Can I get reciprocity for CLE courses completed overseas?

The difference between live and on-demand CLE is that live CLE happens in real time with instructors and allows interaction, while on-demand CLE is a pre-recorded program that attorneys can watch later at their own pace. Both formats may count toward CLE credit, but state rules often treat them differently.

Live CLE

• Delivered in real time (in-person, webcast, or teleconference).
• Allows interaction, such as Q&A, polling, or discussion.
• Often required for a portion of credits in states that limit self-study or on-demand.

On-Demand CLE

• Pre-recorded courses available to view anytime.
• Offers scheduling flexibility but usually does not allow real-time interaction.
• Many states cap the number of on-demand credits or require some credits to be live.

Provider Support

• Sprout Education offers both live webcast CLE and on-demand courses, giving attorneys the flexibility to meet state-specific requirements in either format.
• Programs are accredited and designed to balance convenience with compliance, ensuring credits count toward annual or biennial obligations.

Key Takeaway: Live CLE provides real-time engagement, while on-demand CLE offers flexibility — and providers like Sprout Education deliver both to help attorneys stay compliant.

Yes — non-attorneys often can enroll in CLE courses, but they generally are not eligible to receive the CLE credit that counts toward a lawyer’s mandatory CLE requirement.
Many providers and state CLE rules permit attendance by non-lawyers, but awarding credit is reserved for licensed attorneys under regulatory CLE programs.

Details:

• In Connecticut, attorneys may receive MCLE credit for teaching legal courses to law students; non-attorneys teaching legal courses are not included in that credit framework.
• In California, providers can offer MCLE-approved education activities, but the requirement and credit accrual mechanisms are structured exclusively for attorneys.
• In New York CLE provider rules require that courses be tailored to a legal audience and increase attorneys’ professional competency; general audiences (non-lawyers) may attend but will not necessarily receive accreditable credit for the course.

Key Takeaway:
You may be allowed to sit in on CLE courses as a non-attorney, but you should not expect to receive CLE credit unless the state’s CLE regulation explicitly allows credit for non-lawyers.

Sometimes — there is no general CLE requirement that applies only to real estate attorneys, but in some jurisdictions real estate law is a specialty requiring additional CLE for certification or specialization. Whether such a requirement exists depends on your state’s legal specialization and CLE rules.

Details:

• In California, attorneys certified as specialists must complete additional “Legal Specialist Continuing Legal Education” (LSCLE) beyond the standard MCLE hours.
• In Texas, attorneys certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) in real estate must earn a specified number of CLE hours in the specialty area (e.g. 60 hours in the specialty area over three years).
• In North Carolina, for certification in Real Property Law, applicants must complete at least 36 hours of CLE in real property law (with minimum annual thresholds) during the preceding three years.
• In Connecticut, Residential Real Estate Specialist applicants must accumulate 36 hours of continuing legal education in residential real estate law (including ethics) during the period prior to filing.
• For non-specialist real estate practice, there is usually no distinct additional CLE obligation; attorneys must satisfy general CLE/MCLE requirements of the jurisdiction.

Key Takeaway
While real estate attorneys generally must meet the same general CLE obligations like any attorney, in several states specialty certification in real estate law triggers additional CLE requirements specific to that specialty.

Blockchain CLE is continuing legal education focused on blockchain, NFTs, and related legal issues. It helps attorneys understand both the technology and its legal, regulatory, and risk dimensions.

What Blockchain CLE Covers

• Basics of distributed ledgers, tokens, and smart contracts
• Legal frameworks for NFTs, crypto assets, and digital property
• Regulatory compliance challenges across jurisdictions
• Practical use cases in contracts, IP, finance, and governance
• Ethical and professional risks in advising on blockchain

Featured Course Example

• Sprout Education offers “A Legal Guide to Blockchain and NFTs,” a 1-credit on-demand course taught by Jeonghoon Ha, covering fundamentals, UCC issues, and regulatory risk.
• The course qualifies in many states for both general and technology credits.

Key Takeaway: Blockchain CLE arms attorneys with both technical and legal insight into a transformative space — and courses like Sprout Education’s help you earn real credit while building competence.

You verify a CLE provider’s bar approval by checking your state bar or MCLE board’s list of accredited providers or approved courses, which is published on their official website.
Most states maintain searchable directories or course databases where you can confirm provider status before enrolling.

Steps to Verify CLE Provider Bar Approval

• Visit your state bar or MCLE board website and navigate to the “Approved/Accredited CLE Providers” or “Course Search” section.
• Search by provider name or course ID to confirm accreditation status.
• Review whether the provider is a “Presumptive/Approved Provider” (courses automatically accredited) or if each course must be individually approved.
• If a provider is not listed, contact the MCLE office to ask whether the course qualifies for credit in your jurisdiction.
• Keep documentation (provider approval letter, course approval code, or confirmation screenshot) in your CLE records in case of audit.
• Sprout Education is an accredited CLE provider in multiple jurisdictions, and courses taken with us clearly identify the state approval codes or credit hours earned.

Key Takeaway: Always confirm a provider’s accreditation through your state bar’s official website or MCLE office before taking a course, and retain proof of approval for your compliance records.

CLE reciprocity is the system that allows attorneys to receive credit in one state for CLE courses taken in another. It simplifies compliance for multi-state practitioners by recognizing credits across jurisdictions without requiring duplicate attendance.

How Reciprocity Works

• Some states have “full reciprocity,” accepting any accredited course from another MCLE state.
• Others allow “partial reciprocity,” granting credit if the course meets state-specific standards (such as ethics, professionalism, or specialty credits).
• Attorneys usually must request credit transfer or file a certificate of attendance with their own CLE board.
• A few states have no reciprocity at all, requiring courses be pre-approved locally.

Key Takeaway: CLE reciprocity lets attorneys apply out-of-state credits toward their local CLE requirement, but the rules vary widely — always check whether your state grants full, partial, or no reciprocity.