How many CLE hours are required every reporting cycle in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin attorneys must complete 30 CLE credit hours every two years, including 3 hours in ethics.

At least 15 hours of the required 30 must be earned through “live” formats (in-person, live webcast, interactive programs).

Details

• Reporting cycle: two years, aligned with year of admission (even-year admittees comply in even years; odd-year admittees in odd years).

• Ethics requirement: 3 of the 30 hours must address ethics / professional responsibility.

• Live minimum: 15 hours must be in a live/interactive format.

• On-demand cap: No more than 15 hours per reporting period may come from recorded / on-demand programs.

• Carryover: Lawyers may carry over up to 15 excess credits into the next reporting period; ethics hours cannot be carried over.

• Pro bono credit: You may claim 1 general CLE hour for every 5 hours of qualifying pro bono legal service, up to 6 hours per reporting period.

• Exemption for new attorneys: Attorneys are exempt from CLE in the year of admission.

Key Takeaway: Wisconsin attorneys must complete 30 CLE hours every two years, with 3 ethics hours, live and on-demand limits, carryover rules, and a pro bono credit option.

You report CLE credits in Wisconsin by filing CLE Form 1 (Report of Compliance) electronically with the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) by February 1 following your reporting period’s December 31 deadline.
Wisconsin lawyers complete 30 CLE credits every two years (including 3 ethics credits) and then certify compliance via the BBE’s CLE Reporting Website.

Overview of Wisconsin CLE Reporting

• The reporting period ends December 31 of the year matching your admission parity (even-admitted attorneys report in even years, odd-admitted in odd years).
• All CLE hours must be earned by December 31; you then have until February 1 to submit your report.
• At least 3 credits must be in legal ethics/professional responsibility, and those ethics credits must be in “live” formats (live classes, webinars, etc.), not on-demand.
• A maximum of 15 credits may be earned via on-demand programs in a reporting period.
• You may carry forward up to 15 excess credits (excluding ethics) into your next reporting period.
• Except in the year of admission (when attorneys are exempt), all active lawyers must report.

Steps to Report CLE in Wisconsin

1. Complete your 30 CLE credits (including 3 ethics) by December 31 of your reporting period.
2. Retain all certificates, agendas, provider names, dates, and any approval notices.
3. Log into the Wisconsin CLE Reporting Website (through the BBE’s site).
4. Use the “Add Course Hours” feature to search and add BBE-approved courses you attended.
5. If a course is not listed or is out-of-state, use the “Self-Report,” “GPA Self Report,” or “Out-of-State Self Report” links and, if needed, complete CLE Form 2 (Request for Approval) for that course.
6. If you’re claiming an exemption (non-practice in Wisconsin, waiver, or comity), use the appropriate link (Attendance Exemption, Attendance Waiver, Comity Exemption).
7. After entering all courses, go to “Summary / Submit,” electronically sign by entering your PIN, and submit CLE Form 1 (Report of Compliance).
8. The system timestamps your submission; after submission, you cannot change the report for that period.
9. If audited later, be ready to provide your supporting documentation (certificates, etc.).
10. If you earned credits through Sprout Education, ensure those attendance records are entered or approved before you certify your report.

Key Takeaway: In Wisconsin, you must complete 30 CLE credits (including 3 in live ethics) every two years by December 31, then electronically submit CLE Form 1 to the BBE by February 1. Sprout Education ensures your attendance is properly documented; you must still enter or approve courses and certify compliance on time.

Yes — judges in Wisconsin are subject to a distinct judicial education (CJE / JE) requirement that operates alongside, and separate from, the CLE obligations for attorneys.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule Chapter 32 establishes a continuing judicial education program that requires justices, appellate judges, circuit judges, commissioners, and municipal judges to earn credits over multi-year periods.

Details

• Under SCR Chapter 32, circuit court judges must attend the Wisconsin Judicial College at least once in every six-year term.
• The Office of Judicial Education administers the system: justices, appellate judges, circuit court judges and circuit court commissioners must earn 60 credits of approved judicial education during each six-year period.
• Reserve judges, municipal judges, and circuit court commissioners have analogous continuing judicial education requirements.
• The attorney CLE regime under SCR Chapter 31 requires attorneys (not judges) to complete 30 hours in a two-year period.
• Judicial education credits are tracked, approved, and reported separately from attorney CLE credits via the Judicial Education Office.

Key Takeaway

In Wisconsin, judges must satisfy a separate continuing judicial education program (60 credits per six years, plus orientation and periodic Judicial College attendance), distinct from the statewide CLE requirement imposed on attorneys.

In Wisconsin, CLE “counts” when the activity is approved by the Board of Bar Examiners under SCR Chapter 31 and meets format and content rules (e.g. live, on-demand, teaching, writing).

Wisconsin lawyers must earn 30 credit hours every two years, including 3 hours in Ethics..

Approved CLE Activities & Formats

• Live or interactive programs (in-person, live webcasts, telephone seminars) — required for ethics credits.
• On-demand / prerecorded (repeated on-demand) CLE programs — limited by rule (no more than 15 credits per reporting period) and cannot satisfy ethics/EPR credits.
• Teaching or presenting approved CLE, including preparation (subject to multiplier)
• Published legal writing: attorneys may request credit using CLE Form 4; maximum 15 credits for all writings in one reporting period.
• Other permissible roles (e.g. preparation, course development) if approved under SCR 31.07

Rules, Limits, Carryover & Reporting

• At least 15 of the 30 credits must come through live or interactive formats.
• Ethics/EPR credits (3 hours) must be earned through live or interactive formats — not by on-demand programs.
• Up to 15 excess credits may be carried forward into the next reporting period (ethics credits do not carry forward).
• Courses not already approved may be submitted for post-approval via CLE Form 2.
• The reporting deadline is February 1 following the end of the two-year cycle.
• New attorneys are exempt from attendance and reporting in the year of admission.

Key Takeaway: In Wisconsin, you fulfill CLE by completing approved live or on-demand programs (capped), teaching, or writing—with a firm requirement for live ethics hours, and carryover of non-ethics excess credits under SCR 31.

No — Wisconsin’s CLE rules do not require a specific number of in-person classroom hours.

The rules require a total of 30 approved CLE hours per reporting period, with limits on recorded formats, but no dedicated “in-person only” minimum.

Details

• Under SCR 31.02, attorneys must complete 30 hours of approved CLE during each two-year reporting period.
• SCR 31.05(5)(a) limits how many hours may come from recorded/on-demand programs, but does not require any to be in person.
• “Attendance” under the rule includes live virtual or interactive formats, not just physical classroom programs.
• The Board of Bar Examiners may approve electronic or recorded courses when they meet interactivity and accreditation standards.

Key Takeaway

Wisconsin requires 30 total CLE hours every two years and places caps on non-live formats, but it does not impose a strict in-person classroom minimum.

Inactive attorneys in Wisconsin are exempt from fulfilling CLE requirements.

When transferring back to active status, they may need to complete CLE catch-up depending on how long they remained inactive.

Details

• Wisconsin’s membership rules designate inactive members as those who request the status and are not engaged in law practice; inactive members are not subject to the CLE requirement.
• Upon requesting reinstatement to active status, Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule 31.03 requires compliance with the CLE Rules (SCR Chapter 31) for the reporting period in which they reactivate.
• For attorneys inactive less than 2 years, the catch-up is 30 CLE hours (including 3 ethics) before resuming active status.
• For attorneys inactive more than 2 years, the CLE catch-up can be 60 hours (including 3 ethics) before reactivation.
• CLE requirements for reactivation cannot exceed what would have been required if the attorney had remained active.

Key Takeaway

In Wisconsin, inactive status relieves you of CLE duties—but returning to practice requires meeting CLE catch-up rules aligned with SCR 31 and the period of inactivity.