How do I report CLE credits in Washington?

Washington attorneys must complete 45 CLE (MCLE) credits every three years. That includes at least 15 credits in law & legal procedure and 6 credits in ethics, and as of 2023 one ethics credit must be on equity/inclusion/bias mitigation.

Cycle & Deadlines

• Reporting period: 3 years (varies by group)
• Credits must be completed by December 31 of the final year of the cycle
• Certification/reporting deadline: February 1 of the year following the cycle

Credit Subcategories & Carryover

• Minimum required: 15 law & legal procedure credits
• Ethics/Professional Responsibility: at least 6 credits, of which at least 1 must focus on equity, inclusion, and bias mitigation
• Carryover: up to 15 excess credits may carry into the next reporting period, including up to 2 ethics credits

New Admittees & Special Rules

• Newly admitted attorneys are exempt from MCLE in the year of admission and the following calendar year
• All approved credits (live, recorded, teaching, mentoring, pro bono, etc.) may be applied so long as they comply with WSBA rules

Key Takeaway: Washington requires 45 CLE credits every three years, with minimums in law & procedure and ethics (including an equity-focused ethics credit), and allows up to 15 credits to carry forward.

Washington attorneys must complete 45 MCLE credit hours every three years, including 6 hours in ethics (with at least 1 hour addressing equity, inclusion, and bias).

Of those 45, at least 15 must be law & legal procedure credits.

Details

• Compliance period: three years; credits must be earned by December 31 of the final year and certified by February 1.

• Ethics: 6 credit hours in ethics/professional responsibility are required; beginning with the 2023-2025 cycle, at least 1 of those must cover equity, inclusion, and mitigation of bias.

• Law & legal procedure: At least 15 credits must be in law & legal procedure topics.

• Carryover: Attorneys may carry over up to 15 excess credits (maximum of 2 ethics credits) into the next reporting period.

• Daily cap: No more than 8 credit hours can be earned in a single day.

• Delivery: As of January 1, 2016, there is no requirement that any of the credits be live; all 45 may come from approved on-demand or recorded formats.

• New admittees: Lawyers are exempt from MCLE reporting in their admission year and the immediately following calendar year.

Key Takeaway: Washington requires 45 CLE credits every three years, with specific ethics and law-procedure quotas, generous carryover, a daily cap, and full flexibility in format.

The grace period for CLE reporting in Washington runs until February 1 after the December 31 deadline. Attorneys must complete credits by December 31, but they have until February 1 to certify compliance before late fees or suspension apply.

Key Deadlines:

• Credits must be completed by December 31 of the reporting cycle.
• Certification (reporting) is allowed until February 1 of the following year.

Consequences of Missing the Grace Period:

• A late fee applies if certification is not completed by February 1.
• Continued failure may result in administrative suspension until certification is completed.

Key Takeaway: Washington attorneys effectively get one extra month to certify CLE compliance, but missing February 1 risks penalties.

In Washington, you can begin entering CLE credits into your MCLE transcript as soon as you complete a qualifying activity (especially for courses that require self-reporting). Providers and attorneys may submit credits before the end of the cycle.

However, you cannot formally certify your CLE compliance until after the reporting period ends (December 31). The deadline to certify your credits is February 1 of the following year.

Key Details

• Washington attorneys must complete 45 MCLE credit hours every three years.
• All credits must be earned by December 31 of the final year of the reporting period.
• You must submit your certification (attestation) by February 1 of the year after the period ends.
• Washington’s Online MCLE system allows attorneys to add or self-report credits (e.g. for recorded courses) before cycle close.
• If credits exceed 45 in a cycle, you may carry over up to 15 credits (and up to 2 ethics) into the next reporting period.
• The rules (APR 11) also require at least 1 ethics credit in the area of equity/inclusion in each cycle starting with 2023-2025.

Key Takeaway
In Washington, CLE credits may be entered any time during the reporting period, but formal certification is only permitted after December 31, with a deadline of February 1 to certify compliance.

No — Washington’s MCLE rules do not distinguish between part-time and full-time attorneys; all who are required to comply must satisfy the same credit requirement.

Washington’s MCLE requirements call for 45 credit hours over each three-year reporting period, including 15 in law & legal procedure and 6 in ethics (one of which must address equity/inclusion).

Details:

• Credits may be earned through live or self-study formats; there is no reduction based on how many hours one actually practices.
• Up to 15 excess credits (with up to 2 in ethics) may carry forward to the next period.
• New admittees are exempt from reporting in their admission year.
• The rules apply equally to all active lawyers, without workload-based adjustments.

Key Takeaway: Washington holds all practicing attorneys to the same 45-credit, three-year MCLE requirement — there is no lighter standard for part-time practice.

Yes — Washington permits late reporting of CLE credits (after the February 1 certification deadline), but doing so triggers a late fee (starting at $150) and continued noncompliance may lead to administrative suspension.

Under APR 11 and WSBA MCLE rules, attorneys must complete credits by December 31 of the reporting period and certify by February 1; certification or credit-completion after those dates is accepted with a late-filing fee.

Detailed Explanation

• Under Washington’s MCLE rules, all credits must be earned by December 31 of the last year of the 3-year reporting period, and certification must be filed by February 1 of the following year.
• If credits or certification are submitted late (i.e. after the February 1 deadline or credits completed after December 31), a late fee is assessed.
• The standard late fee is $150, and that fee increases by $300 for each consecutive late reporting period you delay.
• If you fail to comply (complete credits and certify, and pay late fees) for the period, you may be administratively suspended from practice under WSBA/MCLE enforcement mechanisms.
• WSBA provides for waivers or modifications of the requirements (including the late fee) upon showing of undue hardship (such as serious illness, financial hardship, or military service).
• For CLE sponsors, attendance must be reported within 30 days of the activity; failure to do so triggers a $50 late attendance fee (though this is a different kind of “late reporting” from attorney certification).

Key Takeaway
You can report CLE credits late in Washington, but expect to pay a late-filing fee (at least $150) and face possible suspension if you fail to cure the deficiency.