Curriculum
Based Certification
______________________________
With the recommendations and criteria in mind, the Advanced
Paralegal
Certification board consulted Kurt Kraiger, Ph.D., former McFarlin Professor of
Psychology at The University of Tulsa, about developing program changes. Dr. Kraiger is an expert in
occupational testing, and in evaluating certification training programs. The
new program is designed to:
1. Provide a curriculum-based program that focuses on training and assessment
through program interactivity. This is a move
away from the testing-only model to more accurately reflect NALA’s mission of
continuing education, while retaining an assessment component to assure
compliance with certification standards.
2. Deliver the program online rather than at CLA/CP examination sites. Online
delivery provides participatory learning and certification rather than isolated
testing, it provides control over presentation of content so that every
participant gets the same information, and it provides controlled use and
flexibility of course content and materials.
The
curriculum-based program provides continuing legal education, and ensures that
specific content is being covered. This is an accepted model of certification
and professional development programs throughout the United States and across
numerous occupations.
An assessment component is part of the curriculum-based program. Participants
will be required to demonstrate mastery of the course material throughout the
process. Both the educational and assessment components are online.
A curriculum-based model assumes that participants will discuss course material
and consult outside sources, including colleagues, reference books, and specialty practice area experts. The focus is on education and learning specific
subject matter rather than testing, which has already been done by the CLA/CP
Examination to ensure that candidates have the requisite analytical, research,
and writing skills. |