Multi-State & Reciprocity

Yes — in some jurisdictions you can claim CLE credit for overseas courses, but only if your state’s CLE rules allow recognition of activities approved by “approved jurisdictions” or equivalent foreign accrediting bodies. Whether the credit is accepted depends on your jurisdiction’s reciprocity or approval policy.

How it works in practice:

• California: Allows attorneys to claim MCLE credit for education done abroad if the course is approved by a jurisdiction on

Maryland attorneys are not currently required to complete any CLE credits under state law. The Maryland Supreme Court is actively considering implementing a mandatory CLE requirement but has delayed a decision.

Current Status: No Mandatory CLE

• No MCLE rule presently applies to Maryland attorneys
• Continuing education is voluntary at this time

Proposed Plan Under Review

• A workgroup’s 2023 report proposed 12 hours annually—including ethics, diversity/equity/inclusion (DEI), and mental health/wellness
• The Supreme Court has postponed any implementation until at least spring 2026

Professional Competence Obligation

• Maryland attorneys remain bound by the competence obligation in the Rules of Professional Conduct
• Voluntary CLE is encouraged, but not currently mandated

Key Takeaway: There is no CLE hour requirement in Maryland at present, but a mandatory structure may be adopted in the future.

No — Maryland has no mandatory CLE requirement at present, so there is no rule imposing in-person or live webcast CLE. The state has studied adopting mandatory CLE, but as of now, compliance is voluntary.

Maryland CLE Status

• There is no requirement for attorneys to complete CLE as a condition of licensure or upkeep of the bar.
• A workgroup recommended a future rule requiring 12 CLE hours annually, but that has not been enacted.
• Because CLE is voluntary, there is no regulatory language defining whether live webcast or in-person formats would be required or preferred under a mandate.

Key Takeaway: Because Maryland does not impose mandatory CLE, there is no obligation to attend live or in-person programs; any future rules would need to specify format requirements.

No — Michigan does not impose a mandatory CLE requirement, so there is no requirement for live webcast or in-person CLE. Because CLE is voluntary, there are likewise no rules mandating format—attorneys may choose whether to engage in in-person, webcast, or self-study CLE for professional development.

Michigan CLE Status

• Attorneys in Michigan are not required by rule to complete continuing legal education.
• CLE is offered voluntarily; attorneys may access live in-person seminars, live webinars, or on-demand courses for educational purposes.
• No regulatory body enforces whether a CLE must be live, interactive, or in-person because the requirement does not exist under Michigan law.

Key Takeaway: Because Michigan has no mandatory CLE statutes, there is no obligation to take live webcast or in-person CLE — attorneys may use any format exclusively at their discretion.

CLE reciprocity is the system that allows attorneys to receive credit in one state for CLE courses taken in another. It simplifies compliance for multi-state practitioners by recognizing credits across jurisdictions without requiring duplicate attendance.

How Reciprocity Works

• Some states have “full reciprocity,” accepting any accredited course from another MCLE state.
• Others allow “partial reciprocity,” granting credit if the course meets state-specific standards (such as ethics, professionalism, or specialty credits).
• Attorneys usually must request credit transfer or file a certificate of attendance with their own CLE board.
• A few states have no reciprocity at all, requiring courses be pre-approved locally.

Key Takeaway: CLE reciprocity lets attorneys apply out-of-state credits toward their local CLE requirement, but the rules vary widely — always check whether your state grants full, partial, or no reciprocity.

No, CLE is not the same in every state. Each jurisdiction sets its own credit requirements, reporting cycle, and specialty credit rules.

How CLE Differs Across States

• Credit hours: Ranges from 12 hours per year (e.g., Kansas) to 45 hours every three years (e.g., Washington).
• Compliance cycle: Some states use annual cycles, others biennial, and a few use three-year reporting periods.
• Specialty credits: Requirements in ethics, professionalism, diversity/inclusion, wellness, or technology vary widely.
• Formats: States differ on how many hours may be earned through live, on-demand, teaching, or publishing.

Implications for Attorneys

• Attorneys licensed in more than one jurisdiction must comply separately with each state’s rules.
• Non-compliance in any jurisdiction can lead to penalties or suspension of practice rights.
• Sprout Education helps attorneys manage multi-state CLE compliance by tracking different requirements.

Key Takeaway: CLE is not uniform nationwide; credit totals, deadlines, and specialty rules differ by state, requiring attorneys to follow the specific requirements of their licensing jurisdiction(s).

If you practice in multiple states, you must meet the CLE (MCLE) requirements for each jurisdiction where you hold an active license.
Many states allow reciprocity or credit recognition, but the specific rules vary, so attorneys must review each bar’s policies carefully.

How Multi-State CLE Works

• Each state sets its own CLE requirements (credit hours, ethics sub-requirements, reporting cycles).
• Some states grant full reciprocity if a course is approved in your primary jurisdiction, while others require the provider to be accredited separately in that state.
• A few states require attorneys to file individual applications for course approval if the provider is not pre-approved there.
• Credits earned in one jurisdiction often count in another, but you must verify whether they satisfy mandatory sub-categories (ethics, bias, professionalism, technology).
• Multi-state practitioners should track compliance separately for each state and maintain documentation that shows how each course is credited.
• Sprout Education identifies jurisdictional approvals for our programs, and we assist attorneys practicing in multiple states by clarifying which credits are recognized where.

Key Takeaway: Attorneys licensed in multiple states must independently confirm and report compliance in each jurisdiction, leveraging reciprocity rules when available but always ensuring that state-specific sub-requirements are met.

It depends on the state — in many cases yes, you must report CLE separately to each jurisdiction in which you are licensed (or designate one state as your reporting state), unless a reciprocity or comity provision allows combining reporting.
Your obligations depend on each state’s rules for multi-jurisdictional attorneys, reciprocity, and reporting procedures.

• Idaho allows attorneys whose principal office is out of state to satisfy Idaho’s MCLE by filing a certificate of compliance from another jurisdiction, rather than submitting each individual CLE course to Idaho. https://isb.idaho.gov/licensing-mcle/mcle-info/mcle-compliance/out-of-state-reporting/
• Utah permits attorneys in certain reciprocity states (Idaho, Oregon, Washington) to meet Utah CLE by filing a “Comity Certificate” rather than reporting every CLE separately. https://www.mcleutah.org/lawyers/attorney-faqs/
• California allows attorneys to claim credit for out-of-state CLE that has been approved by an “Approved Jurisdiction,” letting them avoid submitting each session for California approval separately. https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Attorneys/MCLE-CLE/Requirements/Approved-Jurisdictions
• But some states do not accept out-of-state CLE or require you to apply for approval or submit documentation for each session.

Key Takeaway:
You often must report CLE separately in each state where you are subject to MCLE, unless a state’s rules allow you to rely on reciprocity, comity, or a certificate of compliance from one jurisdiction. Always check the CLE rules of each jurisdiction where you are licensed.

Yes — in Illinois, judges have a separate continuing judicial education requirement in addition to attorney MCLE rules (or exemption from MCLE).

Illinois requires each active judge to complete 30 hours of judicial education every two years, attend the biennial Education Conference, and participate in a New Judge Seminar if newly appointed.

Meanwhile, the Illinois MCLE regime for attorneys mandates 30 CLE credit hours every two years (including requirements in

Yes — in many jurisdictions, a bar association (state or local) can track CLE credits on your behalf, but that depends on that jurisdiction’s CLE administration rules.
Some bar associations function as CLE providers or administrators and maintain internal tracking or reporting systems; in other places, CLE tracking is managed directly by the CLE board or regulatory agency.

Details:

• In Colorado, attorneys and accredited programs use the “CLE Track” system managed by the state (often accessible via bar or

Because Massachusetts does not impose a mandatory CLE regime for most attorneys, you do not need to formally report CLE credits.
Attorneys may still take continuing education voluntarily, but there is no MCLE certification or compliance submission requirement in Massachusetts.

Overview of Massachusetts CLE Status

Massachusetts is one of the few states without a mandatory CLE requirement. While some historical programs (like a professionalism course for new attorneys) existed, no continuing reporting obligation currently applies. You may attend CLE programs and retain your own records if you practice in jurisdictions that require CLE, but Massachusetts itself does not demand submission or monitoring.

Steps (If Reporting Were Required)

• No formal certification or reporting system exists in Massachusetts today.
• If mandatory CLE is

It depends on the jurisdiction; in some states mentoring may qualify for CLE credit, but in many others it is explicitly excluded from eligible activities.
Where allowed, mentoring typically must satisfy detailed requirements (e.g. structured program, recordkeeping, approval by the CLE authority) to count.

Details:

• In New Jersey, mentoring another attorney is explicitly listed among the activities “that WILL NOT be given CLE credit.”
• In

ABA CLE is not universally accepted by all state bars. Each jurisdiction has its own accreditation rules, and many require ABA courses to be submitted for state approval or to meet state-specific standards.

State Variations in ABA CLE Acceptance

• Some states automatically recognize ABA-approved courses as accredited.
• Others accept ABA courses only if they are pre-approved by the state’s MCLE authority.
• A few states impose credit limits or exclude certain formats even if offered by the ABA.

Practical Considerations

• Attorneys must confirm whether an ABA program qualifies for credit in their jurisdiction before reporting.
• Sprout Education tracks state-by-state CLE rules and ensures reporting compliance across jurisdictions.

Key Takeaway: ABA CLE programs are widely accepted but not universal; attorneys must verify state-specific accreditation requirements before claiming credit.

Yes — many jurisdictions allow technology-oriented CLE courses to count toward regular CLE credit, often under a specific “technology” or “competence/skills” category.
Whether such credit is allowed — and how much counts toward the general requirement — depends on your state’s CLE rules and category scheme.

Details:

• In California, lawyers must complete at least one credit hour of education addressing technology in the practice of law as part

Yes — California requires judges (and subordinate judicial officers) to satisfy a judicial branch education mandate separate from the State Bar’s MCLE program for attorneys.

While attorneys must complete 25 MCLE hours every three years under State Bar rules, California’s Rules of Court (specifically Rule 10.462) establish that each judge must complete 30 hours of continuing judicial education every three years (with certain orientation and course obligations).

Details

• Rule 10.462 requires both judges and subordinate judicial officers to complete 30 hours of continuing judicial education

Yes – in many states, dual-barred attorneys can combine or apply CLE credits earned in one jurisdiction toward another through reciprocity or “approved jurisdiction” rules.
However, not all states allow this practice, so attorneys must confirm reciprocity before reporting shared credits.

• New York: Accepts out-of-state CLE courses approved by a jurisdiction on New York’s “Approved Jurisdiction” list.
• California: Permits attorneys to claim credit for courses approved by another “Approved Jurisdiction,” subject to certain restrictions, such as being outside California when completing the program.
• New Jersey: Recognizes CLE credits earned in other mandatory-CLE states through reciprocity, even if the specific program was not accredited in New Jersey.
• North Carolina and South Carolina: Ended their CLE reciprocity agreement as of March 1, 2024, meaning dual-barred attorneys in those states can no longer combine credits.
• National CLE providers such as Sprout Education and Attorney Credits routinely ensure that their programs are accredited in all U.S. jurisdictions requiring CLE, simplifying compliance for dual-barred attorneys.

Considerations & Limitations:
1. Reciprocity rules differ by state, so verify eligibility with both bars before relying on shared credits.
2. The course must meet each jurisdiction’s required credit type (ethics, skills, technology, etc.).
3. Certificates typically list all approved jurisdictions for which credit has been granted.
4. Always retain official documentation to verify cross-jurisdiction compliance.

Key Takeaway
Many states allow dual-barred attorneys to combine CLE credits under reciprocity or approved-jurisdiction policies,

You currently do not report CLE credits in Maryland because there is no mandatory CLE or reporting requirement in effect.
The Maryland Supreme Court has continued reviewing whether to adopt mandatory CLE or a mandatory reporting system, but as of now attorneys are not required to certify CLE.

Overview of Maryland CLE Status

Maryland does not impose a mandatory CLE requirement for attorneys.
In December 2024, the Court voted to defer adoption of mandatory CLE or mandatory reporting.
Attorneys maintain professional competence under ethics rules but are not obligated to submit CLE compliance to the Bar.

Steps (If Reporting Were Required)

• No certification or reporting is currently required in Maryland.
• If mandatory CLE is adopted