How do I report CLE credits in South Carolina?

South Carolina attorneys must complete 14 CLE credit hours annually, including 2 hours in legal ethics.

One hour covering substance abuse, mental health, or stress management is also required at least once every two reporting years.

Details

• Reporting year: March 1 through last day of February; compliance reports and fees due by March 1.
• Ethics: At least 2 of the 14 hours must be devoted to legal ethics/professional responsibility.
• Substance Abuse / Mental Health: At least 1 hour in SA/MH must be completed in each two-year span; that hour counts toward general CLE but not toward the ethics requirement.
• Carryover: Excess credits (up to 14 hours) may carry over to the next year, of which at most 2 hours may be ethics credits.
• Exemptions: Attorneys aged 60+ with 30+ years of admission may apply for exemption; newly admitted attorneys are exempt in their admission reporting year.

Key Takeaway: South Carolina requires 14 CLE hours each year, with 2 in ethics and periodic SA/MH training, carryover allowed up to 14 hours (including up to 2 ethics), and defined exemptions for senior or new lawyers.

South Carolina does not offer a “grace period” after the March 1 reporting deadline. Attorneys must file their annual CLE compliance report by March 1 or incur penalties under Rule 408.

Reporting Year & Deadline

• Reporting year: March 1 through the last day of February.
• Compliance reports must be submitted by March 1, along with the required fees.

Waivers, Not Extensions

• The Commission may waive or modify obligations in cases of hardship or extenuating circumstances.
• However, the rules explicitly state the Commission has no authority to extend the deadline for compliance reporting or automatic suspension.

Key Takeaway: In South Carolina, the deadline for filing CLE compliance is March 1 with no built-in grace period — only conditional waivers may apply for extraordinary circumstances.

You can’t formally “report” your South Carolina CLE credits (i.e. file your annual compliance report) until after the reporting year ends (February 28). The reporting window opens on March 1 (deadline same day).

During the year, approved CLE providers must submit attendance data (within 30 days of the course) so your credits appear in the Commission’s records.

Key Details

• The CLE reporting year runs March 1 through the last day of February. (SCACR Rule 408)
• Active attorneys must complete 14 hours of approved CLE annually, including at least 2 in legal ethics/professional responsibility.
• Course sponsors must file attendance verification within 30 days after the program.
• Your compliance report is due on or before March 1 following the close of the reporting year.
• Late filings may incur penalties, and failure to comply may lead to suspension of your license under Rule 419.

Key Takeaway
In South Carolina, you begin seeing credits in your record shortly after courses occur (as providers report), but the earliest you can formally submit your CLE compliance report is March 1 — after the February 28 reporting year ends.

Attorneys in South Carolina submit an Annual Report of Compliance to the SC Commission on CLE via a commission-prescribed form by March 1 following the reporting year. Providers must file attendance separately within 30 days of each program, and attorneys retain Uniform Certificates of Attendance for audit.

Key Details:

• The CLE reporting year runs March 1 through the last day of February, and attorney compliance reports are due by March 1.
• Providers must report attendee names, South Carolina Bar numbers, and course details to the Commission within 30 days of the program.
• Attorneys receive and may submit Uniform Certificate of Attendance (Appendix C) to claim credit; these certificates must be retained for later verification.
• If an attorney misses March 1, a late filing fee and administrative suspension per Rule 408 may follow.

Key Takeaway: In South Carolina, CLE reporting is through an annual compliance form due March 1, supported by provider attendance submissions and attorney-maintained certificates.

South Carolina attorneys must complete 14 CLE credit hours each reporting year. That requirement includes at least 2 hours in legal ethics, and at least 1 hour of substance abuse/mental health every two years.

Annual CLE Requirements in South Carolina

• Total requirement: 14 credit hours per year
• Ethics requirement: 2 credit hours
• Substance abuse/mental health (SA/MH): 1 hour every two reporting years (part of general credits)
• Compliance cycle: March 1 through end of February
• Reporting deadline: March 1

Carryover & Format Limits

• Excess credits: may carry forward up to 14 credits, of which up to 2 may be ethics (LEPR) credits
• Alternatively delivered courses (online, telephonic) cannot be carried forward
• In each two-year span, the SA/MH credit cannot be carried over

Exemptions & New Admittees

• Newly admitted attorneys are exempt from CLE in the reporting year in which they are admitted
• During their first required reporting year, new attorneys must complete an “Essentials Series” course, which counts toward their MCLE hours

Key Takeaway: South Carolina requires 14 CLE hours annually, with 2 in ethics, a biennial SA/MH hour, carryover up to 14 credits (with limits), and an annual March 1 reporting deadline.

No — in South Carolina, you cannot request a general extension of the CLE reporting deadline; the CLE Commission lacks authority to extend compliance deadlines for Bar members. Rules allow only for waiver or modification of CLE requirements in individual cases of extraordinary hardship or extenuating circumstances.

Overview of South Carolina CLE Rules

• The reporting year runs from March 1 through the last day of February. SCACR Rule 408 requires reports of compliance by March 1.
• For good cause shown — in “extraordinary hardship or extenuating circumstances” — the Commission may waive or modify CLE requirements in individual cases.
• But under the same regulations, “the Commission has no authority to extend the deadlines for compliance reporting, and all requests for such extensions made to the Commission will be denied.”

What You Should Do

1. If you face hardship or extenuating circumstances, apply to the CLE Commission for a waiver or modification (not an extension).
2. In your request, fully describe the circumstances and propose how you will catch up.
3. Be aware that, if a waiver is granted, the Commission may increase your CLE requirement for the following year as a condition.
4. Comply as soon as possible — relief only affects how the rule is applied, not the base obligation.

Limitations & Important Notes

• Waivers or modifications are discretionary — there is no entitlement to relief.
• You cannot use “extension” language — the rule explicitly prohibits extending the compliance deadline for Bar members.
• Relief is only for that reporting year — repeated hardship requests may draw scrutiny.

Key Takeaway
South Carolina does not allow extensions of CLE reporting deadlines for Bar members; only waiver or modification may be granted in rare hardship cases, but the deadline itself cannot be extended.