How do I report CLE credits in North Dakota?

You may begin having CLE credits reported in North Dakota as you complete programs — providers or you (if self-reporting) may submit credit information before the compliance period ends.

However, your formal certification (“Report of Compliance”) can only be filed after your three-year period concludes (by June 30), with the reporting deadline on July 31.

Key Details

• North Dakota attorneys must complete 36 hours of approved CLE every 3 years, including 3 hours in ethics.
• A Report of Compliance must be filed with the Commission by July 31 following the June 30 end of the reporting period.
• Reporting groups are staggered so attorneys are assigned to one of three three-year cycles ending June 30, with reporting due July 31 of the ending year.
• You may submit (“report”) individual course credit (especially out-of-state or nonapproved credits) concurrently as they are completed, and then list them in your compliance report.

Key Takeaway
In North Dakota, CLE credits may be reported continuously throughout the compliance period as you complete them, but your formal compliance certification can be filed only after the period ends (by July 31 following June 30).

North Dakota attorneys report CLE compliance by filing a Report of Compliance with the State Bar by July 31 after completing credits by June 30. The report must include certificates and show 36 total hours over three years, including 3 ethics hours.

Key Details:

• The compliance cycle is three years, with attorneys assigned to staggered groups.
• Credits must be completed by June 30; the compliance report is due July 31.
• The Report of Compliance lists each course and includes attached certificates of attendance.
• Attorneys may claim no more than 24 hours of self-study, and up to 12 excess hours may carry forward (excluding ethics).

Key Takeaway: North Dakota attorneys must file a Report of Compliance with supporting certificates by July 31, documenting 36 hours every three years.

North Dakota attorneys must complete 36 CLE credit hours every three years, including 3 hours in ethics.

At least 12 hours must be earned through live or interactive programs, and no more than 24 hours may be via self-study.

Details

• Reporting cycle: 3 years, ending June 30.
• Deadline: CLE must be completed by June 30, and compliance must be reported by July 31.
• Self-study cap: Up to 24 hours may come from self-study (on-demand, recorded) each cycle.
• Carryover: Up to 12 excess credit hours (non-ethics) may be carried forward to the next cycle.
• Ethics carryover: No ethics hours may be carried over.

Key Takeaway: North Dakota requires 36 CLE hours every three years, with 3 ethics hours, a live minimum of 12, a self-study cap of 24, and limited carryover of general credits.

Yes — North Dakota requires attorneys to complete a minimum number of “live” (in-person or interactive) CLE credits in each reporting period.

Under current rules, attorneys must earn at least 12 credit hours in live programs, and the remainder may be taken by self-study (recorded or asynchronous) within set limits.

Details

• The total CLE requirement is 36 credit hours every 3 years, including 3 hours in ethics/professional responsibility.
• Attorneys may earn up to 24 credit hours via self-study formats.
• The “live” hours may include in-person courses, live webinars, or other synchronous formats with interactivity.
• There is no requirement that all live hours must be in traditional classroom settings — live webinars qualify.

Key Takeaway

North Dakota enforces a live-format minimum: attorneys must earn at least 12 of their 36 CLE hours via live, interactive instruction during each 3-year period.

North Dakota provides a one-month window — reporting compliance must be filed by July 31 after the June 30 CLE completion deadline. There is no automatic extension beyond that; failure to report may lead to a noncompliance notice under Rule 4.2.

North Dakota CLE Deadlines

• June 30: Deadline to complete required CLE credits in the three-year compliance period.
• July 31: Deadline to submit CLE compliance report.

Noncompliance Notice & Cure Period

• Under Rule 4.2, the CLE Board will issue a notice of noncompliance.
• The attorney then has 60 days from the notice to show compliance or request a hearing.

Key Takeaway: In North Dakota, your “grace period” ends July 31 — after June 30 — and if you miss that, you have only 60 days post-notice to cure or respond under Rule 4.2.

No — North Dakota’s CLE rules do not provide a general extension for attorney CLE reporting; the rules require timely reporting and do not include a “petition to extend” provision.

Rules & Reporting in North Dakota

• Under the North Dakota Rules for Continuing Legal Education, attorneys must complete 45 hours of approved CLE in each three-year period.
• Each attorney must file a Report of Compliance by July 30 following the end of the three-year period.
• The rules do not contain a provision for attorneys to request an extension of the reporting deadline.

Failure & Penalty Procedures

• If an attorney fails to satisfy educational requirements, Rule 4 and associated procedures may be triggered.
• For judges, separate judicial education rules explicitly allow the Commission to grant an extension of time for reporting or compliance if “good cause” is shown.

What You Should Do

1. Confirm your CLE compliance period and reporting deadline (three-year cycle).
2. If you believe you won’t meet the deadline, contact the North Dakota CLE Commission promptly—though the rules do not guarantee relief, discretionary accommodation might be possible.
3. Retain documentation of your reason(s) (illness, emergency, etc.).
4. Complete the CLE as soon as possible, understanding that late reporting or noncompliance may trigger discipline.

Limitations & Considerations

• Because there is no formal extension provision, requests may be viewed as outside the established rules.
• Any relief would rest on exceptional circumstances and discretion, not a guaranteed right.
• Noncompliance can result in sanctions, including being declared ineligible to practice.

Key Takeaway
North Dakota does not formally permit extensions of CLE reporting deadlines under its attorney CLE statutes; you must comply or request exceptional relief, which is discretionary and not assured.