What You Need to Know About the Accreditation Process in Canada
Written by Canada Law From Abroad - 24/04/2026
Understandably, one of the questions we most often get asked by prospective Canadian Law students is "what is the process like coming back to Canada to get licensed as a lawyer?" This question tends to be one of the deciding factors in your decision to study law abroad.
Truth be told, the accreditation process is not as scary as it might sound. In this blog, we discuss how the accreditation process works and what your options are after completing your UK degrees, and returning to Canada.
You've Graduated Law School in the UK - Now What?
The accreditation process in Canada is regulated by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. The National Committee on Accreditation (or NCA, for short) is a standing committee for the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, and it is through the NCA that you will have to apply for an assessment report of your law-related credentials. You can apply to the NCA at any time but your file will not be assessed until the NCA receives your final law school transcripts.
The application process involves an application fee ($400 CAD plus taxes), a resume, pre-law school transcripts, final law school transcript, English language screen (now required for all applicants), and a completed application form. We suggest applying to the NCA after you finish your final law school exams. Then, once you receive your final transcript after graduation, have your UK University send your transcript to the NCA directly.
It takes approximately 4-6 weeks for the NCA to assess your file and respond to you with a report detailing the requirements you must meet in order to obtain a Certificate of Qualification. Do note that as each assessment is made individually, this time frame can be longer depending on the assessment.
NCA Challenge Exams
After The NCA assesses your file, they will inform you of any additional items you need to complete in order to receive your Certificate of Qualification and qualify for law society bar admission.
If you studied the 2-year accelerated LLB Degree in the UK (sometimes called 'Senior Status' or 'Graduate Entry' depending on the university), you'll most likely be required to complete 7 challenge exams in order to obtain a Certificate of Qualification.
If you completed a 3-year LLB you will be required to write between 5 to 7 exams. Note: The number of exams assigned are determined on an individual basis.
Here is a list of the core exams:
Here is a list of the core exams:
- Foundations of Canadian law
- Canadian Constitutional law
- Canadian Administrative law
- Canadian Professional Responsibility
- Canadian Criminal law
Other Requirements:
Those who have their qualifications assessed after January 1, 2022 will also need to complete a course in legal research and writing module. In addition, students must also show competencies in Indigenous Law and Peoples.
Choosing the right UK University
Currently, our preferred partner universities have been accepted by the NCA (providing the student meets their assessment criteria), but it is up to the student to keep track of any changes that may occur within the programme/university during their studies that may impact NCA assessment. Students are encouraged to remain updated on the NCA's policies to ensure they are aware of any changes during their studies abroad.
If you have any questions or concerns about the NCA requirements as they relate to your selected UK degree, it's recommended that you reach out to the NCA directly so that they can provide you with the appropriate feedback.
Canada Law From Abroad is not affiliated with the NCA and this information is given as a supplement to the official information found on the NCA website based on our understanding at the time of distribution. Before applying to any professional program that leads to a regulated career in Canada please be sure you have thoroughly reviewed the requirements for registering as an international educated professional in your field before proceeding with your degree overseas. Ultimately it is your responsibility to ensure the degree you complete in the UK will meet the accreditation requirements in the country and province in which you wish to work.
