The North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization (NC Board) has an alliance with The National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) to allow qualifying lawyers to take one examination in seeking certification by both organizations. Each program has its own experience, education, peer review and examination requirements. The NC Board uses the exam written and administered by NELF instead of writing its own exam. Grading and appeals are handled by the NELF.

North Carolina lawyers may be certified as specialists by both organizations after passing only the NELF exam and meeting the other specialization requirements of each program. Each organization maintains its own application procedures and standards that must be met to be certified as a specialist by that organization.

Below is an explanation of the alternatives for lawyers who are interested in becoming certified:

1. Seeking certification by the NC Board only. A lawyer seeking certification by the NC Board, but not applying for certification by NELF, must submit to the NC Board:

i. The NC Board's application;

ii. The NC Board's application fee ($250);

iii. The NELF exam fee of $450 using a laptop and the Examsoft program or $600 to complete manually, which is due in October following approval to sit for the exam. 

Applicants may take the exam at the NC Board's examination date in the fall; however an applicant may also select an alternative test date from the NELF website. The applicant must notify the NC Board's staff prior to registering for an alternative exam date. If an applicant chooses an alternative test date, the applicant must pay the exam fee directly to NELF.

NELF examination scores are valid in North Carolina for two calendar years; therefore an applicant to the NC Board must meet the other NC Board requirements no later than December 31 of the calendar year after the calendar year in which the applicant passes the NELF exam. 

A lawyer initially seeking certification by only the NC Board may subsequently use the examination results to seek certification by NELF by applying to NELF within two years of passing the NELF exam.

Information relating to the NELF exam can be found at www.nelf.org/become.htm.

2. Seeking certification by NELF only. A North Carolina lawyer seeking certification by NELF and not by the NC Board must apply to the NELF and meet the NELF requirements. Go towww.nelf.org/become.htm for information regarding these requirements.

3. Certification by Both Organizations. Other than passing the NELF exam, a lawyer must satisfy the requirements of each organization to be certified by that organization. The lawyer must submit the following to each organization:

To the NC Board:

i. The NC Board's application;

ii. The NC Board's application fee of $250;

To NELF:

i. The NELF Long-Form Application;

ii. The NELF application fee;

iii. The Exam Registration Form; and

iv. The NELF Examination Fee of $450 or $600.

All applications and fees must be submitted on time, based upon the separate requirements of one organization. All education requirements, peer review, and experience requirements of each organization must be met in order to obtain certification by that organization. 
NELF rules, procedures and fees apply to an applicant seeking NELF certification in the same manner as other NELF applicants.

NELF examination scores are valid in North Carolina for two calendar years; therefore, an applicant to the NC Board must meet the other NC Board requirements no later than December 31 of the calendar year after the calendar year in which the applicant passed the ABC examination.

If a lawyer passes the NELF exam, but fails to meet the other certification requirements of either organization, (s)he may be certified by only the organization whose requirements have been met. Other than the exam, the certification requirements of each organization apply independently.

3. Exam Locations and Dates. NELF administers the NELF examination at various sites across the country throughout the year. The NC Board will administer the NELF exam on those dates in Raleigh whenever possible. Please contact the specialization department at 919-828-4620 x 255 or dmullen@ncbar.gov to confirm the dates and locations.  For more information about exam dates and NELF specialization requirements, see www.nelf.org/becoming-certified.