State-by-State Guide to December 2025 CLE Compliance
December is a busy time for attorneys as it marks the largest Continuing Legal Education deadline of the year, with lawyers in 21 states facing a busy period of compliance. Compounding this, each state has unique rules for CLE credits and carry-over policies. This guide provides a state-by-state breakdown to help you navigate your obligations.
December 2025 CLE Deadlines by State
Alabama
Alabama attorneys need to complete 12 CLE credits each year, including 1 credit in ethics and at least 6 live credits. New attorneys must fulfill a 3-hour professionalism course within their first year, which can count toward their initial compliance period.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: February 15, 2026
Credit Requirements: 12 credit hours per year (At least 1 hour in Ethics)
Credit Format: 6 credits must be Live Webinars, 6 credits may be On-Demand or all 12 credits may be taken as Live Webinars
Carryover Credit: 12 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, including 1 in Ethics
Alabama CLE Membership
Alabama State Bar
Alaska
Beginning January 1, 2025, The Alaska Bar Association increased CLE requirements to 12 credits, including 3 ethics credits.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: February 1, 2026
Credit Requirements: 12 credit hours per year (At least 3 hours in Ethics)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On-Demand
Carryover Credit: Credits may be carried over into the next reporting period
Alaska CLE Membership
Alaska Bar Association
Colorado
Colorado attorneys must complete 45 CLE credits over a 3-year period. 7 of those credits must be in Professional Responsibility (at least 5 hours in the areas of Ethics or Professionalism, and at least 2 credit hours in the area of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity).
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: January 31, 2026
Credit Requirements: 45 credit hours, every three years (at least 5 credits in Ethics or Professionalism & at least 2 Credits in Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On-Demand
Carryover Credit: No credits may be carried over to the next reporting period
Colorado CLE Membership
Colorado Bar Association
Connecticut
Connecticut attorneys must fulfill 12 CLE credits each year, including 2 credits in Ethics. Up to 2 credits can be carried over annually. Credits can be earned through live or self-study formats.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: Attendance reporting is not required, Attorneys are required to maintain a record of their certificates for seven years in case of audit or disciplinary investigation
Credit Requirements: 12 credit hours per year (at least 2 hours in Ethics)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On-Demand
Carryover Credit: 2 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, including 2 in Ethics
Connecticut CLE Membership
Connecticut State Bar
Delaware
Delaware attorneys need to complete 24 CLE credits every 2 years, with 4 of these being Ethics credits. New attorneys must also complete a 2-day Pre-Admission Conference and 7 fundamental courses within their first 4 years of practice.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: March 31, 2026
Credit Requirements: 24 credit hours every 2 years (at least 4 hours in Ethics)
Credit Format: 12 credits can be On-Demand or Live Webinars. 12 credits must be Live In-Person
Carryover Credit: 20 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, Ethics credits can be carried over as General CLE credits
Delaware CLE Membership
Delaware State Bar Association
Georgia
Georgia attorneys are required to earn 12 CLE credits annually, including 1 credit in Ethics and 1 in Professionalism. Trial attorneys must also complete 3 Trial hours.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: January 31, 2026
Credit Requirements: 12 credit hours per year (at least 1 hour in Ethics, 1 hour in Professionalism, and at least 3 hours in Trial Skills for attorneys who try cases in Georgia)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On-Demand
Carryover Credit: The following credits can be carried over in to the next reporting period (12 General, 2 Ethics, 2 Professionalism, 3 Trial Skills)
Georgia CLE Membership
State Bar of Georgia
Hawaii
Hawaii attorneys must complete 3 CLE credits each year, including 1 credit in Ethics. New attorneys are exempt for their first year but must complete the Hawaii Professionalism Course, worth 4.5 credits.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: December 31, 2025
Credit Requirements: 3 credit hours per year (at least 1 hour in Ethics)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On-Demand
Carryover Credit: 3 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, except Ethics credits
Hawaii CLE Membership
Hawaii State Bar Association
Idaho
Idaho attorneys need to complete 30 CLE credits every 3 years, with 15 credits from live activities. At least 3 credits must be in Ethics. New attorneys must complete the New Attorney Program and 10 NAC-Approved CLE credits.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: February 1, 2026
Credit Requirements: 30 credit hours every 3 years (at least 3 hours in Ethics)
Credit Format: 15 credits must be Live Webinar courses; 15 credits can be On-Demand or Live Webinar courses
Carryover Credit: No credits may be carried over to the next reporting period
Idaho CLE Membership
Idaho State Bar
Indiana
Indiana attorneys must complete 36 CLE credits every 3 years, including 3 credits in Ethics. New attorneys must complete a 6-hour Applied Professionalism course instead of other ethics credits.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: December 31, 2025
Credit Requirements: 36 credit hours every 3 years (at least 3 hours in Ethics, at least 6 hours completed per year)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On-Demand
Carryover Credit: No credits may be carried over to the next reporting period
Indiana CLE Membership
Indiana State Bar Association
Iowa
Iowa attorneys need to complete 15 CLE credits annually, including 1 credit in Ethics and 1 credit in either Attorney Wellness or Diversity & Inclusion.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: March 10, 2026
Credit Requirements: 15 credit hours per year (at least 1 hour in Ethics, at least 1 hour in Diversity & Inclusion or Attorney Wellness)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On-Demand
Carryover Credit: 15 credits may be carried over to the next two reporting periods, but Ethics, Diversity & Inclusion, and Attorney Wellness credits may only be carried over as General Credit
Iowa CLE Membership
Iowa Office of Professional Regulation Commission on CLE
Louisiana
Louisiana attorneys are required to complete 12.5 CLE credits each year, including 1 credit in Ethics and 1 in Professionalism. New attorneys must complete 8 CLE credits in specific areas of Ethics, Professionalism, or Law Practice Management.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: January 31, 2026
Credit Requirements: 12.5 credit hours per year (at least 1 hour in Ethics, at least 1 hour in Professionalism)
Credit Format: 4 credits can be On-Demand or Live Webinar courses, at least 8.5 credit must be Live In-Person courses
Carryover Credit: 8 credits may be carried over to the next reporting period, except credits in Ethics
Louisiana CLE Membership
Louisiana State Bar
Maine
Maine attorneys must earn 12 CLE credits annually, with 7 credits from live activities. They must also complete at least 1 credit in Ethics or professional responsibility and 1 in Harassment & Discrimination.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: The last business day in February
Credit Requirements: 12 credit hours per year (at least 1 hour in Ethics, at least 1 hour in Harassment & Discrimination)
Credit Format: 1 credit in Harassment & Discrimination must be taken as a Live In-Person course. 11 credit hours may be taken as Live Webinar courses. Up to 5 credits may be taken as On-Demand courses, but not the Ethics credit
Carryover Credit: 10 credits may be carried over to the next reporting period, excluding Ethics and Harassment & Discrimination
Maine CLE Membership
Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar Continuing Legal Education
Nebraska
Nebraska attorneys need to complete 10 CLE credits each year, including 2 credits in Ethics.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: January 20, 2026
Credit Requirements: 10 credit hours per year (at least 2 hours in Ethics)
Credit Format: 5 credits must be Live In-Person courses; 5 credits can be On-Demand or Live Webcast courses
Carryover Credit: 5 Live In-Person credits may be carried over, excluding Ethics credits
Nebraska CLE Membership
State of Nebraska Judicial Branch
Nevada
Nevada requires 13 CLE credits annually, including 2 Ethics credits and 1 credit in Substance Abuse. New attorneys are exempt from CLE requirements for their first year but must participate in the Nevada State Bar Association’s Transitioning into Practice program.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: February 15, 2026
Credit Requirements: 13 credit hours per year (at least 2 hours in Ethics, at least 1 hour in Substance Abuse)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On-Demand
Carryover Credit: 20 General credits, 4 Ethics credits and 2 Substance Abuse credits may be carried over into the next two reporting periods
Nevada CLE Membership
State Bar of Nevada
New Jersey
New Jersey attorneys must complete 24 CLE credits every 2 years, including 5 credits in Ethics, with 2 focused on Diversity and Inclusion. New attorneys have specific requirements and must complete credits in designated topics relevant to New Jersey.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Odd-numbered years – Attorneys with birthdays January 1st – June 30th
Even-numbered years – Attorneys with birthdays July 1st – December 31st
Reporting Deadline: Attorneys report compliance on their Annual Attorney Registration and Billing in the year following their CLE deadline
Credit Requirements: 24 credit hours every 2 years (at least 5 hours in Ethics, of which at least 2 must be in Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias)
Credit Format: All 24 credits can be Live Webcast courses, 12 credits may be On-Demand courses
Carryover Credit: 12 General credits may be carried over into the next reporting period
New Jersey CLE Membership
Supreme Court Board on Continuing Legal Education
Ohio
Ohio attorneys are required to earn 24 CLE credits every 2 years, including at least 2.5 credits in Professional Conduct.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025 (Last name ending in A-L – odd years; last name ending M-Z – event years)
Reporting Deadline: January 31, 2026
Credit Requirements: 24 credit hours every 2 years (at least 2.5 hours in Professional Conduct: Ethics, Professionalism, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, Mental health or Access to Justice)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On-Demand
Carryover Credit: 12 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, excluding Professional Conduct credits
Ohio CLE Membership
The Supreme Court of Ohio
Oklahoma
Oklahoma attorneys need to complete 12 CLE credits each year, with at least 2 credits in Ethics.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: February 15, 2026
Credit Requirements: 12 credit hours every year (at least 2 hours in Ethics)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On-Demand
Carryover Credit: 12 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period, including 2 in Ethics
Oklahoma CLE Membership
Oklahoma Bar Association
Tennessee
Tennessee attorneys must complete 15 CLE credits annually, including 3 credits in Ethics.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: March 31, 2026
Credit Requirements: 15 credit hours every year (at least 1 hour in Ethics)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On-Demand
Carryover Credit: 15 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period
Tennessee CLE Membership
Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education
Washington
Washington attorneys need to complete 45 CLE credits every 3 years, including 6 Ethics credits and at least 15 credits in Law and Legal Procedure.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: February 1, 2026
Credit Requirements: 45 credit hours every 3 years (at least 15 credits in Law and Legal Procedure, at least 6 credits in Ethics with 1 being in Equity, Inclusion and the Mitigation of Bias)
Credit Format: All credits may be taken as Live Webinar or On-Demand
Carryover Credit: 15 credits may be carried into the next reporting period, including 2 in Ethics
Washington CLE Membership
Washington State Bar Association
Wisconsin
Wisconsin requires 30 CLE credits every 2 years, including 3 credits in Ethics (cannot be taken via On-Demand).
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: February 1, 2026
Credit Requirements: 30 credit hours every 2 years (at least 3 credits in Ethics in Live Webcast form)
Credit Format: All 24 credits can be from Live Webcasts, 12 can be from On-Demand courses
Carryover Credit: 15 credits may be carried into the next reporting period, excluding Ethics
Wisconsin CLE Membership
Wisconsin Court System
Wyoming
Wyoming attorneys must earn 15 CLE credits each year, including 2 hours in Ethics.
CLE Deadline: December 31, 2025
Reporting Deadline: January 15, 2026
Credit Requirements: 15 credit hours per year (at least 2 credits in Ethics)
Credit Format: All 15 credits can be from Live Webcasts, 8 can be from On-Demand courses
Carryover Credit: All Live Webcast credits may be carried over for 2 years
Wyoming CLE Membership
Wyoming State Bar
