Are carryover CLE credits allowed in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma does not explicitly provide a “grace period” beyond its reporting deadline of February 15. Attorneys must earn CLE by December 31 and file their report by February 15 to avoid late fees.

Oklahoma CLE Deadlines

• December 31: Deadline to complete the required 12 CLE credits.
• February 15: Deadline to submit the annual CLE report or claim exemption.

Late Penalties & Noncompliance

• A $100 late-compliance charge is added for failing to meet the CLE requirement by December 31.
• A $100 charge is also added for failing to file the report by February 15, though the Commission may waive it for extreme hardship.
• After February 15, attorneys are served an order to show cause within 60 days why they should not be suspended.

Key Takeaway: Oklahoma’s timeline requires CLE by December 31 and reporting by February 15 — there is no additional grace window built in, and late-filing triggers fixed charges and a show-cause process.

Attorneys in Oklahoma do not self-report CLE via their own portal; instead, providers must submit attendance data to the Oklahoma MCLE system, after which attorneys certify compliance if required. Reporting is presumed fulfilled when the attorney’s transcript reflects the required credits by February 15.

Key Details:

• Providers must report attendance using the Online Attendance Reporting portal, within 30 days of the program or by January 10 of the following year (whichever comes first).
• On or before February 15 each year, active or senior attorneys must submit a report — or confirm their compliance — in the form prescribed by the MCLE Commission if the transcript does not already reflect compliance or exemption.
• Attorneys whose transcript already shows sufficient credits need not file a separate Annual Report of Compliance.
• If a provider fails to report attendance, the attorney may submit a certificate of completion to the MCLE office via email or mail.
• The compliance period is the calendar year (January 1 through December 31).

Key Takeaway: In Oklahoma, CLE reporting is predominantly provider-driven: providers report attendance to MCLE, and attorneys only need to file or confirm a report by February 15 if their transcript does not show compliance.

No — attorneys in Oklahoma may not self-report their CLE credits online; providers must report attendance, though in limited cases attorneys can submit a course completion certificate.

Oklahoma’s MCLE rules require providers to report within 30 days, and the attorney may only submit documentation when the provider fails to report.

Details:

• Providers are required to report attendance for approved CLE programs via the Online Attendance Reporting portal.
• The FAQs say attorneys cannot self-report credits online; if a provider fails to report, the lawyer may submit a certificate of completion to mcle@okbar.org or by mail.
• The Oklahoma CLE cycle is on a calendar year basis (Jan 1 to Dec 31), and credits must be reported by February 15 of the following year.
• New online transcript and service features are being developed to allow lawyers to view how credits are applied, but that does not substitute for provider reporting.

Key Takeaway
You generally cannot submit CLE credits online in Oklahoma yourself — providers report them, and only in rare cases may a lawyer send documentation when a provider fails to report.

Yes — Oklahoma imposes a separate Mandatory Judicial Continuing Legal Education (MJCLE) requirement for judges, in addition to the CLE rule for attorneys.

Judges of district courts, appellate courts, the Oklahoma Supreme Court, and certain others must complete 12 hours of approved judicial education annually.

Details

• Under the “Rules for Mandatory Judicial Continuing Legal Education,” all judges of the Oklahoma District Courts, Court of Civil Appeals, Court of Criminal Appeals, and Justices of the Oklahoma Supreme Court must complete at least 12 hours annually of MJCLE.
• Generally up to 6 hours of the MJCLE requirement may be satisfied via general CLE programs; the remainder must be in judicially focused courses approved by the Administrative Office of the Courts or by the Chief Justice.
• Municipal judges (especially non-lawyer municipal judges) have a certification/education requirement tied to municipal court training: a municipal judge must complete 12 hours of OBA-approved CLE (covering municipal court law, evidence, criminal and indigency hearings, etc.) under forthcoming certification requirements effective July 1, 2026.
• The Oklahoma Bar’s MCLE rules for attorneys require 12 hours annually, including 2 hours in ethics.
• Judges who are prohibited from private practice of law (i.e. full-time judges) are exempt from the attorney CLE obligation under the MCLE rules.

Key Takeaway

Judges in Oklahoma must satisfy a dedicated MJCLE regime (12 hours annually, with judicial subject matter requirements), distinct from but partly overlapping with the attorney CLE rules.

The CLE reporting deadline in Oklahoma is February 15 following the December 31 compliance year.

Attorneys must complete all required CLE credits by December 31, and report via the Annual Report of Compliance by February 15.

Oklahoma MCLE Reporting Timeline & Rules

• Completion Deadline: December 31 every year.
• Reporting Deadline: February 15 for the Annual Report of Compliance.
• Annual Requirement: 12 CLE hours including at least 2 in legal ethics.
• Exemption: Newly admitted attorneys are exempt for the remainder of their admission year.
• Sanctions for Late Reporting: Late fees apply after February 15; noncompliance may lead to suspension proceedings.

Key Takeaway: In Oklahoma, complete your CLE by December 31 and certify or report by February 15 to remain compliant.

No — Oklahoma does not require attorneys to complete a minimum number of in-person classroom CLE hours.

The state’s CLE rules permit attorneys to earn all 12 annual credit hours through in-person, live webcast, or on-demand formats.

Details

• Oklahoma attorneys must complete 12 instructional CLE hours per year, including at least 2 hours in legal ethics or professionalism.
• There is no restriction on how many credits must be in person — on-demand (recorded) credits are fully acceptable under Oklahoma’s current rules.
• Effective January 1, 2019, the limit on online credits was removed, so attorneys may satisfy their entire requirement via online, as long as courses are accredited and instructional.
• Providers must still ensure that instructional programs (regardless of format) meet accreditation standards — including content, attendance verification, and provider approval.

Key Takeaway

Oklahoma imposes no in-person classroom minimum — attorneys may satisfy their full 12-credit annual CLE obligation through live or on-demand formats under the state’s accreditation rules.