What is the grace period for CLE reporting in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania attorneys report CLE through provider-submitted attendance; individual lawyers do not need to file a separate credit report. Providers have 30 days after each activity to submit attendee lists to the Pennsylvania CLE Board, and attorneys are notified of their compliance status before their deadline.

Key Details:

• Approved CLE providers must file attendance reports (written or electronic) within 30 days to the Board.
• The Board issues a “preliminary attendance report” before the compliance deadline and a “final attendance report” afterward.
• If a lawyer disputes the reported attendance, they must notify the Board in writing within 30 days of the report date.
• Attorneys assume compliance if the Board’s report confirms satisfaction of CLE requirements.

Key Takeaway: In Pennsylvania, attorneys rely on CLE providers to report attendance within 30 days, and compliance is determined by the Board’s finalized attendance report—no self-filing is required.

Yes — Pennsylvania requires that 6 of the 12 annual CLE credits be earned via “live-online or in-person/classroom” formats (i.e. synchronous or live courses). The remaining 6 credits may come from prerecorded (asynchronous) distance learning courses, subject to the Board’s limits.

Pennsylvania CLE Format Rules

• Total requirement: 12 credit hours annually, including at least 2 in ethics, professionalism, or substance abuse.
• Live-credit requirement: 6 credits must be live-online or in-person/classroom courses.
• Distance learning cap: Up to 6 credits may be earned through accredited prerecorded/asynchronous programs.
• Carryover: Only credits earned via live (in-person or live-online) courses may carry forward to future compliance periods.

Key Takeaway: In Pennsylvania, attorneys must earn half of their CLE credits through live formats (in-person or synchronous webcasts), and only the other half may be from prerecorded courses — in-person attendance is not required as long as the format is live.

If you miss Pennsylvania’s CLE deadline, you’ll be assessed a $100 late fee and given a cure period to meet your obligations; if noncompliance continues, your name may be submitted to the Supreme Court for administrative suspension. Pennsylvania attorneys complete 12 CLE credits annually and are assigned to one of three compliance groups, each with its own deadline (April 30, August 31, or December 31).

Pennsylvania CLE Deadlines & Reporting

• Compliance deadlines: April 30, August 31, or December 31, depending on your assigned group.
• After missing the deadline: an initial $100 late compliance fee is assessed.
• If still noncompliant within 60 days: a second $100 late fee is assessed.

Consequences & Suspension

• Lawyers who remain noncompliant after notices are placed on the Non-Compliant List submitted to the Supreme Court.
• The Court may issue administrative suspension orders, and a further $100 flat fee is assessed if you cure after suspension.
• Additional late or reinstatement fees may apply under Board regulation.

Key Takeaway: Missing your Pennsylvania CLE deadline triggers a structured late-fee and cure process; continued noncompliance leads to administrative suspension unless you timely satisfy credits and fees.

No — Pennsylvania does not explicitly permit “late reporting” of CLE hours after deadlines; instead, noncompliance triggers a late-compliance fee and a grace period to remedy deficiencies before possible suspension.

Under the Pennsylvania CLE rules, if you miss your compliance deadline, the Board will notify you, you must pay a late compliance fee (usually $100), and you have 60 days to cure the deficiency before the Board reports noncompliance to the Supreme Court.

Interpretation & Caveats
• The system is not designed for “I’ll report next year” — you cannot avoid the late fee or ignore deadline.
• The Board’s cure period is your last chance to submit missing CLE and pay the penalty before administrative action.
• Extensions or waivers are discretionary and not guaranteed.
• Because providers report attendance within 30 days, missing the deadline often means some events or hours may never be accepted retroactively.

Key Takeaway
You can’t simply “turn in CLE credits late” in Pennsylvania without consequences — you must pay a late-compliance fee, respond to a deficiency notice, and act within a 60-day cure period or risk suspension.

Yes — judges in Pennsylvania have a separate continuing judicial education (CJE) requirement, distinct from the CLE rules for attorneys.

Under Supreme Court authority starting in 2017, commissioned judges of various Pennsylvania courts must annually complete 12 CJE credits (3 in judicial ethics, 9 in judicial practice or related areas).

Details

• The Pennsylvania Rules for Continuing Judicial Education require that every judge must complete 3 hours in judicial ethics plus 9 hours in judicial practice/related areas each year.
• Of those 12 credits, 4 credits must come from courses offered by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts’ Judicial Education Department.
• Up to 4 credits may be earned via approved distance education (computer-based, interactive) courses.
• Judges may receive credit for teaching or approved alternative educational activities (up to 4 credits).
• Newly elected or appointed judges in the Courts of Common Pleas and Philadelphia Municipal Court must attend a “New Judge School” in addition to their annual CJE.
• The CJE rules apply to justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Superior Court, Commonwealth Court, Courts of Common Pleas, Philadelphia Municipal Court, and certified senior judges.

Key Takeaway

Pennsylvania imposes a mandatory, separate judicial education program (12 credits annually) for its judges, supplementing—rather than replacing—any CLE obligations that may apply to attorneys.