Are carryover CLE credits allowed in West Virginia?

The CLE reporting deadline in West Virginia is July 31 following the June 30 compliance year (the state uses biennial cycles; verify whether your group’s cycle is an “even-year” reporting cycle).

Attorneys must complete their required credits by June 30 and file the report by July 31.

West Virginia CLE Compliance & Reporting

• Reporting period: July 1 – June 30 over a two-year cycle
• Compliance deadline: June 30 (credits must be earned by this date)
• Reporting deadline: July 31 for certification/reporting via the State Bar portal
• Credit requirement: 24 CLE hours per cycle, including at least 3 in ethics, bias, substance abuse, or practice management
• Carryover: Up to 6 excess credits (excluding ethics) may carry into the next period

Key Takeaway

In West Virginia, complete your CLE by June 30 in your reporting cycle and report it by July 31 — noting that the state operates on alternating biennial cycles, so confirm whether your group reports in an even-year cycle.

The grace period for CLE reporting in West Virginia is 30 days following the June 30 deadline. Attorneys may file their CLE credits by July 31 without penalty.

Key Deadlines:

• CLE credits must be completed by June 30 of even-numbered years.
• Reporting (self-certification) must be done by July 31 following the deadline.

Consequences of Missing the Grace Period:

• A late filing fee is assessed for reports submitted after July 31.
• If reporting is delayed excessively, reinstatement or suspension actions may occur.

Key Takeaway: In West Virginia, you effectively have a one-month grace period after June 30—until July 31—to file CLE credits without penalty.

You may begin reporting CLE credits in West Virginia once your provider submits them (or you self-report non-provider credits) and they appear on your transcript (often listed as “pending approval”).

However, your formal compliance report (certifying full CLE compliance) cannot be filed before the reporting period ends — all credits must be earned by June 30 of an even-numbered year, and the deadline to submit your report is July 31 of that year.

Key Details

• West Virginia attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours in each two-year reporting period, including 3 hours in ethics / office management / attorney well-being / elimination of bias.
• Providers are required to report attorney credits within 30 days of the course.
• When providers submit credits, they enter your transcript as “awaiting approval,” and you must confirm them to include them in your total.
• The reporting period always ends June 30 (even year), and your CLE compliance must be reported by July 31.
• Attorneys admitted during a cycle may have proportional or reduced requirements, but those credits still must be filed by the same deadline.
• Credit carryover: You may carry over up to 6 credits (none of which can be ethics) into the next cycle.

Key Takeaway
In West Virginia, CLE credits start appearing as soon as courses are completed and reported, but you may only certify your full compliance after June 30 — your reporting window opens then and closes on July 31.

Yes — in West Virginia attorneys may obtain an extension for CLE reporting, but only in special or emergency circumstances and by order of the Supreme Court or MCLE Commission. The rules do not provide a routine “extension” right for all attorneys.

Details & Historical Precedent

• The West Virginia Supreme Court extended the 2018-2020 CLE reporting period to September 30, 2020, via court order, allowing reporting without penalty.
• That extension was a one-time, case-specific remedy, not a built-in rule provision.
• The WV State Bar’s public CLE rules do not list a standing petition or extension procedure for attorney reporting.

What You Should Do

1. Immediately contact the WV State Bar MCLE Commission or Director, and explain your hardship or circumstances that prevented compliance.
2. Request that they pursue a court order or internal approval to extend your reporting deadline, citing the 2020 precedent.
3. Supply documentation supporting your case (medical, disaster, etc.).
4. If granted, follow the extended schedule exactly as ordered.

Key Takeaway
West Virginia does not automatically provide extensions for CLE reporting — but exceptional relief is possible through court or MCLE Commission order in extraordinary cases, if you act swiftly and provide strong justification.

Yes — in West Virginia, attorneys can submit (i.e. self-report) CLE credits online through the State Bar’s CLE Online Submissions system.

The system allows you to log into your WV Bar / MyWVBar portal, enter completed credit (approved or nonapproved), and confirm courses.

Details:

• Attorneys may log into their MyWVBar account, go to the “CLE” tab, and in “Submit Credit” choose from Approved Course, Non-Approved Course, Publication, or Teaching credit.
• For a course already in the provider’s listing, you click “Add Course” to certify attendance.
• For a course not listed, you pick the Non-Approved Course option and submit agenda, speaker bios, etc., plus a $20 processing fee.
• Providers also have an online reporting portal and are required to report approved courses.
• The official CLE Online Submissions page describes the database for attorneys to enter their own CLE credits and receive immediate confirmation.

Key Takeaway
Yes — West Virginia lets attorneys submit most CLE credits online via the CLE Online Submissions portal, subject to approval rules and applicable fees.

West Virginia attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years. That total includes 3 hours in ethics, office management, attorney well-being, or elimination of bias.

Biennial CLE Requirements in West Virginia

• Total requirement: 24 credit hours per two-year cycle
• Specialty requirement: 3 credit hours in ethics, office management, attorney well-being, or elimination of bias
• Live minimum: at least 12 credit hours must be live or interactive
• Pre-recorded/self-study cap: up to 12 credit hours
• Compliance deadline: June 30 of even-numbered years
• Reporting deadline: July 31 following the compliance deadline

Carryover & Admissions Rules

• Carryover: up to 6 credits may be carried forward to the next cycle, excluding any in ethics/office management/etc.
• Newly admitted attorneys: must complete “Bridge the Gap” training within 24 months; if admitted during first half of cycle, they must complete 12 hours (including 3 specialty) by cycle end; if admitted during second half, they may be exempt for that cycle

Key Takeaway: West Virginia mandates 24 CLE hours every two years, including a 3-hour specialty component and at least 12 live hours, with limited carryover and special rules for new admittees.