Can I submit CLE credits online in Tennessee?

No — Tennessee does not require CLE to be in person. Under current Tennessee law, attorneys may satisfy all credit hours via approved distance learning (live or recorded), as the prior limitation on online credits was removed as of November 1, 2022.

Tennessee CLE Format Rules

• Rule 21 of the Tennessee Supreme Court allows credit earned via in-person or distance learning formats without restriction.
• An attorney may receive credit for live-streamed sessions (webcasts) and prerecorded programs as long as they are approved and satisfy the Commission’s interactivity or format criteria.
• The Order effective November 1, 2022 eliminated caps on distance learning credit, meaning all required CLE credits may now be earned via online or on-demand methods.
• On-demand distance learning is allowed, but no credit is allowed for viewing a recorded program if the participant has already received credit for the original live presentation.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, attorneys are no longer required to attend in person — live webcasts and approved recorded/distance learning courses now satisfy the CLE requirement entirely.

Tennessee attorneys report CLE via an Annual Report Statement filed after the compliance year ends (deadline March 1); providers submit attendance, and attorneys may use a notarized Affidavit if needed to prevent penalties.

Key Details:

• The CLE compliance period ends December 31; attorneys must file their Annual Report Statement by March 1.
• Providers have 30 days after completion of the program to report attendance to the Commission.
• If reported credits aren’t posted by deadline, the attorney may submit a notarized Affidavit of Compliance for already-accredited courses to prevent suspension or extra fees.
• For out-of-state or unaccredited programs, attorneys may submit a “Request for Credit” or “Application for Accreditation” along with supporting materials.
• Attorneys must keep their certificates and documentation; the Commission matches provider reports with the attorney’s record.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, attorneys certify CLE compliance through an Annual Report Statement by March 1, relying on provider-reported attendance—or, when necessary, a notarized Affidavit—to secure their compliance status.

No — judges in Tennessee do not have a separate CLE regime; they are generally exempt from the attorney CLE requirement while serving as judges.

Under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21, the CLE requirement applies to attorneys, but Justices, Judges, and Magistrate Judges are exempt on the basis of their judicial continuing education or comparable programs.

Details

• Rule 21 lists as an exemption: “All Justices, Judges, and Magistrate Judges … shall not be subject to the requirements of this Rule 21 … in view of their required comparable continuing legal education programs.”
• Municipal court judges in Tennessee are required to complete 3 hours of training or continuing education annually through or with approval of the Administrative Office of the Courts, distinct from general CLE requirements.
• Judges involved in child custody cases must complete 2 hours annually of training in domestic violence / child abuse topics.

Key Takeaway

In Tennessee, judges are exempt from the general attorney CLE rule (Rule 21), so there is no separate “judicial CLE” regime for them broadly — though certain judges (municipal, custody court) have targeted training mandates.

Yes — Tennessee’s rules permit certain attorneys to be exempt from CLE or claim exemptions, but these must be affirmatively claimed via the Annual Report Statement.

Exemptions (or deferred obligations) in Rule 21 include nonresident attorneys not practicing Tennessee law, active U.S. military, age 70+, full-time law professors not practicing, public officials barred from practice, and judges; but inactive license status alone does not automatically exempt.

Details / Exceptions

• Nonresident Exemption: Lawyers licensed in Tennessee but residing outside the state and not practicing Tennessee law may request an annual nonresident CLE exemption.
• Active Military Duty: Attorneys on full-time active duty in the military are exempt, provided they submit military orders.
• Age 70+ Exemption: Attorneys aged 70 or older may become exempt (except not in the year they turn 70) upon applying for the age exemption.
• Law Professors: Full-time Tennessee law school professors who perform no legal practice may be exempt.
• Public Officials: Attorneys holding elective office who certify they did not practice law during that year may be exempt.
• Judges & Magistrates: Federal judges, bankruptcy judges, and magistrate judges are exempt due to their judicial CLE obligations.
• Inactive License Status: Simply placing your license on inactive with the Board of Professional Responsibility does not grant an exemption. To be exempt, you must also file for “inactive status” with the CLE Commission and meet non-practice criteria.

Key Takeaway
Tennessee allows targeted exemptions (nonresidency, military service, 70+ age, law professors, public office, judges), but these are not automatic — attorneys must claim them through the Annual Report Statement, and inactive license status alone does not suffice.

In Tennessee, CLE credit counts when earned through Commission-approved educational and professional activities under Supreme Court Rule 21.

Attorneys must earn 15 credit hours per calendar year, including 3 hours of Ethics & Professionalism (EP).

Allowed CLE activities

• Attendance at approved live or distance-learning programs (in-person, webcasts, recorded) — all hours, whether in-person or distance, count.
• Teaching or presenting in approved CLE activities — with enhanced credit for thorough written materials (4 hours credit per hour of presentation if ≥ 5 pages; otherwise 2 hours per presentation hour).
• Teaching in law school or related courses — the Commission may grant 4 CLE hours per academic hour taught.
• Judging or coaching moot court / mock trial — EP credit at rate 1 hour EP CLE per 5 hours of judging/coaching, max 3 EP hours per year.
• Formal postgraduate education (credit or audit) in approved law schools — 1 CLE hour per class hour.
• Service as a bar examiner (Tennessee or sister state) — up to 12 General and 3 EP credits annually for bar exam preparation / grading.
• Participation in governmental commissions, committees, or bodies reviewing legislation or rules — up to half the annual requirement in credit (i.e. up to 6 General, 1.5 EP).
• Published writings in approved legal publications — up to half the annual requirement in credit (General and EP) based on 1,000 words = 1 CLE hour (excluding citations).
• Pro bono legal representation (court appointment or approved organizations) — EP credit at 1 hour per 5 billable hours, up to 3 EP credits per year; these do not count toward the General CLE requirement.
• Indigent defense at reduced rate — EP credit for uncompensated portion, up to 3 hours; excess may carry forward to next year (max 3).
• Credit for passing bar exams or specialist certification exams — up to 12 General credits and 3 EP credits (subject to caps).

Limitations, carryover & reporting rules

• There is no restriction on how many credit hours may be earned via distance learning.
• Excess credit hours beyond the 15-hour requirement may be carried forward — up to 15 hours (inclusive of EP) — into the next compliance year only.
• All CLE credit must be reported by March 1 following the calendar year; credit earned must be certified no later than one year from the date earned.
• In-house programs (employer training) are not approved for CLE credit in Tennessee.
• For repeat presentations in the same year, credit is halved relative to the initial presentation.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, you may earn CLE credit via approved live and distance programs, teaching, legal education, bar service, pro bono work, law school courses, and more — subject to caps, EP requirements, no in-house credit, and rules on carryover and reporting.

Yes — Tennessee allows some delayed reporting of CLE credits (up to one year after the date earned), but late reporting may trigger noncompliance fees if not done by December 31 of the compliance year.

By Supreme Court Rule 21, attorneys should report CLE credit “no later than one year” from when the credit was earned, and failing to submit by December 31 may incur non-compliance fees.

Details & Process

• Under Tennessee Rule 21(e): “CLE credit should be reported … as soon thereafter as is practical, but no later than one year from the date that the CLE credit was earned.”
• The CLE compliance year ends December 31; any credit earned in that year must be reported by December 31 or within one year of when the credit was earned (whichever is later) to avoid penalties.
• Starting January 1 of the next year, the Commission issues Annual Report Statements. If you are deficient or owe fees, you must return the Statement by March 31 (or as directed) with any non-completion fee ($100) if late.
• If the CLE Commission has not yet posted your hours (e.g., provider delay), you can submit an Affidavit of Compliance to hold off suspension—provided the courses were previously accredited. If hours you list in the affidavit are not reported by the provider within 30 days, you may still be subject to suspension.
• The Commission will send notices of noncompliance (typically by April 30), and you have until June 1 to cure deficiencies (filing affidavit, completing CLE, paying fees).
• If you fail to cure by June 1, your name may be placed on a suspension order, and you risk being suspended unless you file a further affidavit or demonstrate compliance.

Caveats & Strategy

• The “one-year after date earned” rule means credits earned late in the year may still be reported afterward, but that does not entirely exempt you from deadlines or penalties.
• The Affidavit of Compliance is only valid for accredited courses; unaccredited activities can’t be retroactively validated that way.
• Always monitor whether your provider has reported your hours timely (within 30 days). Delays can jeopardize your ability to rely on late reporting.
• If you’re relying on carry-back or carry-forward of credits, be mindful of how that interacts with timing and reporting windows.

Key Takeaway
You can file CLE credits late in Tennessee (up to one year after the date earned), but doing so after December 31 may subject you to noncompliance fees or suspension unless you act promptly—use the affidavit option cautiously.