Are carryover CLE credits allowed in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island attorneys must complete 10 CLE credit hours each year. That includes at least 2 hours in legal ethics and, starting July 1, 2025, 1 hour in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Annual CLE Requirements in Rhode Island

• Total requirement: 10 credit hours per reporting year
• Ethics requirement: 2 credit hours
• DEI requirement: 1 credit hour (effective July 1, 2025)
• Minimum live credit: 4 credit hours
• Maximum video replay/distance learning: 6 credit hours
• Reporting deadline: June 30 annually

Carryover & Exemptions

• Up to 10 excess live credits may carry forward one year
• Ethics credits in excess may also be carried over
• Newly admitted attorneys are exempt from the CLE requirement during the reporting year they are admitted and the next full reporting year; they must complete a “Bridge the Gap” program

Key Takeaway: Rhode Island requires 10 CLE hours each year, including 2 in ethics, 1 in DEI (from July 2025), with minimum live credits, limited carryover, and a Bridge the Gap requirement for new attorneys.

Yes — Rhode Island requires a minimum of 4 credit hours annually in live formats (in-person or synchronous).

Attorneys must complete 10 MCLE credit hours per year, of which up to 6 may be via recorded or on-demand programs.

Details

• Rhode Island’s MCLE rules mandate 10 total credit hours annually, including 2 hours in ethics and 1 in diversity/inclusion.
• At least 4 hours must be earned via “live” programs (in-person or synchronous webcast) to satisfy the live-format minimum.
• The remaining hours may be taken through approved recorded programs (subject to a cap).
• Excess credits in live format may carry over to the next year (live credits carry forward).
• Recorded (on-demand) credits beyond the allowable amount may not carry forward.

Key Takeaway

Rhode Island enforces a live-format minimum: at least 4 of the 10 annual CLE credits must be earned via live instruction (in-person or synchronous).

Yes — Rhode Island’s MCLE rules expressly provide a number of exemptions or waiver categories, but attorneys must file the required certification or waiver with the MCLE Commission.

Under Article IV, Rule 3.2(b) of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules, the following attorneys may be exempt from the 10-credit CLE requirement (or parts thereof): those with disability, inactive or retired attorneys, public officials not practicing law, full-time judges, newly admitted attorneys (via the “Bridge the Gap” rule), longstanding board or committee members, attorneys aged 70+, and full-time military personnel.

Details / Exceptions

• Disability / Hardship: Attorneys for whom physical attendance imposes extreme hardship may request alternate programs or waivers.
• Inactive or Retired: Attorneys listed as inactive or resigned are exempt.
• Public Officials Non-Practice: Attorneys holding full-time federal, state, or municipal offices who certify they do not practice law may be exempt during their term.
• Judges / Magistrates: Federal and state judges and magistrates who do not engage in private practice are exempt.
• Newly Admitted (“Bridge the Gap”): Newly admitted attorneys are exempt from the general credit requirement while subject to the Bridge the Gap course.
• Board / Committee Members: Members of the Bar Examiners, Character & Fitness, MCLE Commission, Disciplinary Board, etc. may be exempt from reporting certain ethics credits.
• Age 70+: Attorneys who reach age 70 are exempt from the general requirement.
• Full-time Military: Active full-time U.S. military attorneys are exempt.
• Ethic Credit Exemptions: Certain officials (Disciplinary Counsel, Ethics Advisory Panel staff, UPLC members) are exempt from reporting 2 ethics credits.
• Exemption Claim: The attorney must submit certification or waiver documentation via the MCLE Portal by June 30 of each reporting year.

Key Takeaway
Rhode Island does grant multiple specific exemptions—disability, judicial, public office, military, senior age, committee membership, newly admitted attorneys—but none are automatic; attorneys must timely certify or request a waiver for the exemption to apply.

Yes — Rhode Island allows late reporting of CLE credits, provided you pay the required late-filing/makeup fees. The later you file, the higher the fee, and failure to cure within a reasonable period may lead to removal from the Master Roll of Attorneys.

Rhode Island’s MCLE rules impose late fees and makeup credit fees for untimely submissions (after June 30) and give attorneys a finite window (180 days from noncompliance notice) to remedy noncompliance before removal from the roll.

Detailed Explanation

• The Rhode Island MCLE reporting period is July 1 through June 30, with a June 30 deadline for both completing credits and reporting compliance.
• The Rhode Island “2026 Reporting Year MCLE Filing Notice” states: “Late or makeup fees are automatically assessed … the later you file, the higher the fee (see MCLE Regulations, Appendix C).”
• That same notice warns: “Active attorneys failing to comply with MCLE within one hundred eighty (180) days of the non-compliance notice will be removed from the Master Roll of Attorneys.”
• Rhode Island’s MCLE FAQ and sponsors’ rules also note that late attendance reports (i.e. sponsors submitting attendance after the 30-day window) incur a $30 late fee.
• Rhode Island does not appear to offer blanket “forgiveness” of late reporting — you must pay the late/makeup fees and complete any missing credits within the allowed timeframe.
• If you miss the 180-day cure period after a noncompliance notice, the Commission will remove you from the active roll. Reinstatement may require completion of the deficient credits, payment of fees, and application for reentry.

Key Takeaway
You can report CLE credits late in Rhode Island, but you’ll owe late/makeup fees, must cure noncompliance within 180 days, and risk removal from the attorney roll if you don’t act in time.

Attorneys in Rhode Island report CLE through an online MCLE Portal, submitting a “Credit Reporting Appendix G” for each reporting year by June 30. Providers also submit attendance data to match the attorney’s submissions.

Key Details:

• The MCLE year runs July 1 through June 30. Filings (credit reporting, teaching, out-of-state, waivers) must be done via the MCLE Portal; paper submissions or emailed certificates are not accepted.
• The Credit Reporting Appendix G form is the primary reporting vehicle; attorneys check a certification box and submit via the portal.
• Attorneys must retain certificates for three years; the MCLE Commission cross-matches attorney submissions with provider reports.
• Late filing incurs additional fees if submitted after June 30; attorneys 70 and older after the June 30 cutoff may be exempt.

Key Takeaway: In Rhode Island, CLE reporting is done exclusively online through the MCLE Portal using Appendix G by June 30, and certificates are retained—not mailed or emailed.

If you miss Rhode Island’s CLE deadline, the MCLE Commission may refer you to the Supreme Court for sanctions and removal from the Master Roll. Attorneys in active status must complete 10 MCLE credit hours (including 2 in ethics and 1 in diversity, equity & inclusion) during the reporting year of July 1 to June 30 and submit proof by June 30.

Rhode Island CLE Deadline & Reporting

• July 1 – June 30: MCLE reporting year in which credits must be completed.
• June 30: Deadline to submit credit reporting or certification.

Consequences & Sanctions

• Failures to comply may lead the Commission to refer noncompliant attorneys to the Supreme Court for imposition of sanctions and removal from the Master Roll.
• Attorneys may also face administrative penalties or requirements for reinstatement under the rules authorized by Article IV, Rule 3.2.

Key Takeaway: In Rhode Island, missing your MCLE deadline risks formal referral to the Supreme Court, potential sanctions, and removal from the Master Roll unless you remedy the deficiency.