Advisories Updated NCA Policies approved to come into effect on March 1, 2026
The NCA continually reviews and updates its Assessment and Appeal Policies to improve readability and to ensure that they remain current and responsive to relevant issues. Recent initiatives have been undertaken to improve the NCA process such that those who complete the NCA process are well-positioned for success in the law society bar admission process, and in legal practice.
The new policies will come into effect on March 1, 2026. The complete revised NCA Policy Manual is available here and you are encouraged to review this document. The new policies include new definitions and clarifications.
Of note are two new requirements which will take effect on March 1, 2026. Those new requirements are:
- To demonstrate competence in Indigenous Law and Peoples (subsection 10.5). This can be fulfilled through a module offered by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) or through an NCA approved course at a recognized Canadian law school.
- To demonstrate language competence through the Language Screening Requirement (subsection 11.1). This requirement requires that all applicants to the NCA complete a language competency screening test, in either French or English, before their qualifications are assessed. The cost of the screen will be included in the assessment fee and will be accessed through a link provided by the NCA.
These updates reflect feedback received as a result of carrying out a large-scale survey distributed broadly to members of the legal profession in Canada, including those who had recently received their NCA Certificates of Qualification, regarding competencies required for those completing the NCA process.
Please communicate with nca@flsc.ca with any questions.