Paralegal in Virginia

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for VA. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$61,200

trending_up +0.3% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Virginia.

engineering

8,570

Jobs (VA)

monitoring Stable

+0.2%

10-yr job growth

schedule

Varies depending on education and experience pathway

Time to complete

route How to become a paralegal in Virginia

While there are no mandatory state licensing requirements for paralegals in Virginia, the Virginia Alliance of Paralegal Associations (VAPA) offers a voluntary Virginia Registered Paralegal (VARP™) credential. To obtain the VARP™ credential, candidates must meet specific education and experience criteria, which can include a combination of degrees, paralegal certificates, and substantive legal experience. Maintaining the VARP™ credential requires 12 hours of continuing legal education every two years, with at least two hours in ethics. The Virginia State Bar provides ethical guidelines for attorneys supervising paralegals.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $44,100

25th percentile $48,620

50th (median) $61,200

75th percentile $79,470

90th (experienced) $97,520

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Virginia. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Virginia requirements

Licensing body	Virginia Alliance of Paralegal Associations (VAPA) for voluntary certification; no state licensing body
State license	Not required
Education	Varies for VARP™: Bachelor's degree in paralegal studies and 1 year experience; OR Bachelor's in any subject, paralegal certificate, and 1 year experience; OR paralegal certificate and 3 years experience; OR Associate's degree in any subject and 4 years experience; OR paralegal certificate from non-institutionally accredited program and 4 years experience; OR 5 years paralegal experience and 6 hours CLE within 2 years; OR Certified Paralegal status or other VAPA-approved credential.
Exam	No state exam; national certification exams (e.g., NALA's Certified Paralegal exam) are available and may be part of VARP™ eligibility.
Renewal	Every 2.0 years
Continuing education	12.0 hours per cycle
Notes	There is no mandatory state licensing or certification required to work as a paralegal in Virginia. Regulation is through the supervising attorney. Voluntary certification as a Virginia Registered Paralegal (VARP™) is available through the Virginia Alliance of Paralegal Associations (VAPA). To maintain the VARP™ credential, 12 hours of CLE (including 2 hours of ethics) are required every two years. The Virginia State Bar issues codes of conduct for lawyers and the paralegals they supervise.

Source: Virginia Alliance of Paralegal Associations (VAPA) for voluntary certification; no state licensing body

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+0.2%

Average

Annual openings

39,300

Nationwide per year

Total employment

376,200

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

error High exposure 1.29/1.00

Many tasks in this career are susceptible to AI automation. Long-term career planning should account for potential disruption.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

infoNo state license required — lower barrier but weaker signal
warningElevated AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if a paralegal career is the right fit?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I become a paralegal in Virginia? expand_more

Virginia requires paralegals to complete the required education (Varies for VARP™: Bachelor's degree in paralegal studies and 1 year experience; OR Bachelor's in any subject, paralegal certificate, and 1 year experience; OR paralegal certificate and 3 years experience; OR Associate's degree in any subject and 4 years experience; OR paralegal certificate from non-institutionally accredited program and 4 years experience; OR 5 years paralegal experience and 6 hours CLE within 2 years; OR Certified Paralegal status or other VAPA-approved credential.), and pass the No state exam; national certification exams (e.g., NALA's Certified Paralegal exam) are available and may be part of VARP™ eligibility..

Is a state license required for paralegals in Virginia? expand_more

paralegals in Virginia are not required to hold a state license. Note: There is no mandatory state licensing or certification required to work as a paralegal in Virginia. Regulation is through the supervising attorney. Voluntary certification as a Virginia Registered Paralegal (VARP™) is available through the Virginia Alliance of Paralegal Associations (VAPA). To maintain the VARP™ credential, 12 hours of CLE (including 2 hours of ethics) are required every two years. The Virginia State Bar issues codes of conduct for lawyers and the paralegals they supervise.

How much do paralegals make in Virginia? expand_more

The median paralegal salary in Virginia is $61,200 per year. This is close to the national median of $61,010. New paralegals start around $44,100; seasoned professionals can reach $97,520.

How quickly can I become a paralegal in Virginia? expand_more

The typical timeline in Virginia is Varies depending on education and experience pathway. This includes completing education, gaining any required experience, and passing the licensing exam.

What's required to renew a paralegal license in Virginia? expand_more

Yes — paralegals in Virginia must complete 12.0 CE hours every 2.0 years to stay licensed.