How early can I report CLE credits in Vermont?

Vermont allows a grace period until November 15 for attorneys who miss the June 30 CLE deadline, during which they must complete a Makeup Plan and file proof of compliance.

Vermont CLE Deadlines & Grace Period

• June 30: Deadline to complete required credits and certify compliance.
• November 15: Final date to complete the approved Makeup Plan and submit certification.

Makeup Plan & Suspension Risk

• If you miss the June 30 deadline, you must submit a Makeup Plan and pay a $50 plan fee.
• You must complete the deficiency and file certification by November 15.
• Failure to comply by November 15 may lead to administrative suspension until full compliance is shown.

Key Takeaway: Vermont gives attorneys until November 15 to cure CLE deficiencies under a Makeup Plan — that is the functional grace window beyond the standard reporting deadline.

Vermont attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years, including 2 hours in ethics, 1 hour in attorney wellness, and 1 hour in diversity & inclusion.

In their first year, newly admitted Vermont lawyers also must complete 15 credits in Vermont practice & procedure by the end of that year (some may be counted toward the general 24-hour requirement).

Details

• Reporting period: 2 years, ending June 30.
• Specialty credits: 2 hours in ethics; 1 hour in wellness; 1 hour in diversity/inclusion.
• Moderated / interactive requirement: At least 12 credits must be from programs that are moderated or include interactivity.
• Carryover: Credits earned in the second year of the reporting period may carry over.
• First-year requirement: Newly admitted attorneys must complete 15 hours on Vermont practice/procedure within one year of admission; at least 9 of those must come from moderated or interactive programs.

Key Takeaway: Vermont requires 24 CLE hours biennially, with core ethics, wellness, and diversity requirements, interactive content minimums, and a special 15-hour requirement in the first year for new lawyers.

Vermont attorneys self-report CLE by certifying compliance via an online CLE Compliance Form (or licensing renewal statement) by July 1 following the June 30 deadline. Providers submit attendance to the MCLE Board, but attorneys are responsible for ensuring their compliance is certified.

Key Details:

• The CLE period is two years, ending June 30; Vermont attorneys must complete 24 credit hours (including 2 ethics, 1 attorney wellness, 1 diversity & inclusion).
• Reporting is done by certification to the Board—not submission of individual certificates—attorneys check or certify via the licensing/Attorney Portal.
• The Board notifies attorneys before June 1 of the reporting period to complete and certify the CLE requirement or submit a makeup plan.
• Excess credits earned in the second year of a period may carry over to the next period.

Key Takeaway: In Vermont, attorneys certify their CLE compliance (24 credits over 2 years) via a compliance form by July 1 following the June 30 cutoff, while providers report attendance to the CLE Board.

Vermont attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours every two years. That includes at least 2 hours in legal ethics, 1 in attorney wellness, and 1 in diversity and inclusion.

Biennial CLE Requirements in Vermont

• Total requirement: 24 credit hours per two-year period
• Ethics requirement: at least 2 hours
• Attorney wellness requirement: at least 1 hour
• Diversity & inclusion requirement: at least 1 hour
• Moderated programming/interactivity: at least 12 credits must be earned via moderated or interactive formats
• Carryover: credits may carry over from the second year of the reporting period
• Compliance/reporting deadline: June 30 to certify by July 1

New Admittee Requirements

• Newly admitted attorneys must complete 15 hours of Vermont practice & procedure CLE within one year of admission
• At least 9 of those 15 hours must be earned via moderated or interactive programming

Key Takeaway: Vermont requires 24 CLE hours every two years with minimums in ethics, wellness, and diversity, a live/interactive requirement, and special rules for new admittees.

Yes — Vermont mandates a “live program” minimum under its rules: out of the 24 credits required biennially, at least 18 credits must come from moderated programming or non-moderated programming with interactivity.

That leaves a maximum of 6 credits permissible from non-interactive (pure self-study) formats.

Details

• Attorneys on active status must earn 24 MCLE credits every two years.
• Of those 24 credits, at least 18 must be earned via “moderated programming” or “non-moderated programming with interactivity as a key component.”
• Up to 6 credits may be earned via non-interactive (self-study) formats.
• Newly admitted attorneys have additional requirements: they must complete 15 hours of Vermont practice & procedure credits within one year of admission, of which at least 9 hours must be from moderated or interactive programs.
• Courses are categorized and credited based on format (interactive vs non-interactive) under the Vermont Rules for MCLE.

Key Takeaway

Yes — Vermont enforces a live or interactive component: attorneys must earn at least 18 of 24 credits via moderated or interactive formats, with only 6 credits permitted from non-interactive self-study courses.

Yes — Vermont requires that most CLE credits be earned through live or interactive formats. Attorneys must complete 24 CLE hours every two years, of which at least 18 must be from moderated or interactive programming (in person, webcast, teleseminar); only up to 6 may be non-moderated/self-study.

Vermont CLE Format Requirements

• Total requirement: 24 credit hours every two years, including 2 in ethics, 1 in attorney wellness, and 1 in diversity & inclusion.
• Live/interactive minimum: At least 18 hours must be “moderated programming or non-moderated programming with interactivity as a key component” (this includes in-person, live webinars, teleseminars).
• Non-interactive cap: Up to 6 hours may be non-moderated programming without interactivity (i.e. pure self-study).
• First-year attorneys: Of the 15 CLE hours required for new admittees, at least 9 must be from moderated or interactive formats.

Key Takeaway: In Vermont, attorneys cannot satisfy the majority of CLE by pure self-study — at least 18 of 24 hours must be earned via live or interactive formats (which include in-person or live webcast).