Do CLE requirements differ for part-time vs full-time attorneys in Georgia?

You report CLE credits in Georgia by submitting an annual affidavit (or report) to the Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency via the Georgia Bar’s CLE portal by January 31.
This certification reflects CLE hours earned during the prior calendar year, ending December 31.

Overview of Georgia CLE Reporting

Georgia attorneys must complete 12 CLE hours each year, including at least 1 hour in ethics and 1 hour in professionalism. Trial attorneys must also complete 3 hours in trial practice.
CLE programs may be live, webcast, or prerecorded distance learning; there is no longer a limit on how many distance learning hours may apply.
Attorneys may carry forward a limited number of excess credits: up to 12 general credits, 2 ethics, 2 professionalism, and 3 trial hours.

Steps to Report CLE in Georgia

• Complete your required 12 hours (including the mandatory ethics and professionalism hours, and trial hours if applicable) by December 31.
• Log in to the Georgia Bar’s CLE / CCLC (Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency) portal.
• Enter your completed programs and confirm credit details.
• Submit the annual affidavit or compliance report by January 31.
• If your report is selected for audit, produce certificates, agendas, or attendance records.
• If you earned credits through Sprout Education, verify those credits appear in Georgia’s CLE record; where Georgia permits provider reporting, we support that transmission, but you remain responsible for your affidavit submission.

Key Takeaway: In Georgia, you must earn 12 CLE hours by December 31, then file your compliance report by January 31 via the CLE portal. Sprout Education aids in reporting where allowed, but you still must verify your record and submit the affidavit in a timely manner.

No — Georgia does not require attorneys to complete any fixed number of in-person classroom hours.

Under Georgia’s CLE rules, attorneys may satisfy all 12 required credits via approved distance learning programs (webcasts, online, on-demand) or live courses.

Details

• Georgia attorneys must complete 12 credit hours per calendar year, including 1 hour of ethics and 1 hour of professionalism.
• As of January 1, 2022, Georgia permits attorneys to fulfill the full 12 hours via online or distance learning CLE programs.
• Georgia still authorizes live in-person CLE programs, but there is no requirement that any portion of the 12 hours be in-person.
• Providers offering live or distance learning must comply with accreditation and reporting rules under Georgia’s CLE regulations.

Key Takeaway

Georgia mandates 12 CLE credits annually but does not impose a minimum in-person classroom requirement — attorneys may fulfill all credits through approved online or live formats.

Yes — in Georgia you can report CLE late under a “grace period” extension, though you may incur late fees and face noncompliance status after certain deadlines. The Georgia CLE rules grant an automatic grace period until March 31 for making up and reporting CLE credits.

Details — Georgia CLE Late Reporting Terms:

• Georgia attorneys must complete required CLE by December 31 and submit their annual report by January 31.
• A grace period until March 31 exists during which attorneys can cure CLE deficiencies and correct reporting without full penalty.
• If your CLE remains deficient after March 31, you may incur a $100 late fee; further late fees (e.g. additional $150) may apply if still noncompliant by later deadlines such as September 30.
• Failure to cure or report properly may lead to referral for disciplinary action or listing as noncompliant.

Key Takeaway
Yes — Georgia allows late CLE reporting within a grace period (through March 31), but late fees and noncompliance consequences apply if you delay beyond those cure windows.

You may begin reporting CLE credits in Georgia once the prior calendar year closes on December 31, since the reporting system opens immediately for review and submission.
All attorneys must then finalize and file their Annual CLE Report by January 31.

Key Details

• Georgia attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours per year, including 1 hour of ethics and 1 hour of professionalism.
• After December 31, you can log into the CLE system to review credits reported by providers.
• The Annual CLE Report must be submitted by January 31 of the following year.
• If any courses are missing, you may file supporting documentation or request corrections before the deadline.
• Sprout Education reports attendance to the Georgia CLE Board within 30 days of course completion, so your credits typically appear soon after year-end.

Key Takeaway: In Georgia, you can start reporting credits as soon as the calendar year ends on December 31, with final submission due by January 31.

Attorneys in Georgia certify CLE compliance via an annual affidavit/report submitted to the Georgia Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency (CCLC). CLE providers must report attendance to the CCLC, and the Bar mails attorneys an Annual Report which they confirm by January 31.

Key Details:

• CCLC sends each attorney an Annual Report of CLE attendance in early January.
• Attorneys review the report and submit corrections or affirm compliance by January 31.
• Providers and CLE sponsors submit attendance and reporting data—Sprout Education reports course completions to CCLC within 30 days of each course.
• Excess credits allowable for carryover: up to 12 general, 2 ethics, 2 professionalism, 3 trial credits.
• If you fail to report by the deadline or correct errors, you may incur late fees or noncompliance actions.

Key Takeaway: In Georgia, CLE reporting is handled via an annual CCLC affidavit/input through the Annual Report, with attorneys required to confirm or correct by January 31.

Members whose status is inactive for the entire calendar year in Georgia are exempt from the annual CLE requirement.

If a member is reinstated to active status, they must complete all CLE obligations due for that year before they resume full privileges.

Details:

• A Georgia attorney must stay in inactive status for the entire year to qualify for exemption from CLE.
• Georgia’s CLE exemption list explicitly includes members “who are inactive (on their dues status … for the entire calendar year).”
• Upon reactivating, the attorney must satisfy any CLE obligations for that calendar year.
• Any change to inactive status during the year does not permit partial exemption; the full year must be inactive to count.

Key Takeaway:
In Georgia, an attorney must remain inactive for the full calendar year to skip CLE; resuming active status triggers a requirement to catch up on CLE before practicing again.