How early can I report CLE credits in Tennessee?

Tennessee provides a reporting grace window through March 31 following the December 31 CLE deadline. Attorneys who miss December 31 may still complete required CLE and submit their affidavit by March 31 to avoid suspension.

Tennessee CLE Timeline

• December 31: Deadline to complete all required CLE hours.
• January 1: $100 noncompliance fee is assessed for attorneys who did not complete CLE.
• March 31: Last date to file an exemption or affidavit remedying deficiencies and to pay the noncompliance fee.

After March 31

• Attorneys still noncompliant by May 31 incur additional “continuing noncompliance” fees if deficiencies or fees remain uncorrected.
• On July 1, the Commission prepares a draft suspension order for attorneys who failed to remedy noncompliance by May 31.

Key Takeaway: Tennessee effectively offers a grace period through March 31 after year-end to cure CLE deficiencies and submit compliance, but failure to act by that date can lead to more severe fees and suspension actions.

Tennessee attorneys must complete 15 CLE credit hours per year, including 3 hours in ethics.

The CLE reporting cycle is the calendar year (January 1 to December 31), with reporting due by March 31.

Details

• Breakdown: 12 hours general + 3 hours ethics.
• Carryover: Up to 15 hours (including 3 ethics) may be carried forward to the next year.
• Delivery: All hours—live, webcast, or distance learning—are eligible without limitation under current rule.
• Reporting: Credits should be reported when earned (or as soon thereafter as practical), but no later than one year from date earned.
• Noncompliance: If CLE is not completed by December 31, a non-completion notice goes out around March 31, with the attorney given until May 31 to cure deficiencies.
• Special credit types: Teaching, bar exam service, pro bono, and other activities may yield CLE credit under specific caps (e.g. teaching materials with ≥ 5 pages gives 4 credits per presentation hour).

Key Takeaway: Tennessee requires 15 CLE hours annually (3 ethics), allows full flexibility in delivery, offers carryover, and enforces a grace cure period after reporting.

You report CLE credits in Tennessee by submitting the Annual Report Statement to the Tennessee Commission on CLE by March 31 (or, if claiming an exemption, by that date), certifying that you completed the required credits by December 31.
The CLE year is calendar (January 1 – December 31), and all attorneys must earn 15 credit hours (including 3 in ethics/professionalism) under Rule 21 of the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Overview of Tennessee CLE Reporting

• Under Supreme Court Rule 21, attorneys must earn 15 CLE hours annually, of which 3 must be ethics/professionalism (“EP”) credits.
• CLE providers must submit attendance lists and pay reporting fees within 30 days of the program.
• The Commission sends each attorney an Annual Report Statement (paper or electronic) by February 28.
• Attorneys must complete and deliver the Report Statement by March 31, either showing compliance, claiming an exemption, or filing a substitute program request.
• If compliance is late, noncompliance fees apply and attorneys may cure the deficiency via a late filing or affidavit by May 31.
• Attorneys may carry forward up to 15 excess hours (including EP) into the next compliance year.

Steps to Report CLE in Tennessee

• Complete your 15 CLE hours (with 3 ethics) by December 31.
• Keep your certificates, attendance records, provider information, and agendas.
• Confirm that providers submitted your attendance to the Commission within 30 days.
• Around February, you will receive the Annual Report Statement from the CLE Commission.
• Fill out and return the Report by March 31, indicating compliance or claiming exemption or substitution, and pay any fees due.
• If your Report shows noncompliance, cure by filing an affidavit or making up the CLE plus paying the noncompliance fee by May 31.
• If you earned credits through Sprout Education, ensure we’ve submitted your attendance (when permitted) and that your certificates support your filing.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, you complete 15 CLE hours by December 31, then submit the Annual Report Statement by March 31. Sprout Education supports attendance reporting where allowed, but verifying credits and meeting deadlines is your responsibility.

No — Tennessee’s CLE rules do not distinguish between part-time and full-time attorneys; all covered attorneys must meet the same requirement (unless exempted by age, nonpractice, or other status).

Under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21, every attorney who is required to comply must complete 15 hours of CLE annually, including 3 hours in Ethics/Professionalism and 12 hours of General credit.

Details:

• All required hours may be earned via in-person or distance learning formats, with no mandatory live minimum.
• Carryover is allowed: up to 15 hours (12 General + 3 Ethics/Professionalism) may be carried into the next compliance year.
• Exemptions exist (for example, attorneys aged 70 or older, nonresidents not practicing in Tennessee, full-time law school professors not practicing) but these are status-based, not based on part-time vs full-time practice.
• The Commission may grant “Exceptional Relief” (waivers, extensions, hardship) in individual cases.

Key Takeaway: Tennessee’s CLE obligation is the same for part-time and full-time attorneys — the 15-hour requirement applies uniformly unless an attorney qualifies for a status exemption or relief.

If you miss Tennessee’s CLE deadline, you’ll face noncompliance fees ($100 initially, rising to $200) and risk suspension if you don’t establish compliance by the mid-year deadline. Attorneys must earn their CLE hours by December 31 and file their Annual Report Statement (or Affidavit of Compliance) by March 31.

Tennessee CLE Deadlines & Reporting

• December 31: Deadline to earn required CLE hours.
• March 31: Deadline to submit the ARS or claim exemption; noncompliant attorneys then incur a $100 noncompliance fee.
• June 1: Deadline to establish compliance (report hours or file affidavit) before the $200 continuing noncompliance penalty is imposed.
• August 10: Last day to file compliance records to avoid inclusion on the Supreme Court suspension order.

Penalties, Suspension & Reinstatement

• A $100 noncompliance fee is assessed to attorneys who remain noncompliant after March 31.
• If noncompliance persists, a $200 continuing noncompliance penalty is imposed as of June 1.
• By July 1, a draft suspension order is submitted to the Supreme Court for noncompliant attorneys.
• If the attorney fails to file compliance by August 10, the Supreme Court may enter a final suspension order; active attorneys are charged a $500 suspension fee.
• To reinstate, the attorney must complete all deficient CLE hours, pay all fees, and file proof of compliance.
• An attorney may request waiver of noncompliance or suspension fees if they can show exceptional relief.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, missing your CLE deadline triggers stepped penalties and deadlines — from a $100 fee to a $200 continuing penalty — culminating in referral for suspension unless you timely cure your deficiency, pay fees, and file proof of compliance.

The CLE reporting deadline in Tennessee is March 31 following the December 31 compliance year.

Attorneys must complete 15 CLE hours (including 3 ethics) by December 31 and then report compliance by March 31.

Tennessee CLE Reporting Rules

• Compliance deadline: December 31 each year
• Reporting deadline: March 31 for submission of the Annual Report Statement
• Reporting period: One year (January 1 – December 31)
• Carryover: Up to 15 CLE credits may carry over to the next year
• Late fees / noncompliance: Attorneys who fail to report by March 31 may incur a $100 non-completion fee and face suspension under Rule 21

Key Takeaway: Complete your CLE by December 31 in Tennessee, and report it by March 31.