Are any attorneys exempt from CLE in Tennessee?

No — Tennessee does not require CLE to be in person. Under current Tennessee law, attorneys may satisfy all credit hours via approved distance learning (live or recorded), as the prior limitation on online credits was removed as of November 1, 2022.

Tennessee CLE Format Rules

• Rule 21 of the Tennessee Supreme Court allows credit earned via in-person or distance learning formats without restriction.
• An attorney may receive credit for live-streamed sessions (webcasts) and prerecorded programs as long as they are approved and satisfy the Commission’s interactivity or format criteria.
• The Order effective November 1, 2022 eliminated caps on distance learning credit, meaning all required CLE credits may now be earned via online or on-demand methods.
• On-demand distance learning is allowed, but no credit is allowed for viewing a recorded program if the participant has already received credit for the original live presentation.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, attorneys are no longer required to attend in person — live webcasts and approved recorded/distance learning courses now satisfy the CLE requirement entirely.

Tennessee attorneys report CLE via an Annual Report Statement filed after the compliance year ends (deadline March 1); providers submit attendance, and attorneys may use a notarized Affidavit if needed to prevent penalties.

Key Details:

• The CLE compliance period ends December 31; attorneys must file their Annual Report Statement by March 1.
• Providers have 30 days after completion of the program to report attendance to the Commission.
• If reported credits aren’t posted by deadline, the attorney may submit a notarized Affidavit of Compliance for already-accredited courses to prevent suspension or extra fees.
• For out-of-state or unaccredited programs, attorneys may submit a “Request for Credit” or “Application for Accreditation” along with supporting materials.
• Attorneys must keep their certificates and documentation; the Commission matches provider reports with the attorney’s record.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, attorneys certify CLE compliance through an Annual Report Statement by March 1, relying on provider-reported attendance—or, when necessary, a notarized Affidavit—to secure their compliance status.

No — judges in Tennessee do not have a separate CLE regime; they are generally exempt from the attorney CLE requirement while serving as judges.

Under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21, the CLE requirement applies to attorneys, but Justices, Judges, and Magistrate Judges are exempt on the basis of their judicial continuing education or comparable programs.

Details

• Rule 21 lists as an exemption: “All Justices, Judges, and Magistrate Judges … shall not be subject to the requirements of this Rule 21 … in view of their required comparable continuing legal education programs.”
• Municipal court judges in Tennessee are required to complete 3 hours of training or continuing education annually through or with approval of the Administrative Office of the Courts, distinct from general CLE requirements.
• Judges involved in child custody cases must complete 2 hours annually of training in domestic violence / child abuse topics.

Key Takeaway

In Tennessee, judges are exempt from the general attorney CLE rule (Rule 21), so there is no separate “judicial CLE” regime for them broadly — though certain judges (municipal, custody court) have targeted training mandates.

In Tennessee, CLE credit counts when earned through Commission-approved educational and professional activities under Supreme Court Rule 21.

Attorneys must earn 15 credit hours per calendar year, including 3 hours of Ethics & Professionalism (EP).

Allowed CLE activities

• Attendance at approved live or distance-learning programs (in-person, webcasts, recorded) — all hours, whether in-person or distance, count.
• Teaching or presenting in approved CLE activities — with enhanced credit for thorough written materials (4 hours credit per hour of presentation if ≥ 5 pages; otherwise 2 hours per presentation hour).
• Teaching in law school or related courses — the Commission may grant 4 CLE hours per academic hour taught.
• Judging or coaching moot court / mock trial — EP credit at rate 1 hour EP CLE per 5 hours of judging/coaching, max 3 EP hours per year.
• Formal postgraduate education (credit or audit) in approved law schools — 1 CLE hour per class hour.
• Service as a bar examiner (Tennessee or sister state) — up to 12 General and 3 EP credits annually for bar exam preparation / grading.
• Participation in governmental commissions, committees, or bodies reviewing legislation or rules — up to half the annual requirement in credit (i.e. up to 6 General, 1.5 EP).
• Published writings in approved legal publications — up to half the annual requirement in credit (General and EP) based on 1,000 words = 1 CLE hour (excluding citations).
• Pro bono legal representation (court appointment or approved organizations) — EP credit at 1 hour per 5 billable hours, up to 3 EP credits per year; these do not count toward the General CLE requirement.
• Indigent defense at reduced rate — EP credit for uncompensated portion, up to 3 hours; excess may carry forward to next year (max 3).
• Credit for passing bar exams or specialist certification exams — up to 12 General credits and 3 EP credits (subject to caps).

Limitations, carryover & reporting rules

• There is no restriction on how many credit hours may be earned via distance learning.
• Excess credit hours beyond the 15-hour requirement may be carried forward — up to 15 hours (inclusive of EP) — into the next compliance year only.
• All CLE credit must be reported by March 1 following the calendar year; credit earned must be certified no later than one year from the date earned.
• In-house programs (employer training) are not approved for CLE credit in Tennessee.
• For repeat presentations in the same year, credit is halved relative to the initial presentation.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, you may earn CLE credit via approved live and distance programs, teaching, legal education, bar service, pro bono work, law school courses, and more — subject to caps, EP requirements, no in-house credit, and rules on carryover and reporting.

Yes — you can submit CLE compliance online in Tennessee, but only in limited circumstances (i.e. for courses not reported by providers) via forms and the CLE portal.

normally, accredited providers report attendance to the Tennessee CLE Commission under Supreme Court Rule 21.

Details:

• Providers (not attorneys) are required to electronically report CLE attendance within 30 days of completion.
• Attendance is submitted through the “Provider MCLE Management” system on the TNCLE portal.
• Attorneys may, via a “Request for Credit not Reported by Provider” form, submit credit for a course that was not reported by the provider.
• An “Affidavit of Compliance” form (notarized) is available for attorneys whose provider-reported hours haven’t yet appeared on their record.

Key Takeaway: Yes — Tennessee allows limited online submission of CLE credit when providers fail to report, but ordinarily CLE reporting is done by providers through the portal.

Placing a Tennessee law license on inactive status does not automatically excuse the CLE requirement.

Under Supreme Court Rule 21 § 2.03(h), an attorney must formally file a Request for Inactive Status with the CLE Commission to claim exemption—otherwise the CLE obligation continues.

Details

• Rule 21 § 2.03(h) specifically allows an attorney who is not practicing law to request inactive status and thereby claim exemption from CLE if the request is accepted.
• The CLE Commission’s FAQ states that placing a law license on inactive status under the Board of Professional Responsibility alone does not relieve the CLE duty; you must separately request inactive status with the CLE Commission.
• If inactive status is accepted by the CLE Commission, the attorney has no CLE reporting or credit obligations for that compliance year.
• When returning to active practice, the CLE obligations resume. An attorney whose license has been inactive for more than five years must petition for reinstatement under Rule 9, § 10.8(c).

Key Takeaway

In Tennessee, inactive attorneys must formally request CLE-inactive status; without doing so, the CLE duty remains in force, and reactivation restores the full CLE obligations.