All Attorneys

No — Wisconsin’s CLE rules apply uniformly to all “active” attorneys; there is no reduced CLE obligation for part-time attorneys.

Under Supreme Court Rule Chapter 31, attorneys in Wisconsin must complete 30 hours of approved CLE in each two-year reporting period (including at least 3 hours in ethics).

Details:

• At least 15 of the 30 hours must be from “live” programs.
• Ethics hours must be taken live (i.e. not via repeated

Yes – you can submit CLE compliance online in North Dakota by emailing the Report of Compliance to the ND CLE Commission.

The Report of Compliance is required after each three-year reporting period and must be filed by the post-period deadline.

Details:

• The reporting period ends June 30, and compliance must be reported by July 31.
• A Report of Compliance, in the form set

Attorneys in New Jersey report CLE compliance via their Annual Attorney Registration & Billing Statement, certifying that they have met the credit requirement for their compliance period. Providers submit attendance records to feed the attorney transcript, but the attorney’s self-certification on the registration statement is what constitutes formal reporting.

Key Details:

• Each attorney is placed into one of two compliance groups (Group 1 = born Jan–Jun, Group 2 = born Jul–Dec) and has a December 31 deadline in alternating years.
• Attorneys must complete 24 CLE credits every two years, including at least 5 ethics/professionalism credits (with 2 in diversity/inclusion) and at least 12 credits from live programs.
• Providers report attorney attendance via the Board on Continuing Legal Education (BCLE) system, which populates the transcript for attorneys to review.
• If a certificate is missing from the transcript, attorneys may submit it or dispute it with the BCLE before certifying.
• Late or noncompliance reporting requires completing a compliance reporting form and paying a late compliance fee.

Key Takeaway: In New Jersey, CLE reporting is handled via self-certification on the Annual Registration & Billing Statement, supported by provider attendance reporting through BCLE, and correction if needed before the deadline.

Rhode Island attorneys must complete 10 CLE credit hours each year. That includes at least 2 hours in legal ethics and, starting July 1, 2025, 1 hour in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Annual CLE Requirements in Rhode Island

• Total requirement: 10 credit hours per reporting year
• Ethics requirement: 2 credit hours
• DEI requirement: 1 credit hour (effective July 1, 2025)
• Minimum live credit: 4 credit hours
• Maximum video replay/distance learning: 6 credit hours
• Reporting deadline: June 30 annually

Carryover & Exemptions

• Up to 10 excess live credits may carry forward one year
• Ethics credits in excess may also be carried over
• Newly admitted attorneys are exempt from the CLE requirement during the reporting year they are admitted and the next full reporting year; they must complete a “Bridge the Gap” program

Key Takeaway: Rhode Island requires 10 CLE hours each year, including 2 in ethics, 1 in DEI (from July 2025), with minimum live credits, limited carryover, and a Bridge the Gap requirement for new attorneys.

No — judges in Massachusetts do not have a separate, mandatory CLE requirement apart from general attorney education norms.

Massachusetts does not impose a mandatory CLE for attorneys; judges may participate in Judicial Education programs, but those are not required under a distinct CLE mandate.

Details

• The Massachusetts Bar Association confirms that Massachusetts does not maintain a mandatory CLE regime for attorneys.

A CLE deficiency notice is an official notification sent by a state bar or MCLE board when an attorney has not completed or reported the required CLE credits by the deadline. It alerts the attorney to the deficiency and provides a cure period before penalties or suspension are imposed.

What It Includes

• The number of CLE credits still outstanding.
• Categories of credits missing (e.g., ethics, professionalism, specialty).
• Deadlines for curing the deficiency (often 30–60 days).
• Instructions for submitting proof of compliance and paying late fees.

Key Takeaway: A CLE deficiency notice is the bar’s formal warning that you are out of compliance, giving you a final chance to fix missing credits before fines or suspension take effect.

Lawyers in North Carolina generally do not self-report CLE; approved CLE sponsors submit attendance to the State Bar within 40 days of the program. If a lawyer is asked to cure a CLE deficiency, they may self-report attendance (by mailing, faxing, or emailing certificates) to the CLE department.

Key Details:

• Most sponsors of CLE programs must report attendance directly to the NC State Bar CLE department within 40 days.
• If a lawyer receives a notice of a prior year’s deficit, they may self-report attendance via submission of the certificate(s) to the CLE department.
• The State Bar provides a “Report of Attendance at a CLE Program” form for sponsors.
• Attorneys must maintain records and certificates in case the Bar audits the compliance certificate.

Key Takeaway: In North Carolina, the reporting format is primarily sponsor-driven attendance submission, with attorneys only self-reporting in corrective or deficiency contexts.

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.

It depends on the jurisdiction – some states allow mindfulness or well-being courses to count for CLE when they address lawyer competence or mental health in the legal profession, while others allow them only if tied to permissible credit categories.
To qualify, the course usually must be lawyer-focused, meet the state’s accreditation standards, and be categorized under competence, mental health-substance use, or professional responsibility where applicable.

Details:

• Minnesota requires at least one credit on mental health and substance use in the legal profession per 3-year cycle starting with

Yes, on-demand CLE is generally available 24/7. Attorneys can access courses online at any time, which makes it easier to fit CLE into demanding schedules.

Why On-Demand CLE Is Flexible

• Always accessible: Programs can be started, paused, and resumed at any hour.
• Device compatibility: Courses are typically available on computers, tablets, and smartphones.
• Self-paced learning: Attorneys can complete courses in segments, rather than in one sitting.

State Variations

• Some states place caps on how many on-demand or self-study credits may count toward compliance.
• A few jurisdictions still require a minimum number of live or interactive hours, even if on-demand is unlimited for general credit.
• Deadlines apply: Even though available 24/7, credits must be completed and reported by the state’s compliance deadline.

Provider Support

• Sprout Education makes its on-demand CLE library accessible at all times and ensures tracking/reporting so that attorneys stay compliant with state rules.

Key Takeaway: On-demand CLE is accessible 24/7 and offers convenience and flexibility, but attorneys must confirm state limits on how many on-demand hours can count toward compliance.

No — Hawaii’s CLE scheme does not include a general extension mechanism for reporting; instead, after the deadline, you may cure noncompliance during an audit period (with fees).

Hawaii attorneys self-report their CLE on the annual registration and, if audited, may submit proof of completion within 60 days of notice along with payment of any late fee.

Detailed Explanation

• Under RSCH Rule 22 and Hawaii CLE Regulations, active attorneys must complete at least 3 CLE credit hours by

Yes — Virginia requires that 4 of the 12 mandatory CLE credit hours each year be fulfilled via “live interactive” programs (which can be in-person or via real-time webcasts or telephone). The remaining credits may come from pre-recorded or asynchronous formats, subject to a limit.

Virginia CLE Rules & Format Requirements

• Total requirement: 12 credit hours per annual period (November 1 – October 31).
• Ethics/Professionalism: at least 2 credits must be in legal ethics or professionalism.
• Live interactive credit minimum: 4 hours must be in programs with real-time interaction with the presenter (live on-site, live webcast, or telephone).
• Pre-recorded (non-interactive) programs: no more than 8 credit hours may be earned from these formats in a year.

Key Takeaway: Virginia mandates that one-third of your annual CLE credits be live and interactive, but it does not force you to attend physically — live webcasts with Q&A or telephone sessions qualify.

No, CLE is not required before passing the bar. CLE requirements generally begin only after an attorney has been formally admitted to practice law.

When CLE Obligations Begin

• Law students and bar applicants are not subject to CLE requirements.
• Once admitted, attorneys must complete CLE according to the rules of their licensing jurisdiction.
• Many states provide special initial requirements for new admittees, such as orientation programs or bridge-the-gap training.

Exemptions and Special Rules

• New admittees are often exempt from standard CLE requirements in their first reporting cycle.
• Instead, they may be required to complete specific new-lawyer training courses within a set period after admission.
• These requirements vary by jurisdiction and must be confirmed with the state’s CLE authority.

Provider Support

• Sprout Education monitors these distinctions and ensures that new attorneys understand when CLE compliance begins and what transitional rules apply.

Key Takeaway: CLE is never required before bar admission; obligations start only once an attorney is admitted, with special new-lawyer requirements in some states.

If you miss Tennessee’s CLE deadline, you’ll face noncompliance fees ($100 initially, rising to $200) and risk suspension if you don’t establish compliance by the mid-year deadline. Attorneys must earn their CLE hours by December 31 and file their Annual Report Statement (or Affidavit of Compliance) by March 31.

Tennessee CLE Deadlines & Reporting

• December 31: Deadline to earn required CLE hours.
• March 31: Deadline to submit the ARS or claim exemption; noncompliant attorneys then incur a $100 noncompliance fee.
• June 1: Deadline to establish compliance (report hours or file affidavit) before the $200 continuing noncompliance penalty is imposed.
• August 10: Last day to file compliance records to avoid inclusion on the Supreme Court suspension order.

Penalties, Suspension & Reinstatement

• A $100 noncompliance fee is assessed to attorneys who remain noncompliant after March 31.
• If noncompliance persists, a $200 continuing noncompliance penalty is imposed as of June 1.
• By July 1, a draft suspension order is submitted to the Supreme Court for noncompliant attorneys.
• If the attorney fails to file compliance by August 10, the Supreme Court may enter a final suspension order; active attorneys are charged a $500 suspension fee.
• To reinstate, the attorney must complete all deficient CLE hours, pay all fees, and file proof of compliance.
• An attorney may request waiver of noncompliance or suspension fees if they can show exceptional relief.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, missing your CLE deadline triggers stepped penalties and deadlines — from a $100 fee to a $200 continuing penalty — culminating in referral for suspension unless you timely cure your deficiency, pay fees, and file proof of compliance.

Florida attorneys must complete 30 CLE credit hours every 3 years, including at least 5 hours in Legal Ethics, Professionalism, Substance Abuse or Mental Health & Wellness (2 of which must be the mandated Florida Legal Professionalism course) and 3 hours in technology.
The Florida Supreme Court reduced the total requirement from 33 to 30 credits effective January 8, 2024.

Details

• Total requirement: 30 CLE credit hours per 3-year reporting cycle
• Legal Ethics, Professionalism, Substance Abuse, or Mental Health & Wellness: At least 5 hours total, including 2 hours from the required Florida Legal Professionalism course offered by The Florida Bar
• Technology: At least 3 hours of approved technology programs
• No carryover: Excess CLE hours cannot be applied to the next reporting cycle
• Reporting obligation: Members must self-report CLE completion via their MyFloridaBar Member Portal before their reporting deadline
• Newly admitted attorneys: Must also complete the Basic Skills Course Requirement (BSCR), which includes the Practicing with Professionalism course during their first year of admission

Key Takeaway

Florida attorneys must complete 30 CLE hours every three years — including 5 hours in Legal Ethics, Professionalism, Substance Abuse, or Mental Health & Wellness (with 2 hours from the mandatory Florida Legal Professionalism course) and 3 hours in technology — with all credits self-reported through the Bar’s online portal.

Alabama attorneys must complete 12 CLE credit hours per year, including 1 hour in ethics.

This obligation applies to all non-exempt active attorneys under Alabama’s MCLE rules.

Details

• At least 6 hours must come from “live” or synchronous activity; up to 6 hours may be from on-demand formats.
• Excess

Attorneys in Iowa certify CLE compliance annually through the Iowa Judicial Branch CLE online reporting portal. The compliance period runs on a calendar-year basis, and attorneys must complete required credits by December 31 and certify compliance by March 10 of the following year.

Iowa CLE Reporting Format

• Completion deadline: All required CLE credits (15 hours, including 1 ethics and 1 wellness or diversity/inclusion credit) must be earned by December 31.
• Reporting deadline: Attorneys must log in to the Iowa Judicial Branch CLE portal and certify compliance by March 10 of the following year.
• Online certification: Reporting is done electronically — no written or mailed form is required.
• Provider submissions: CLE sponsors may report attendance to the Commission, but attorneys are responsible for confirming that all earned credits appear accurately before certification.
• Audit documentation: Attorneys must retain attendance certificates and course records for at least three years in case of audit.

Key Takeaway

In Iowa, attorneys certify CLE compliance annually via the Judicial Branch’s online CLE portal by March 10, following a December 31 completion deadline.

No — Georgia’s CLE rules treat all active attorneys alike; there is no special reduced requirement for part-time attorneys.

Georgia requires active members to complete 12 CLE credit hours annually, including 1 hour in ethics and 1 hour in professionalism.

Details:

• Attorneys aged 70 or older are exempt from the CLE requirement.
• Trial attorneys must earn 3 hours of trial credit within

Yes — Wyoming imposes a separate continuing judicial education (CJE) requirement for judges, distinct from the CLE requirements for attorneys.

Each judge or justice must complete at least 15 hours of accredited judicial education every year under Wyoming’s Rules for Continuing Judicial Education.

Details

• The “Rules for Continuing Judicial Education” require a minimum of 15 hours of accredited CJE annually for each judge

Yes — in Maine, you can submit certain CLE credits online (or electronically), but only under certain conditions.

The general rule is that sponsors report live course attendance; attorneys may self-report self-study and non-accredited course credits in some cases.

Details:

• Under Maine Bar Rule 5(k)(1), sponsors of accredited programs must submit attendance rosters to the Board no later than