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Accreditation of ITLs

The National Committee on Accreditation (“NCA”) is a standing committee of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, responsible for assessing the legal education and professional experience of individuals who obtained their credentials outside of Canada or in a Canadian civil law program. The NCA's primary mandate is to protect the public interest by ensuring that ITLs and law graduates meet the standards of knowledge and skills necessary to practise law in Canada. The accreditation process for ITLs is designed to ensure that their knowledge of Canadian law is comparable to that of graduates from approved Canadian common law programs.

The following information was taken from the National Committee on Accreditation’s website, nca.legal and is only intended to be a general summary. We encourage Firms to visit the NCA website for the most up-to-date information on the accreditation process.

The NCA Assessment Process

The NCA assessment process is a crucial step for ITLs seeking to practise in Canada. This evaluation determines the requirements for obtaining a Certificate of Qualification, which is necessary to apply for admission to a law society in a Canadian common law jurisdiction.

The process typically involves the following steps1:

  1. Self-Assessment: Candidates can use the NCA's online self-assessment tool to determine if they qualify for an NCA Assessment.
  2. Application Submission: Candidates submit an online application along with required documentation and payment.
  3. Credential Review: The NCA reviews and assesses the candidate's credentials, taking into account their educational and professional background.
  4. Assessment Notification: The NCA notifies the candidate of any assignments or deficiencies identified during the assessment. Candidates must complete the assigned requirements, which may include passing examinations or completing specific law school courses.
  5. Certificate Issuance: Upon successful completion of all requirements, the NCA issues a Certificate of Qualification.
  6. Bar Admissions: Upon obtaining the Certificate of Qualification from the NCA, candidates are eligible to apply for bar admission programs in all Canadian common law jurisdictions, which comprise all provinces and territories except Quebec.

The legal tradition of the country where the ITL studied law influences the assessment given by the NCA. If a candidate is from a non-common law jurisdiction, or a mixed jurisdiction, and their legal education or work experience includes little or no common law exposure, they may receive no or minimal recognition for their qualification.2 Candidates must also demonstrate proficiency in one of Canada's official languages, English or French, and may be required to undergo language testing.3

Following assessment, candidates can pursue one of three pathways to fulfill NCA requirements: they may need to pass NCA exams, complete assigned courses at a Canadian law school, or combine both options. Candidates are typically required to demonstrate competence in specific Canadian law subjects, including Canadian Administrative Law, Canadian Constitutional Law, Canadian Criminal Law, Canadian Professional Responsibility and Foundations of Canadian Law.4

The NCA may also assign additional subjects based on an individual's qualifications5. Candidates typically have five years from the date of assessment to complete all required examinations or courses.6 NCA candidates are limited to three attempts to pass each NCA exam. If a candidate fails a subject four times, they are required to complete that subject through coursework at a Canadian law school.7

The NCA process is a comprehensive and rigorous pathway for ITLs to become qualified to practise law in Canada. It ensures that all legal professionals in Canada meet the high standards required to protect the public interest. While challenging, the process provides a clear route for international legal professionals to integrate into the Canadian legal system and contribute their diverse experiences and perspectives to the profession.

1 Federation of Law Societies of Canada National Committee on Accreditation, “Overview Understanding the whole picture” (2026), online: < Process - Federation of Law Societies of Canada>

2Federation of Law Societies of Canada National Committee on Accreditation, ‘Jurisdictions Policy’, Ottawa, 2021, online: < https://
nca.legal/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/NCA-Jurisdictions-Policies-Oct-2021.pdf> (accessed January 19, 2026)
3Federation of Law Societies of Canada National Committee on Accreditation, ‘Policy Manual in effect July 1, 2025, Ottawa, 2022,
online:<https://nca.legal/resources/nca-policies-and-guidelines/> (accessed January 19, 2026)
4Ibid at page 8
5Ibid.
6Ibid at page 20
7Ibid.