How many CLE credits do Washington attorneys need?

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.

You report CLE (MCLE) credits in Washington by certifying your compliance via the WSBA MCLE Online System by February 1 following the end of your three-year reporting period.
You must complete all required credits (by December 31 of the final year) and ensure both sponsor-reported and self-reported activities are reflected before certifying.

Overview of Washington MCLE Reporting

• Washington attorneys must complete 45 MCLE credits in every three-year reporting period, including at least 15 credits in law & legal procedure and 6 ethics credits (one of which must be in equity, inclusion & the mitigation of bias for reporting periods 2023–2025 and onward).
• Attorneys are grouped into three reporting groups based on year of admission.
• All credits must be earned by December 31 in the last year of your cycle.
• You must certify (report) your credits by February 1 following that December 31 deadline.
• Sponsor reports: accredited CLE sponsors must submit attendance records (for live, webcast, teleconference events) within 30 days after the event.
• Self-reporting: for on-demand, recorded, or non-sponsor-reported credits, you must enter them yourself via the MCLE Online System (within 30 days of completing the course).
• Carryover: you may carry forward up to 15 credits (including up to 2 ethics credits) into the next reporting period.
• Late filing / noncompliance: failure to complete or certify on time may subject you to late fees or suspension under APR 11 and APR 17.

Steps to Report CLE in Washington

1. During your three-year cycle, complete your 45 credits (including the law, ethics, and equity credits).
2. Retain certificates, agendas, provider information, course IDs, and proof of completion.
3. After December 31 of the cycle’s final year, review your transcript in the MCLE Online System to ensure sponsor-reported credits have posted.
4. Enter any missing credits (especially on-demand or non-sponsor-reported) using the “Add Credit” or “Self-Report” function (within 30 days of course completion).
5. By February 1, log into the MCLE Online System and certify your compliance for that reporting period.
6. If audited, be ready to present supporting documentation (certificates, agendas, etc.).
7. If you earned credits through Sprout Education, confirm that for live or sponsor-reportable courses we submitted attendance; and manually enter non-sponsorable credits before your certification.

Key Takeaway: Washington attorneys must meet 45 credits every three years, ensure all earned credits are posted (via sponsor reporting or self-reporting), and then certify compliance by February 1 following the December 31 deadline. Sprout Education assists reporting where permitted, but verifying and certifying your record is your responsibility.

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.