and national conversations about the profession, information exchanges with other organizations, and working relationships across the legal community. The Keystone Alliance also developed and manages the Pa.C.P. program.
Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations
The Keystone Alliance is made up of ten member associations, each with its own membership. Requirements are set by each association rather than centrally, so check the rules of the one you plan to join. Membership levels generally follow these categories:
Voting Membership: Open to any employed paralegal who meets one of the following requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies
- Bachelor’s degree in any subject plus a paralegal certificate
- Associate degree in paralegal studies
- Paralegal certificate plus one year of paralegal work experience
- Two years of paralegal work experience
Student Membership: Open to anyone enrolled in a paralegal education program approved by a Keystone Alliance member or the ABA.
Associate Membership: Open to anyone who meets any of the following:
- Employed as a paralegal educator
- Previously employed as a paralegal or paralegal educator
- Completed a formal paralegal course of study
- Previously a Voting Member
- Currently employed as a paralegal but doesn’t meet the qualifications for Voting Membership
Sustaining Membership: Open to any individual or entity that supports the paralegal profession.
The member associations of the Keystone Alliance are:
- Central Pennsylvania Paralegal Association (CPPA), affiliated with the NFPA
- Chester County Paralegal Association (CCPA), affiliated with the NFPA
- Delaware County Paralegal Association (DCPA)
- Family Law Paralegals of Pennsylvania (FLPP)
- Lancaster Area Paralegal Association (LAPA), affiliated with NALA
- Lehigh County Paralegal Association (LCPA)
- Lycoming County Paralegal Association (LCPA)
- Montgomery County Paralegal Association (MCPA), affiliated with the NFPA
- Philadelphia Association of Paralegals (PAP), affiliated with the NFPA
- Pittsburgh Paralegal Association (PPA), affiliated with the NFPA
These regional associations provide networking, continuing legal education and professional development, job banks, mentoring programs, and social events. Students, educators, and working paralegals may join the association covering the area where they live or work. Membership in a Keystone Alliance association also cuts the Pa.C.P. application fee from $200 to $50.
Other Pennsylvania Paralegal Organizations
Lancaster Area Paralegal Association
LAPA has served paralegals and legal assistants in the Lancaster area since 1984. Alongside its Keystone Alliance membership it’s affiliated with the National Association of Legal Assistants, and it offers four levels of membership:
- Paralegal: Open to anyone currently employed as a paralegal and qualified through education, training, or work experience
- Paralegal Student: Open to recent paralegal graduates and those enrolled in a paralegal studies course that leads to employment
- Business Associate: Open to law firms, educational institutions, and other businesses that support the paralegal profession and LAPA
- Sustaining: Open to anyone who doesn’t qualify for another membership type but wants to support LAPA
NALS of Pennsylvania
This is the state-level affiliate of NALS, which promotes NALS certification and membership at the following levels:
- Individual: Open to those engaged in work of a legal nature
- Associate: Open to those engaged in work of a legal nature, such as educators, judges, and attorneys
- Students: Open to students taking at least nine semester credits from a legal-related program at an accredited school
- Retired: Open to those who were NALS-affiliated members for at least five years before retirement
- Life: Open to qualified individual members
- International: Open to those engaged in work of a legal nature who reside outside the US
NALS of Philadelphia is a local chapter of this association.
Major Legal Employers
Law firms often hire entry-level paralegals and can be good places to begin a career. The metro Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas are home to many large firms, including:
- Ballard Spahr
- Blank Rome
- Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
- Cozen O’Connor
- Dechert
- Duane Morris
- Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott
- Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath
- Fox Rothschild
- K&L Gates
- Marshall Dennehey
- Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
- Reed Smith
- Saul Ewing
- Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young
- Troutman Pepper Locke
- White and Williams
Important Resources
The following resources provide useful information for Pennsylvania paralegals:
- Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations
- York County Paralegal Association (YCPA)
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Department of State
- Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal
Frequently Asked Questions
Is certification required to work as a paralegal in Pennsylvania?
No. Pennsylvania doesn’t require paralegals to hold formal certification or meet specific educational standards by law. The voluntary Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal (Pa.C.P.) credential from the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations has become increasingly valued by employers. Many paralegals pursue it to demonstrate their commitment to professional standards and improve their career prospects.
What is the Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal (Pa.C.P.) credential?
The Pa.C.P. is a voluntary state certification developed by the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations, and the designation is a registered state trademark. To qualify you have to be currently employed as a paralegal, be a legal resident of the United States, provide a declaration from an attorney in good standing, and meet one of six combinations of education and consecutive substantive experience. The credential renews every two years, and renewal requires twelve hours of continuing legal education in each period, at least two of them ethics credits.
How much do paralegals earn in Pennsylvania?
As of May 2025, paralegals in Pennsylvania earned a mean wage of $32.94 per hour, or $68,510 per year. The median was $30.47 per hour, or $63,370 per year. Pay ranges from $45,710 at the 10th percentile to $96,080 at the 90th. Those are pay percentiles rather than experience levels. Your own earnings depend on where in the state you work, your specialization, your employer type, and whether you hold professional certifications.
Which Pennsylvania cities pay paralegals the most?
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro has the highest mean wage at $72,410, followed by Pittsburgh at $67,940, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton at $65,410, Lebanon at $65,300, and Lancaster at $64,660. Philadelphia doesn’t lead on every measure, though. Lebanon’s 90th percentile wage of $101,990 tops Philadelphia’s $97,950. Bear in mind the Philadelphia metro crosses into New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, so its 11,150 paralegals aren’t all working in Pennsylvania.
How many ABA-approved paralegal programs are in Pennsylvania?
Ten Pennsylvania institutions held American Bar Association approval for their paralegal programs as of the ABA’s most recent directory, spanning associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and post-baccalaureate certificates. The ABA updates the directory every February and August, and approval can lapse or be withdrawn voluntarily, so confirm a program’s current status in the live directory before enrolling. ABA approval matters if you plan to pursue the Pa.C.P. credential, since several qualification pathways require completion of an ABA-approved program.
What are the membership requirements for Keystone Alliance member associations?
Each member association sets its own rules, so check the one you plan to join. Broadly, voting membership is open to employed paralegals who meet one of several qualifications: a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, a bachelor’s degree in any subject plus a paralegal certificate, an associate degree in paralegal studies, a paralegal certificate plus one year of work experience, or two years of paralegal work experience. Student membership is available to those enrolled in ABA-approved or member-approved paralegal programs. Associate and Sustaining memberships are open to educators, former paralegals, and supporters of the profession.
How do I become nationally certified as a paralegal?
Three exams are currently open to individual candidates: NFPA’s PACE and PCCE, and NALA’s CP. NALS has paused all of its individual certification exams while it revises them, so the Professional Paralegal (PP) isn’t available to new candidates right now, though existing PP holders keep the credential and can recertify. Eligibility rules differ by credential. National certification is distinct from an educational certificate, since it’s a professional credential demonstrating tested competency. In Pennsylvania, holding the CLA, CP, or RP designation can make you eligible for the Pa.C.P. with just two years of substantive paralegal experience.
What’s the job outlook for paralegals in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania employs 14,670 paralegals, the fifth-highest total in the nation. Long-term state projections for 2024 through 2034 anticipate 1.5% growth and roughly 1,500 openings a year, most of them replacing workers who leave the occupation rather than newly created positions. Opportunities span law firms concentrated in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, corporate legal departments at companies like Comcast and US Steel, and the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.
Key Takeaways
- Pennsylvania doesn’t require paralegal certification, but the voluntary Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal (Pa.C.P.) credential is increasingly valued by employers and is a registered state trademark
- Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the nation for paralegal employment with 14,670 professionals as of May 2025
- Paralegals in Pennsylvania earned a mean wage of $68,510 per year ($32.94 per hour) and a median of $63,370 ($30.47 per hour), with Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington paying the most at a $72,410 mean
- Ten Pennsylvania institutions hold ABA approval for paralegal programs, alongside a number of strong non-ABA options, giving you pathways from certificates to bachelor’s degrees
- State projections for 2024 to 2034 point to 1.5% growth and about 1,500 annual openings, most of them replacing paralegals who leave the occupation
- The Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations represents more than 1,400 paralegals across ten member associations offering networking, CLE, and a discounted Pa.C.P. application fee
- National Paralegal Day is August 6th, marking the ABA’s creation of its first paralegal committee in 1968, and Pennsylvania has issued its own Paralegal Week proclamation since 2002
Ready to Start Your Paralegal Career in Pennsylvania?
Explore ABA-approved programs, connect with a local association, and take the first step toward joining Pennsylvania’s paralegal community.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Paralegals and Legal Assistants. Long-term 2024-34 job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, ProjectionsCentral. Figures reflect city, state, and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2026.
