What happens if I miss the CLE deadline in Oregon?

Oregon does not have a traditional “grace period” after the reporting deadline. Attorneys must complete all CLE credits by midnight on April 30 of their reporting period and certify compliance by May 31 — failure to timely comply results in a $200 fine.

The OSB’s MCLE FAQ states: “If an extension is not granted and the CLE credits are not completed by midnight on April 30th … a $200 fine will be assessed.”

Key Takeaway

In Oregon, attorneys have until April 30 to finish CLE and until May 31 to report compliance — there is no additional cure grace period beyond those dates.

No — Oregon’s MCLE rules do not provide a separate reduced requirement for part-time attorneys; all active Oregon attorneys must satisfy the same MCLE threshold.

Oregon requires every active attorney to complete 45 “accredited CLE” credit hours in each three-year reporting period.

Details:

• The MCLE rules (OSB MCLE Rules) do not include a provision that lessens the credit hours based on how many hours one practices.
• Newly admitted attorneys have a special first reporting period requirement: 15 credits including 9 hours of practical skills (4 of which must be Oregon practice/procedure), 2 ethics, 1 mental health/substance abuse, and 3 hours in access to justice.
• The subject-matter distribution includes mandatory credits in ethics, access to justice, mental health/substance abuse, and reporting of child abuse / elder abuse.
• There is carryover of a limited number of credits into the next reporting period (with restrictions).
• Compliance is self-reported by attorneys in their MCLE reporting cycle.

Key Takeaway: In Oregon, part-time vs full-time practice imposes no different MCLE burden — all active attorneys must meet the full 45-credit requirement (with the same rules and subject distributions).

Yes – you can report CLE credits late in Oregon, but you may face a fine and possible suspension if you miss the reporting deadline. Oregon allows limited extensions in hardship cases, but failure to comply results in penalties.

In Oregon, CLE credits must be completed by April 30 of the reporting year, and the compliance report must be submitted by May 31. Missing these dates without an approved extension triggers a $200 fine and can lead to administrative suspension effective August 1. Attorneys may request an extension for serious hardship, but credits and reporting must still ultimately be completed.

Key Takeaway: You can report CLE credits late in Oregon, but fines and suspension risk make timely compliance critical.

In Oregon, you cannot formally “report” your CLE compliance until after your reporting period ends. Credits must be earned by April 30, and you have until May 31 to submit your report.

During the year, credits you earn are recorded (by providers to your transcript), but your own submission (certification) only becomes available after April 30.

Key Details

• Oregon attorneys must complete 45 CLE credit hours over a three-year period.
• All credits must be completed by midnight on April 30 of the final year in your cycle.
• The reporting period opens (for you to certify) May 1 and runs through May 31.
• Providers forward attendance/credit records (typically within 30 days) to the Bar so your transcript is updated before you certify.

Key Takeaway
In Oregon, your formal reporting window opens on May 1 — after the period ends April 30 — though course credits are tracked continuously via provider submissions.

In Oregon, CLE credit counts when earned from accredited continuing legal education activities as defined by the Oregon State Bar’s MCLE rules (Rules of Licensure Ch. 8).

Attorneys must complete 45 MCLE credits every 3 years, including required hours in ethics, child abuse/elder abuse reporting, mental health/substance use, and periodic access-to-justice training.

Approved activities that count

• Attendance at Bar-accredited CLE programs: live, webinars, teleconferences, and recorded formats (no cap on distance learning).
• University or law-school courses: credit awarded at the rate of 1 CEH per 50-minute class period or via semester/quarter conversion when preapproved.
• Teaching, writing, or service credit: subject to caps, under Category II credit (e.g. teaching CLE, serving on bar committees, pro tem judging).
• Programs with content in required subject areas (ethics, child/elder abuse reporting, mental health/substance use, access to justice) count toward those mandates.

Limits, special requirements & carryover

• At least 5 credits must be in ethics per reporting period.
• At least 1 credit must cover the statutory duty to report child abuse and elder abuse.
• At least 1 credit must address mental health, substance abuse, or cognitive impairment.
• In alternate reporting periods, attorneys must complete 3 hours of access-to-justice (elimination of bias / public service) programming.
• There is no limit on the number of credits earned via distance learning (recorded or live web formats).
• Carryover: up to 15 excess credits may be carried forward to the next cycle; of those, up to 6 ethics credits can count toward the next cycle’s ethics requirement.
• Newly admitted attorneys have a special requirement in their first reporting period: 15 credits, including 9 practical skills (4 in Oregon practice and procedure), 2 ethics (1 Oregon-specific), 1 mental health/substance use, and a 3-credit introductory access-to-justice course.
• Credit is computed per 50-minute instruction period (often converted to 1 CEH).
• Courses or activities (workshops, volunteer roles, independent education) not fitting standard formats must be preapproved by the bar for credit.

Key Takeaway: In Oregon, attorneys earn CLE via accredited live or recorded programs, university courses, teaching, writing, and service—subject to required credit allocations in ethics, abuse reporting, mental health, and access to justice—with full allowance for online learning and limited carryover.

Oregon attorneys must complete 45 MCLE credits every three years.

Oregon’s MCLE cycle includes mandated credits in ethics, access to justice, mental health/substance abuse, and abuse reporting.

Details

• Total required: 45 credits per 3-year period.

• Specialty credits required:
 – 5 in ethics
 – 1 in child/elder abuse reporting
 – 1 in mental health / substance abuse
 – 3 in access to justice / elimination of bias (in alternate cycles)

• New admittee requirement: In their first reporting period, attorneys must complete 15 credits, including 9 in practical skills (4 in Oregon practice), 2 in ethics (1 Oregon ethics), 1 in mental health/substance abuse, and 3 in access to justice.

• Carryover: Up to 15 credits may be carried forward; ethics credits may carry over to satisfy the ethics requirement, but abuse reporting and access to justice credits carry only as general credits.

• Deadline & reporting: Credits must be earned by midnight on April 30 of the last year of your reporting period; compliance reports are due by May 31.

Key Takeaway: Oregon requires 45 credits every three years, with specified quotas in ethics, abuse reporting, access to justice, and mental health, and provisions for new admittees and carryovers.