What is the reporting format for CLE in California?

California does not provide a separate “grace period” beyond its reporting deadline — attorneys must report compliance by their group’s deadline, or incur late-fees and face noncompliance.

California’s MCLE Deadlines & Recent Changes

• Reporting deadlines vary by compliance group (A–G, H–M, N–Z), recently adjusted to late March or early April.

Late Filing Penalties & Cure Period

• A late compliance penalty of $103 is assessed if the report is filed after the deadline.
• After a notice of noncompliance, attorneys have 60 days to submit proof, pay the penalty, or risk being placed on Not Eligible to Practice status.
• Attorneys may request a “good cause modification” in some circumstances (though no guaranteed extension).

Key Takeaway: In California, missing your MCLE reporting deadline means you’ll face a $103 late-compliance penalty and a formal 60-day cure window — but there isn’t a built-in post-deadline grace period.

No — California’s MCLE rules do not create a separate CLE regime for part-time vs full-time attorneys; all active attorneys must satisfy the same baseline, subject to proportional reduction if their active status changes.

All active licensees must complete 25 MCLE hours every three years (with required subtopics) unless they qualify for exemption or proportional requirement.

Details:

• At least 12.5 of the 25 hours must be “participatory” (live or interactive).
• Up to 12.5 hours may be self-study, but self-study alone cannot meet the full requirement.
• Required subject hours include ethics (minimum 4 hours), elimination of bias (minimum 2 hours, 1 of which must address implicit bias), competence (minimum 2 hours), one hour technology, one hour civility.
• The “proportional requirement” allows a reduction in required hours if an attorney was inactive or exempt for part of the three-year cycle, based on months of active nonexempt status.
• Attorneys cannot carry unused MCLE hours forward to the next reporting period.

Key Takeaway: California does not reduce CLE obligations simply because an attorney practices part-time — they must meet the full MCLE requirement unless their status changes justify a proportional adjustment.

Yes — in California you can report CLE late, but you must pay a late compliance penalty and submit proof of compliance within a prescribed cure period after receiving a noncompliance notice. Failure to comply may lead to ineligibility to practice until reinstated.

Details:

• If you miss the MCLE reporting deadline, you will receive a Non-Compliance Notice giving you 60 days to comply.
• The late compliance penalty is $103 as of January 1, 2025.
• If you fail to comply within the 60-day cure period (i.e. submit proof and pay the penalty), you will be placed Not Eligible to Practice until you complete compliance, pay the $103 noncompliance fee, and pay a $308 reinstatement fee.
• The Bar audits attorneys’ MCLE compliance randomly. If selected, you must maintain certificates or other documentation of the CLE credits you reported.
• Note: The State Bar no longer tracks CLE hours; attorneys self-report via an online system, but must retain evidence.

Key Takeaway
Yes — California allows late CLE reporting under MCLE, but it triggers a penalty and requires curing noncompliance within the specified 60-day period; failure may result in suspension of your eligibility to practice until reinstatement conditions are met.

No — California does not require that CLE be completed in person, but it does require “participatory” credit (which includes live webcasts and certain interactive formats). California allows credit through live webcasts, recorded programs (if meeting interactive standards), and approved self-study up to specified limits.

Annual MCLE Requirements in California

• Total requirement: 25 credit hours every three years
• Ethics: minimum 4 credit hours
• Elimination of bias: 2 credit hours (1 must address implicit bias)
• Competence: 2 credit hours (1 must focus on prevention/detection)
• Technology: 1 credit hour
• Civility: 1 credit hour
• Reporting groups and deadlines vary by compliance group

Credit Formats and Limits

• “Participatory” credit must include live webcasts, real-time interaction, or interactive components
• Recorded programs may qualify if they support interactive features or meet participatory standards
• Self-study (non-interactive) is allowed but capped (up to half of required credits)
• Online MCLE programs are accepted, provided they are approved and satisfy the MCLE rules

Provider Approval & Credit Claims

• Courses, including webcasts, must be approved for MCLE by California’s system under Rule 9.31 and related regulations
• Attorneys may request credit for out-of-state or unapproved programs via MCLE credit request form

Key Takeaway: California requires participatory MCLE credit—live webcasts and interactive formats qualify, but in-person attendance is not mandatory so long as the format meets the interactive/participatory standards.

The CLE reporting deadline in California is March 30 of the year the compliance period ends.

California attorneys are assigned to one of three 36-month compliance groups, each with its own reporting date.

California MCLE Reporting Deadlines by Compliance Group

Attorneys must complete 25 MCLE hours during each 3-year period, including ethics, bias, competence, technology, and civility requirements.

After transitional cycles, reporting continues to be March 30 under a standard 36-month cycle.

Sprout Education develops CLE programs that comply with California’s MCLE rules and may count toward these compliance deadlines.

Key Takeaway: California attorneys must report MCLE compliance by March 30 (or April 1 in certain transitional years) based on their assigned compliance group.

No — California does not permit carryover of CLE (MCLE) credits between compliance periods.

State Bar Rule 2.72(D) explicitly provides that “there is no carryforward of credit hours from one compliance period to the next.” ([calbar.ca.gov](https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Attorneys/MCLE-CLE/FAQ))

Details & nuances

• The California MCLE FAQ states: “there is no carryforward of credit hours from one compliance period to the next.” ([calbar.ca.gov](https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Attorneys/MCLE-CLE/FAQ?AFMID=1567&QuestionID=303))
• A CLE provider summary also affirms: “Credit for participating in a CLE activity may not be earned forward from one compliance period to another.” ([nacle.com](https://www.nacle.com/California/CA-MCLE/))
• Because of this, any excess hours you take in one cycle are essentially wasted (beyond fulfilling your 25-hour requirement) — they do not reduce your future CLE burden.
• The California rules do not create special exceptions for carryover in admission years or partial periods; the “no carryforward” rule applies broadly under Rule 2.72(D).

Key Takeaway

In California, you cannot carry over extra CLE credits — credits apply only within the designated compliance period and do not reduce future obligations.