How many CLE credits do North Dakota attorneys need?

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.

Yes – you can submit CLE compliance online in North Dakota by emailing the Report of Compliance to the ND CLE Commission.

The Report of Compliance is required after each three-year reporting period and must be filed by the post-period deadline.

Details:

• The reporting period ends June 30, and compliance must be reported by July 31.
• A Report of Compliance, in the form set by the Commission, must be filed after each three-year period.
• You may submit the Report of Compliance electronically by email using the Commission’s form instructions.
• Late filings can trigger an additional late filing fee, assessed under the CLE rules.

Key Takeaway: Yes – submit your North Dakota CLE compliance online by emailing the Report of Compliance, and do so by the July 31 deadline following your three-year cycle.

Yes — in North Dakota at least 12 of the 36 required CLE credits in each three-year period must be earned in “live” formats (which include in-person and live webcasts). The remaining credits may come from self-study or prerecorded courses, up to a cap of 24 credits in a period.

CLE Rules in North Dakota

• Total CLE requirement: 36 credit hours every three years, including 3 in ethics.
• Live requirement: minimum of 12 credits must be “live” (in-person seminars or live webcasts).
• Self-study maximum: up to 24 credits may be earned via self-study (recorded, on-demand) programs during each reporting period.
• Carryover: attorneys may carry forward up to 12 excess credits to the next reporting period (excluding ethics credits).

Key Takeaway: North Dakota mandates that a portion of your CLE credits (12 of 36) must be earned live (in person or live webcast); you may use recorded or self-study formats only for the remainder.