Certifications
12 California-specific certifications for criminal defense professionals. Filter by role and cost to find your next credential.
California Bar Admission
CA BarState Bar of California
$1,400+ (exam fees, character & fitness, annual dues)
2-day exam plus character & fitness review (3-6 months total)
Required — no practice without it
Annual dues + 25 hours MCLE every 3 years
Criminal Law Specialist Certification
CBLS CriminalCalifornia Board of Legal Specialization (State Bar of California)
$800+ (application, exam, annual maintenance)
Application + exam (6-12 months process)
+$10,000-$15,000 salary boost; strengthens promotion candidacy
Every 5 years with 45 hours of criminal law CLE
California Private Investigator License
CA PI (BSIS)Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), California Department of Consumer Affairs
$400+ (application, background check, fingerprinting, exam)
Application + exam (2-4 months)
Required — cannot work as a licensed investigator without it
Every 2 years
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
PSLFU.S. Department of Education / Federal Student Aid
Free to apply
120 qualifying payments (10 years of public service)
$50,000-$200,000+ in student loan forgiveness
Annual Employment Certification Form (ECF) recommended
Holistic Defense Certificate
HDCThe Bronx Defenders / Center for Holistic Defense
$500-$1,000 (training institute tuition)
3-5 day intensive training institute
Resume differentiator; demonstrates commitment to client-centered defense
No formal renewal; ongoing CE recommended
Capital Defense Training
CDTDeath Penalty College, Santa Clara University School of Law
$500-$1,000 (subsidized tuition for public defenders)
1-week intensive program
Required for capital case appointments; specialty premium in some offices
Recommended refresher every 3-5 years
Juvenile Defense Certificate
JDCNational Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC)
$200-$500 (training program tuition)
2-3 day training institute + online modules
Resume differentiator for juvenile defense positions; may qualify for specialty assignments
No formal renewal; annual conference recommended
Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions Certificate
ICCCImmigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)
$200-$500 (training + reference materials)
2-day intensive training
Resume differentiator; critical skill in California's diverse communities
Annual updates recommended (law changes frequently)
Forensic Social Work Certification
NASW-FSWNational Association of Social Workers (NASW)
$500-$1,000 (application, exam, NASW membership)
Application + exam (requires MSW + 2 years forensic experience)
+$5,000-$10,000 salary boost for mitigation specialists; preferred for senior roles
Every 3 years with CE credits
Trauma-Informed Defense Certificate
TIDCVarious providers aligned with SAMHSA framework
$200-$500 (training program + materials)
2-4 day intensive training or 8-week online course
Resume differentiator; increasingly valued by progressive offices
No formal renewal; ongoing CE recommended
Motivational Interviewing Training
MIMotivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT)
$200-$500 (2-day workshop)
2-day foundational workshop + supervised practice
Resume differentiator; strengthens client engagement skills
No formal renewal; advanced workshops available
Basic Life Support / CPR Certification
BLS/CPRAmerican Heart Association (AHA)
$50-$100 (class + certification card)
1-day course (4-6 hours)
No direct salary impact; recommended for fieldwork safety
Every 2 years