Are carryover CLE credits allowed in Tennessee?

If you miss Tennessee’s CLE deadline, you’ll face noncompliance fees ($100 initially, rising to $200) and risk suspension if you don’t establish compliance by the mid-year deadline. Attorneys must earn their CLE hours by December 31 and file their Annual Report Statement (or Affidavit of Compliance) by March 31.

Tennessee CLE Deadlines & Reporting

• December 31: Deadline to earn required CLE hours.
• March 31: Deadline to submit the ARS or claim exemption; noncompliant attorneys then incur a $100 noncompliance fee.
• June 1: Deadline to establish compliance (report hours or file affidavit) before the $200 continuing noncompliance penalty is imposed.
• August 10: Last day to file compliance records to avoid inclusion on the Supreme Court suspension order.

Penalties, Suspension & Reinstatement

• A $100 noncompliance fee is assessed to attorneys who remain noncompliant after March 31.
• If noncompliance persists, a $200 continuing noncompliance penalty is imposed as of June 1.
• By July 1, a draft suspension order is submitted to the Supreme Court for noncompliant attorneys.
• If the attorney fails to file compliance by August 10, the Supreme Court may enter a final suspension order; active attorneys are charged a $500 suspension fee.
• To reinstate, the attorney must complete all deficient CLE hours, pay all fees, and file proof of compliance.
• An attorney may request waiver of noncompliance or suspension fees if they can show exceptional relief.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, missing your CLE deadline triggers stepped penalties and deadlines — from a $100 fee to a $200 continuing penalty — culminating in referral for suspension unless you timely cure your deficiency, pay fees, and file proof of compliance.

Tennessee provides a reporting grace window through March 31 following the December 31 CLE deadline. Attorneys who miss December 31 may still complete required CLE and submit their affidavit by March 31 to avoid suspension.

Tennessee CLE Timeline

• December 31: Deadline to complete all required CLE hours.
• January 1: $100 noncompliance fee is assessed for attorneys who did not complete CLE.
• March 31: Last date to file an exemption or affidavit remedying deficiencies and to pay the noncompliance fee.

After March 31

• Attorneys still noncompliant by May 31 incur additional “continuing noncompliance” fees if deficiencies or fees remain uncorrected.
• On July 1, the Commission prepares a draft suspension order for attorneys who failed to remedy noncompliance by May 31.

Key Takeaway: Tennessee effectively offers a grace period through March 31 after year-end to cure CLE deficiencies and submit compliance, but failure to act by that date can lead to more severe fees and suspension actions.

Tennessee attorneys must complete 15 CLE credit hours per year, including 3 hours in ethics.

The CLE reporting cycle is the calendar year (January 1 to December 31), with reporting due by March 31.

Details

• Breakdown: 12 hours general + 3 hours ethics.
• Carryover: Up to 15 hours (including 3 ethics) may be carried forward to the next year.
• Delivery: All hours—live, webcast, or distance learning—are eligible without limitation under current rule.
• Reporting: Credits should be reported when earned (or as soon thereafter as practical), but no later than one year from date earned.
• Noncompliance: If CLE is not completed by December 31, a non-completion notice goes out around March 31, with the attorney given until May 31 to cure deficiencies.
• Special credit types: Teaching, bar exam service, pro bono, and other activities may yield CLE credit under specific caps (e.g. teaching materials with ≥ 5 pages gives 4 credits per presentation hour).

Key Takeaway: Tennessee requires 15 CLE hours annually (3 ethics), allows full flexibility in delivery, offers carryover, and enforces a grace cure period after reporting.

The CLE reporting deadline in Tennessee is March 31 following the December 31 compliance year.

Attorneys must complete 15 CLE hours (including 3 ethics) by December 31 and then report compliance by March 31.

Tennessee CLE Reporting Rules

• Compliance deadline: December 31 each year
• Reporting deadline: March 31 for submission of the Annual Report Statement
• Reporting period: One year (January 1 – December 31)
• Carryover: Up to 15 CLE credits may carry over to the next year
• Late fees / noncompliance: Attorneys who fail to report by March 31 may incur a $100 non-completion fee and face suspension under Rule 21

Key Takeaway: Complete your CLE by December 31 in Tennessee, and report it by March 31.

Yes — Tennessee attorneys may apply for an “Exceptional Relief” petition, which can include requests for extensions, waivers, or modifications of CLE obligations under certain circumstances. The Supreme Court Rule 21 and the Exceptional Relief Rule permit relief for hardship or extenuating circumstances.

Tennessee CLE Rules & Deadlines

• Tennessee lawyers must complete 15 CLE hours annually (including 3 Ethics/Professionalism).
• CLE must be completed by December 31 each year, and compliance is reported by March 31 with penalties for late compliance thereafter.
• Under Rule 21(e), CLE hours are to be reported “as soon thereafter as is practical, but no later than one year from the date the CLE credit was earned.”

Exceptional Relief / Extension Authority

• An attorney may file for Exceptional Relief to seek waivers, extensions, or modifications of CLE requirements for undue hardship or extenuating circumstances.
• The Exceptional Relief petition must follow procedures set by the CLE Commission under Rule 21 and related regulations.

What You Should Do

1. Review Supreme Court Rule 21 and the Exceptional Relief procedures.
2. Prepare a petition for Exceptional Relief specifying the relief you seek (extension, waiver, adjustment) and detailing your hardship or extenuating circumstances.
3. File the petition with the Tennessee CLE Commission by the deadline for your reporting period.
4. Continue to earn CLE credits where possible while your petition is pending.
5. If relief is granted, comply with the adjusted timeline or modified CLE plan set by the Commission.

Limitations & Considerations

• Relief (extension, waiver, or modification) is discretionary, not guaranteed.
• Exceptional Relief is not a routine extension — it is intended for genuine hardship or extenuating circumstances.
• Even with an extension, you must still satisfy some form of compliance (earning or reporting) by the adjusted deadline or face sanction.

Key Takeaway
Tennessee does allow attorneys to request extensions or adjustments through the Exceptional Relief process under Rule 21, but you must file a detailed petition showing genuine hardship or extenuating circumstances—and don’t expect the relief to be automatic.

Tennessee attorneys must complete 15 CLE credit hours each year. That requirement includes 3 hours in ethics and 12 general credits.

Annual CLE Requirements in Tennessee

• Total requirement: 15 credit hours per compliance year
• Ethics requirement: 3 credit hours
• General credits: 12 credit hours
• Compliance deadline: December 31
• Reporting deadline: March 31

Carryover & Format Rules

• Up to 15 hours of credit (including up to 3 EP credits) may be carried into the next compliance year.
• All formats (live or distance) may be applied toward the requirement, with no fixed cap on distance learning formats.

Key Takeaway: Tennessee’s annual CLE cycle requires 15 hours per year, including 3 ethics hours, with full flexibility to use live or distance learning credits and a one-year carryover option.