How do I report CLE credits in Arkansas?

The grace period for CLE reporting in Arkansas extends from June 30 to July 31 each year. This gives attorneys a one-month window to certify compliance after completing required credits.

Arkansas CLE Deadlines

• June 30: Deadline to complete all required CLE hours.
• July 31: Deadline to report or certify CLE completion.

What Happens After the Grace Period

• Failure to report by July 31 may trigger a deficiency notice.
• If not remedied in the time allowed, attorneys risk administrative penalties or suspension.

Key Takeaway: Arkansas gives attorneys until July 31 to report CLE earned by June 30 — missing that grace month can lead to compliance consequences.

Yes – Arkansas allows attorneys to carry over up to 12 CLE credits to the next reporting period, including up to 1 ethics credit.

This limit and the ethics carryover cap are established by the Arkansas Supreme Court’s Rules for Minimum Continuing Legal Education and the CLE Board’s Regulations.

• Amount permitted: up to 12 total credits may carry over to the immediately following reporting period.
• Ethics: within the 12, up to 1 ethics credit may carry over.
• Scope: carryover applies only to the next reporting period and does not continue beyond that single period.

Key Takeaway
Arkansas permits carryover of up to 12 credits – with no more than 1 ethics credit – to the next period only.

Arkansas attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours per year, including at least 1 hour in ethics.
The reporting period runs July 1 through June 30, and attorneys must file by July 31.

Details
• Total required: 12 credits annually.
• Ethics: At least 1 hour must be in ethics.
• Carryover: Attorneys may carry over up to 12 credits (including 1 ethics) into the next cycle.
• Exemptions: Attorneys or judges aged 70 or with 40 years of licensure are exempt.
• Speaking credits: Solo speakers get 4 hours credit for each hour presented (first time); repeat presentations get 2 hours. Panelists with prepared materials get 3 hours.

Key Takeaway: Arkansas requires 12 CLE hours each year, including 1 hour of ethics, with carryover and speaker credit rules, and some age/licensure exemptions.

You can report CLE credits in Arkansas as soon as the reporting portal opens after the compliance year ends (June 30).
The reporting window typically opens in July and remains open until the reporting deadline on July 31.

Key Details

• Arkansas’s CLE compliance year runs July 1 through June 30.
• All required credits must be completed by June 30.
• The official reporting deadline is July 31.
• Attorneys should verify their CLE records and ensure all provider-reported and self-reported credits are ready before filing.
• If there is a deficiency, attorneys may be required to submit a deficiency form or make up the hours according to Arkansas CLE rules.

Key Takeaway: In Arkansas, you may begin reporting your CLE soon after June 30 when the reporting system opens, and you must file by July 31 of that year.

No — Arkansas’s CLE rules do not distinguish between part-time and full-time attorneys; all nonexempt attorneys must satisfy the same requirement.

Arkansas requires every attorney (unless exempt by age or years of service) to complete 12 hours of CLE annually, including at least one hour of ethics.

Details:

• Rule 3 of the Arkansas Rules for Minimum Continuing Education mandates 12 credit hours per year, with no reduced requirement for part-time practitioners.
• Exemptions exist for attorneys aged 70 or with 40 years of licensure, but those exemptions are not tied to workload or part-time status.
• All CLE hours must be approved by the Arkansas CLE Board.
• The reporting period ends June 30 each year.

Key Takeaway: Arkansas imposes uniform CLE obligations regardless of whether an attorney practices part-time or full-time.

Yes. Arkansas exempts attorneys from CLE if they are age 70 or have completed 40 years of Arkansas licensure. Active attorneys otherwise must complete 12 hours annually, including 1 hour of ethics.

Examples: an attorney who turns 70 is exempt from CLE going forward, and an attorney who reaches 40 years of licensure is exempt. The Arkansas Supreme Court’s Rules for Minimum Continuing Legal Education and the Bar’s CLE FAQ confirm these exemptions.

Key Takeaway: In Arkansas, attorneys are exempt from CLE once they reach age 70 or complete 40 years of licensure; all other active attorneys must comply with the state’s annual CLE requirement.

Exemptions in Arkansas

• Age 70: Attorneys or judges who reach 70 no longer need CLE.
• 40 Years of Licensure: Attorneys licensed for 40 years in Arkansas are exempt.
• Active Attorneys: All other active attorneys must complete 12 CLE hours each year, including 1 ethics credit.