NCA Modernized Assessment Framework: what changes in 2027 and 2028
The NCA is replacing up to 14 exams with five combined exams and three online courses, phased in from 2027 and in full from 2028, with multiple-choice questions in every exam.
The NCA announced the change on 8 October 2026 and has answered the main questions in its FAQs. Here is what it says, what isn't settled yet, and what it means if you're already working through your exams. Checked 18 Oct 2026.
The proposed new exams
Each new exam covers more than one current subject. The NCA says this list is current as of September 2026 and may change before the framework is final.
| New exam | Current subjects it covers |
|---|---|
| Canadian Public Law 1 | Foundations of Canadian Law, Constitutional Law |
| Canadian Public Law 2 | Criminal Law, Administrative Law |
| Canadian Private Law | Contract Law, Property Law, Tort Law |
| Ethics and Professional Responsibility in Canadian Legal Practice | (one subject) |
| Dispute Resolution and Oral Advocacy in Canadian Legal Practice | Negotiation and Mediation, Litigation, Oral Advocacy |
The three online courses, each with its own assessment: Indigenous Peoples and the Law in the Canadian Context, Canadian Legal Research, and Canadian Legal Writing and Drafting.
How the new exams work
- Online with live proctoring, from any location that meets the NCA's technical requirements.
- Each exam takes no longer than three and a half hours, unless you have accommodations.
- Multiple-choice questions in every exam, plus written and oral legal skills in some.
- Three attempts per exam, with a possible fourth on request; no fifth attempts.
- If you pass, you see only "pass". If you fail, you get your score and broad feedback.
- Free preparatory resources for each of the five exams, plus a multiple-choice study guide with sample questions, once implementation begins.
When, and who it applies to
- Phased implementation in 2027 for eligible applicants; full implementation expected in 2028.
- From 2028, all new applicants are assessed under the new system.
- If you already have an Assessment Decision, keep following its requirements. Eligible applicants will be able to opt in to some or all of the new exams; the eligibility criteria haven't been published yet.
- You still have five years from your Assessment Decision to finish.
What isn't settled yet
- Who can opt in, from which session, and how passed old exams map to the new ones
- Dates, registration periods and fees
- The final exam list (the table above is the NCA's proposal)
What to do now
Keep to your current plan: nothing announced stops you completing your assigned exams under your existing assessment. Join the NCA's first information webinar on Thursday 10 December 2026, 12 to 1 pm Eastern (details on the announcement page), and send questions to NCA@flsc.ca. We'll update this post after the webinar.
Where are you in the process, and would you consider opting in to the combined exams? Tell us below.
Sources: NCA FAQs, Modernized Assessment Framework section, NCA announcement, 8 Oct 2026, Modernized Assessment Framework page