The CP exam is the California Certified Paralegal (CCP) exam, run by the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) for paralegals who want its credential. It is a written test of 200 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and you need a cumulative score of 75% to pass. This page has free practice sets by subject, worked answers, a study plan, and plain answers about deadlines, results, fees and renewal. Practice with the free California Certified Paralegal practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (9 questions with answer explanations).
Interactive California Certified Paralegal resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
Facts verified Oct 22, 2026 against California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) – CCP Certification Program. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 200 multiple-choice and true/false questions | California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) – CCP Certification Program |
| Passing score | 75% cumulative score | California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) – CCP Certification Program |
| Exam fee (Certification and Renewal) | $200, due within 15 days of a pass notice | caapa.memberclicks.net |
| Validity | 5-year term based on exam date | caapa.memberclicks.net |
| Renewal | 40 MCLE hours every 5 years (30 general law + 10 legal ethics) | California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) – CCP Certification Program |
| Delivery | Written exam on a scheduled date; candidates who qualify are sent the details | California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) – CCP Certification Program |
| Score release | Pass/fail result by email within 30 days | California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) – CCP Certification Program |
| Registration deadline | Apply within 45 days before the exam; pay no later than 15 days before the exam date | caapa.memberclicks.net |
| Registration opens | Applications currently accepted | California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) – CCP Certification Program |
Facts verified Oct 22, 2026 against California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) – CCP Certification Program. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
According to California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) – CCP Certification Program, “The CCP Exam is a written test consisting of 200 multiple choice and true/false questions.”[1]
The CCP credential comes from CAPA's CCP Certification Program. It shows that a paralegal has passed a written exam on core paralegal competencies, ethics and substantive law.
Format and scoring. The exam is a written test of 200 multiple-choice and true/false questions. Your score is cumulative, and you need 75% overall to pass. Results are pass/fail. The CCP Certification Program emails them within 30 days of the exam.
Applying. The exam is held on scheduled dates. CAPA reviews applications and sends exam details to candidates who qualify. The fee schedule says to submit your application within 45 days before the exam. Payment is due within 30 days of your acceptance notice, and no later than 15 days before the exam date. CAPA says it is currently accepting applications.
After you pass. The certification fee is $200, due within 15 days of your pass notice. The term is 5 years, counted from your exam date. To renew, you earn 40 MCLE hours every 5 years: 30 in general law and 10 in legal ethics.
This page does not cover eligibility requirements, the exam application fee or retake rules. Check those on the official CAPA site (caparalegal.org) before you apply, because the official exam FAQ and fee schedule are the final word.
The content areas below are copied from the official CP content outline published by California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) – CCP Certification Program. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Core Paralegal Competencies[1] | CP Legal Research & Writing Practice the daily work of a paralegal: legal research, citation, drafting and client interviewing. Use this set together with the client communication set. |
| Ethics[1] | CP Ethics & Professional Responsibility Practice confidentiality, conflicts of interest, unauthorized practice of law, and what a paralegal may and may not do without attorney supervision. |
| Substantive Law[1] | CP Civil Litigation & Procedure Start with civil procedure, then work through the contracts, torts, family law, real property, criminal law and probate sets so no subject is left untested. |
Prepare for the CP - California Certified Paralegal exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: Which type of question is most effective for obtaining a narrative account of events from a client?
Answer: C. Open-ended questions that invite the client to explain in their own words
Explanation:
C is correct. Open-ended questions such as "Tell me what happened that day" let the client describe events in their own words and in their own order. You get a fuller account, and often facts you would not have known to ask about.
A is wrong because leading questions suggest the answer, which can shape or distort the client's account. B is wrong because yes/no questions collect isolated details, not a story. D is wrong because hypothetical questions ask the client to speculate about what might have happened, not to recall what did happen.
Rule to remember: open an interview with broad, open-ended questions. Use closed questions later to pin down specific details such as dates, names and amounts.
Question: How many witnesses are required to sign a formal (non-holographic) will in California for it to be valid?
Answer: B. Two witnesses
Explanation:
B is correct. Under the California Probate Code, a formal (attested) will must be signed by at least two witnesses. They must be present at the same time and see the testator either sign the will or acknowledge the signature or the will. They must also understand that the document is the testator's will.
A is wrong because one witness is not enough for a formal will. C is wrong because California does not require three witnesses. Extra witnesses are allowed but not needed. D is wrong because notarization does not replace the witness requirement.
Rule to remember: a formal will needs at least two witnesses who are present together. A holographic will, with the signature and material provisions in the testator's own handwriting, needs no witnesses.
Question: The exclusionary rule established in Mapp v. Ohio applies to evidence obtained through:
Answer: B. Unconstitutional searches and seizures
Explanation:
B is correct. Mapp v. Ohio held that evidence from searches and seizures that violate the Fourth Amendment cannot be used in state criminal trials. This extended the exclusionary rule from federal courts to state courts.
A is wrong because a voluntary consent search is a recognized exception to the warrant requirement, so the search is lawful and the evidence is admissible. C is wrong because routine border inspections fall under the border search exception and need no warrant or probable cause. D is wrong because administrative searches, such as regulatory inspections of closely regulated businesses, are judged by a separate reasonableness standard and are generally valid.
Rule to remember: the exclusionary rule only reaches evidence from unconstitutional searches. Evidence from a lawful search, including one that falls under a recognized exception, is not excluded.
Start with the official material. Read the exam FAQ and fee schedule on the CAPA site, confirm that you qualify, and put the application and payment deadlines in your calendar.
Then do a first pass through the practice sets without notes. Start with the Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Legal Research & Writing and Civil Litigation & Procedure sets, because they cover each official area. For every question you miss, write down the rule behind the answer, not just the correct letter.
Group your misses by topic. Where several cluster together, study that subject from your paralegal coursework or a current California practice reference, then retake the matching set. Work through the other substantive law sets the same way: contracts, torts, family law, real property, criminal law and probate.
The passing mark is a 75% cumulative score, so aim to score above that on every set. Don't count on strong subjects to carry weak ones. Close to the exam, mix questions from different sets into timed blocks and review your error log. Watch for the exam details CAPA sends to candidates who qualify.
The CCP exam is a written test of 200 multiple-choice and true/false questions. It covers the official content areas: core paralegal competencies, ethics and substantive law. Your score is cumulative across the whole test, so a strong result in one area can offset a weaker one. Practicing every area is still the safer plan.
You need a cumulative score of 75% to pass. Results are pass/fail only. The CCP Certification Program sends them by email within 30 days of the exam. If you pass, watch your email closely, because the certification fee is due within 15 days of the pass notice.
CAPA's fee schedule says to submit your application within 45 days before the exam. Payment is due within 30 days of your acceptance notice, and no later than 15 days before the exam date. CAPA sends exam details to candidates who qualify. Check the current fee schedule on caparalegal.org for the application fee.
The CCP certification and renewal fee is $200. Submit it within 15 days of your pass notice. It covers a 5-year term counted from your exam date. The exam application fee is listed separately on CAPA's official fee schedule. Confirm current amounts there before you apply.
The certification runs for a 5-year term based on your exam date. To renew, you must earn 40 MCLE hours every 5 years: at least 30 hours of general law credit and 10 hours of legal ethics credit. Keep records of your MCLE certificates as you go so renewal is straightforward.
No. We wrote every practice question on this page with the help of AI tools, and none are actual CCP exam questions. They are meant to help you find gaps in your knowledge across the official areas: core paralegal competencies, ethics and substantive law. Check rules against current California law and the official CAPA materials.