Are carryover CLE credits allowed 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.

You report CLE (MCLE) credits in Washington by certifying your compliance via the WSBA MCLE Online System by February 1 following the end of your three-year reporting period.
You must complete all required credits (by December 31 of the final year) and ensure both sponsor-reported and self-reported activities are reflected before certifying.

Overview of Washington MCLE Reporting

• Washington attorneys must complete 45 MCLE credits in every three-year reporting period, including at least 15 credits in law & legal procedure and 6 ethics credits (one of which must be in equity, inclusion & the mitigation of bias for reporting periods 2023–2025 and onward).
• Attorneys are grouped into three reporting groups based on year of admission.
• All credits must be earned by December 31 in the last year of your cycle.
• You must certify (report) your credits by February 1 following that December 31 deadline.
• Sponsor reports: accredited CLE sponsors must submit attendance records (for live, webcast, teleconference events) within 30 days after the event.
• Self-reporting: for on-demand, recorded, or non-sponsor-reported credits, you must enter them yourself via the MCLE Online System (within 30 days of completing the course).
• Carryover: you may carry forward up to 15 credits (including up to 2 ethics credits) into the next reporting period.
• Late filing / noncompliance: failure to complete or certify on time may subject you to late fees or suspension under APR 11 and APR 17.

Steps to Report CLE in Washington

1. During your three-year cycle, complete your 45 credits (including the law, ethics, and equity credits).
2. Retain certificates, agendas, provider information, course IDs, and proof of completion.
3. After December 31 of the cycle’s final year, review your transcript in the MCLE Online System to ensure sponsor-reported credits have posted.
4. Enter any missing credits (especially on-demand or non-sponsor-reported) using the “Add Credit” or “Self-Report” function (within 30 days of course completion).
5. By February 1, log into the MCLE Online System and certify your compliance for that reporting period.
6. If audited, be ready to present supporting documentation (certificates, agendas, etc.).
7. If you earned credits through Sprout Education, confirm that for live or sponsor-reportable courses we submitted attendance; and manually enter non-sponsorable credits before your certification.

Key Takeaway: Washington attorneys must meet 45 credits every three years, ensure all earned credits are posted (via sponsor reporting or self-reporting), and then certify compliance by February 1 following the December 31 deadline. Sprout Education assists reporting where permitted, but verifying and certifying your record is your responsibility.