NCA Exam FAQ 2026

The NCA assessment fee is $400 CAD plus applicable taxes (GST/HST) — effective March 1, 2024. This is a one-time fee to evaluate your foreign credentials.

The NCA states assessment takes approximately 8–16 weeks once all required documents are received. Simple cases are often faster; allow 16 weeks for complex assessments. Always check nca.legal for current processing times.

All internationally trained lawyers receive the same 5 mandatory subjects: Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Professional Responsibility, and Foundations of Canadian Law. Elective subjects (Contracts, Torts, Property Law etc.) depend on your individual degree — not your country.

Yes. You can request reconsideration with supporting documentation. See our NCA assessment appeal guide for the full process.

Each exam costs $500 CAD plus taxes. Five mandatory subjects = $2,500 CAD in exam fees alone. Use our Cost Calculator to model your total.

NCA challenge exams are 3 hours, open-book, with 3–4 essay questions. Pass mark is 50%. You may bring printed materials but not electronic devices.

The NCA allows a maximum of 3 attempts per subject. A 4th attempt may be permitted by special application to the NCA. Each resit costs $500 CAD + taxes. See what to do if you fail.

Multiple sittings throughout 2026. See our NCA Exam Dates 2026 page for the full schedule.

Yes. Candidates must demonstrate English or French proficiency unless exempt (e.g., studied at an English-medium institution). See our NCA language requirement guide.

Yes. All NCA challenge exams are open-book. You may bring printed, hard copy materials into the exam. No electronic devices, no internet access, and no digital notes are permitted. The exam is conducted online via MonitorEDU remote proctoring.

Yes. There is no formal limit. Most candidates write 2–3 subjects per session. Writing more than 3 subjects simultaneously increases the risk of failing at least one. Each exam is registered and paid for separately.

Effective March 1, 2026, all NCA candidates must complete an Indigenous Law and Peoples competency from an NCA-approved provider. This is a separate requirement from your challenge exams and can be completed at any time during the NCA process. It is not a written exam. Approved providers and costs vary ($150–$400 CAD estimate). Always verify approved providers at nca.legal.

You apply for an NCA Certificate of Qualification, then apply to a Canadian law society to complete articling and bar admission in your target province.

The Legal Research and Writing course through CPLED may be required based on your NCA assessment. It costs $375 CAD. See our LRW guide.

Each province has different articling and bar requirements. Our guides: Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta.