Are any attorneys exempt from CLE in Washington?

Washington attorneys must complete 45 CLE (MCLE) credits every three years. That includes at least 15 credits in law & legal procedure and 6 credits in ethics, and as of 2023 one ethics credit must be on equity/inclusion/bias mitigation.

Cycle & Deadlines

• Reporting period: 3 years (varies by group)
• Credits must be completed by December 31 of the final year of the cycle
• Certification/reporting deadline: February 1 of the year following the cycle

Credit Subcategories & Carryover

• Minimum required: 15 law & legal procedure credits
• Ethics/Professional Responsibility: at least 6 credits, of which at least 1 must focus on equity, inclusion, and bias mitigation
• Carryover: up to 15 excess credits may carry into the next reporting period, including up to 2 ethics credits

New Admittees & Special Rules

• Newly admitted attorneys are exempt from MCLE in the year of admission and the following calendar year
• All approved credits (live, recorded, teaching, mentoring, pro bono, etc.) may be applied so long as they comply with WSBA rules

Key Takeaway: Washington requires 45 CLE credits every three years, with minimums in law & procedure and ethics (including an equity-focused ethics credit), and allows up to 15 credits to carry forward.

Washington attorneys must complete 45 MCLE credit hours every three years, including 6 hours in ethics (with at least 1 hour addressing equity, inclusion, and bias).

Of those 45, at least 15 must be law & legal procedure credits.

Details

• Compliance period: three years; credits must be earned by December 31 of the final year and certified by February 1.

• Ethics: 6 credit hours in ethics/professional responsibility are required; beginning with the 2023-2025 cycle, at least 1 of those must cover equity, inclusion, and mitigation of bias.

• Law & legal procedure: At least 15 credits must be in law & legal procedure topics.

• Carryover: Attorneys may carry over up to 15 excess credits (maximum of 2 ethics credits) into the next reporting period.

• Daily cap: No more than 8 credit hours can be earned in a single day.

• Delivery: As of January 1, 2016, there is no requirement that any of the credits be live; all 45 may come from approved on-demand or recorded formats.

• New admittees: Lawyers are exempt from MCLE reporting in their admission year and the immediately following calendar year.

Key Takeaway: Washington requires 45 CLE credits every three years, with specific ethics and law-procedure quotas, generous carryover, a daily cap, and full flexibility in format.

Yes — Washington permits late reporting of CLE credits (after the February 1 certification deadline), but doing so triggers a late fee (starting at $150) and continued noncompliance may lead to administrative suspension.

Under APR 11 and WSBA MCLE rules, attorneys must complete credits by December 31 of the reporting period and certify by February 1; certification or credit-completion after those dates is accepted with a late-filing fee.

Detailed Explanation

• Under Washington’s MCLE rules, all credits must be earned by December 31 of the last year of the 3-year reporting period, and certification must be filed by February 1 of the following year.
• If credits or certification are submitted late (i.e. after the February 1 deadline or credits completed after December 31), a late fee is assessed.
• The standard late fee is $150, and that fee increases by $300 for each consecutive late reporting period you delay.
• If you fail to comply (complete credits and certify, and pay late fees) for the period, you may be administratively suspended from practice under WSBA/MCLE enforcement mechanisms.
• WSBA provides for waivers or modifications of the requirements (including the late fee) upon showing of undue hardship (such as serious illness, financial hardship, or military service).
• For CLE sponsors, attendance must be reported within 30 days of the activity; failure to do so triggers a $50 late attendance fee (though this is a different kind of “late reporting” from attorney certification).

Key Takeaway
You can report CLE credits late in Washington, but expect to pay a late-filing fee (at least $150) and face possible suspension if you fail to cure the deficiency.

No — Washington does not require CLE to be in person. Attorneys may complete all required CLE credits by live webcast, prerecorded courses, or other approved formats, because Washington abolished its live-credit mandate.

Washington CLE Rules & Format Policies

• Total requirement: 45 credit hours per three-year reporting period.
• Live requirement history: Washington eliminated the obligation to attend courses in real time (in-person or webcast) as of January 1, 2016 — attorneys may now earn all credits through approved formats (live or recorded).
• Online / distance learning: Attorneys may take live webcasts or previously recorded courses (distance learning) for all credits, provided they comply with WSBA MCLE accreditation.
• Course accreditation: WSBA regulates approved CLE sponsors and courses; recorded products are accepted for credit.

Key Takeaway: In Washington, there is no requirement for in-person attendance — attorneys may satisfy their full CLE requirement using live webcasts or approved recorded/distance formats.

The CLE reporting deadline in Washington is February 1 following the end of your reporting period.

Washington attorneys must complete all required MCLE credits by December 31 of the last year of the reporting period, then certify compliance by February 1.

Washington MCLE Deadlines & Reporting

• Completion deadline: December 31 of the last year in your 3-year cycle
• Reporting / certification deadline: February 1 of the year after the cycle ends
• Credit requirement: 45 credits per 3 years (including ethics and law & legal procedure)
• Carryover: Up to 15 excess credits may carry over (2 may be ethics)

Key Takeaway: In Washington, you must finish your CLE by December 31 and certify it by February 1.

Inactive attorneys in Washington are not required to report or complete MCLE while their status remains inactive.

Upon reactivation, they must meet all MCLE obligations as an active member and may incur additional reinstatement conditions depending on how long they have been inactive.

Details

• The Washington State Bar allows inactive status for members not practicing law; while inactive, MCLE reports are not required.
• WSBA MCLE FAQs confirm that inactive, pro bono, and honorary status holders have no MCLE obligations during those statuses.
• To return to active status, members must earn and report the full MCLE credits applicable to active members (45 credit hours every three years for lawyers, including ethics and equity requirements).
• If a member has been inactive (or suspended) for more than six consecutive years, they must earn the required credits within three years of reinstatement.

Key Takeaway

In Washington, inactive status suspends MCLE obligations entirely, but reactivation triggers full credit and reporting requirements, possibly with additional constraints for long inactivity.