There is no single timeline for completing the NCA process. A lot depends on how much time you can realistically dedicate to preparation and, just as importantly, how the NCA and CPLED schedules line up.
If you are not working full-time
If you are not working full-time and do not have major commitments, you can make good use of that flexibility and attempt up to two exams in a month. If you have been assigned the five core NCA exams, you could potentially complete the examination portion in about three months. Add approximately two months for the Legal Research and Writing course and around six weeks for the Indigenous Peoples and the Law course, and the overall process can be completed in roughly six to seven months, depending on course availability and scheduling (it is not recommended to combine them with the timeline of the exams).
Of course, attempting two law exams every month means your daily routine may start looking suspiciously like: wake up, study law, eat something, study law again, question your life choices briefly, and return to studying law.
If you are working full-time
If you are working full-time or managing other commitments, one exam per month is a much more comfortable pace. Five core exams would then take approximately five months, followed by the Legal Research and Writing and Indigenous Peoples and the Law requirements. In practical terms, you should expect around eight to nine months for a more relaxed preparation timeline.
For many candidates, beginning with either Canadian Administrative Law or Canadian Professional Responsibility can also make the transition easier. They are generally more manageable starting points, and clearing your first NCA exam can give you considerable confidence for the subjects that follow.
Always plan around the official schedules
Most importantly, always plan around the official NCA examination schedule and CPLED's schedules for the Legal Research and Writing and Indigenous Peoples and the Law courses. Exam dates, course intake dates, and availability can ultimately shorten or extend your overall timeline.
The Legal Research and Writing and Indigenous Peoples and the Law courses run to their own intake calendars, so check the Canadian Legal Research and Writing program schedule and the Indigenous Peoples and the Law program schedule before you commit to exam dates.
Plan backwards from the dates, not forwards from today
The candidates who finish comfortably are rarely the ones who study the most hours. They are the ones who pick their exam dates early, check them against the CPLED intakes, and work backwards to build a preparation schedule that leaves room for the two courses alongside the exams.
If you are unsure how your assigned requirements, your availability, and the published schedules line up, speak with an advisor before you register.
Want help putting this into practice?
Our faculty map your assigned requirements to a preparation plan, then build your materials around the way NCA exams actually work.