Yes — but only in limited respects: Florida allows an extension for the Basic Skills Course Requirement (BSCR), not for the general CLE (CLER) reporting deadline.
The Florida Bar provides a BSCR Extension Request Form to defer completion of the basic skills requirement in certain hardship cases.
In Florida, CLE credit counts for attending approved CLE programs, participating as speaker or panelist, teaching law courses, writing legal articles, and (as of Dec. 30, 2024) approved pro bono service.
These activities must comply with Rule 6-10.3 requirements for accreditation, content, certification, and reporting.
Florida allows a 60-day period after the CLE deadline for delinquent attorneys to become compliant under Rule 1-3.7(f). The Florida Bar considers this a curing window to submit missing hours or otherwise resolve noncompliance.
Key Takeaway: Florida offers a 60-day cure period after the reporting deadline, giving attorneys the opportunity to complete missing CLE and maintain good standing.
You can begin reporting CLE credits in Florida as soon as you complete a program and receive its reference number—Florida’s system allows self-reporting via the Member Portal using that code.
However, your formal compliance certification must align with your assigned three-year reporting period and be submitted by your deadline.
Key Takeaway: In Florida, you can self-report individual CLE completions as soon as they’re done using their reference numbers, but your full cycle certification must wait until your reporting period ends.
No — Florida does not provide for open-ended late CLE reporting; if you fail to timely certify, you are considered a delinquent member and may be prohibited from practicing until reinstated. The Florida Bar’s CLE rules treat noncompliance as a disciplinary matter, not a simple late reporting exception.
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Florida does not set a uniform CLE “reporting deadline” for all attorneys; instead, each attorney is assigned a 3-year reporting cycle with a deadline equal to the last day of that individual cycle.
Each attorney’s compliance period ends on a date assigned by The Florida Bar (varies by admission date). Attorneys must complete 30 CLE credits (including required ethics/professionalism, technology) before their cycle ends and then self-report via the MyFloridaBar portal.
Inactive members of The Florida Bar are automatically exempt from the CLE (CLER) requirement under Rule 6-10.3(c)(1).
When an inactive member returns to active status, any outstanding CLE or basic skills (BSCR) obligations must be satisfied before reinstatement.
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Yes, at least one state — New York — requires a dedicated CLE credit in cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection. Other states are moving toward similar mandates through broader “technology CLE” requirements.
Key Takeaway: Cybersecurity CLE is required in New York and may be covered under technology CLE in states like Florida, North Carolina, and New Jersey, but it is not yet a universal mandate.
No — Florida’s CLE (CLER) rules make no distinction between part-time and full-time attorneys; all must satisfy the same CLE obligations (unless exempt).
Florida attorneys must complete 30 credit hours every 3 years (with subrequirements for ethics/professional responsibility, technology, and a mandatory professionalism course).
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No — Florida does not allow carryover of CLE credits into the next reporting cycle.
The Florida Bar’s FAQ states explicitly that “Excess credits cannot be carried over to the next reporting cycle.”
Failing to complete or report Florida’s CLE requirement by the deadline causes the member to be deemed delinquent and lose the privilege to practice until the deficiency is cured. Florida requires 30 CLE credit hours every three years, with specific sub-requirements in ethics, professionalism, and technology.
Key Takeaway: In Florida, missing your CLE deadline triggers immediate delinquency under Rule 6-10.5 and suspension of practice privileges until you complete the required credit hours and file for reinstatement.
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.
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.
Yes — Florida law allows certain attorneys to be exempt from CLE under specified conditions such as judicial office, inactive status, active military service, out-of-state nonpractice, or undue hardship.
Florida Bar Rule 6-10.3(c) and The Florida Bar’s CLER exemption procedures govern those exemptions.
Yes — in Florida you can submit (i.e. self-report) your CLE (CLER) credits online via The Florida Bar’s Member Portal.
You are responsible for reporting your completed CLE courses using the course reference numbers in your online profile. ([flabar.org](https://www.floridabar.org/member/cle/general-cle-info-and-requirements/) )
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Yes — Florida grants certain judges and judicial officers an automatic exemption from attorney CLE requirements, effectively placing them outside the standard CLE regime.
Under Florida’s Rules Regulating The Bar, justices of the Florida Supreme Court, judges of district courts of appeal, circuit courts, county courts, and other specified judicial officers are exempt from continuing legal education requirements applicable to attorneys.
The standard CLE (CLER) requirement for attorneys is 30 credit hours every three years, with subrequirements in ethics,
...Attorneys in Florida self-report CLE credits via the MyFloridaBar Member Portal, entering the course reference number supplied by providers. The Florida Bar notifies each member of their reporting cycle and collects compliance via that online affidavit system.
Key Takeaway: Florida attorneys use an online self-reporting interface in their MyFloridaBar portal and input provider-issued approval codes—no separate paper reporting is required.
You report CLE (CLER) credits in Florida by logging into your MyFloridaBar Member Portal and self-reporting completed courses using the course reference numbers.
This reporting certifies your compliance with Florida’s three-year CLE cycle.
Florida attorneys must complete 30 credit hours every three years, with at least 3 hours in technology and at least 5 hours in ethics/professionalism/substance abuse/mental health & wellness, including a 2-hour Florida Legal Professionalism course.
Excess credits cannot be carried forward into the next reporting cycle.
You will receive advance notice of your reporting deadline and must ensure all completed programs are posted to your CLER transcript before that date.
No — the rule does not mandate that CLE must be in person. Live webcasts and other interactive online formats qualify as “live” programs under Florida’s CLE rules.
Key Takeaway: Florida’s CLE rules allow live webcast and interactive formats to satisfy the “live” requirement; in-person attendance is not required so long as the program meets the live/interactive standard.
Florida attorneys must complete 30 CLE credit hours every 3 years. That includes at least 5 hours in professional responsibility (which covers ethics, professionalism, substance abuse, or mental health/wellness), and at least 3 hours in approved technology.
Key Takeaway: Florida requires 30 CLE hours every 3 years, including 5 hours in professional responsibility and 3 hours in technology, with no carryover allowed.
No — Florida does not mandate any specific number of in-person (physical classroom) CLE hours.
Florida allows all required CLE credits to be earned via live webcasts or prerecorded (on-demand) formats, subject to accreditation.
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