South Dakota

South Dakota attorneys currently have no mandatory CLE requirement.

A proposal is under review that could establish a 20-hour biennial CLE requirement beginning in 2027, but it has not yet been adopted by the South Dakota Supreme Court.

Details

• At present, attorneys may complete CLE voluntarily, but it is not required for license renewal.

• On June 20,

No — you generally cannot request an extension for CLE reporting in South Dakota, because the state currently has no mandatory CLE requirement and thus no formal reporting deadlines to extend.

Details & nuance

• The State Bar of South Dakota states it is a non-mandatory CLE state, meaning attorneys are not required by law to complete or

You can’t “report” CLE credits in South Dakota in the sense of a required compliance submission, because South Dakota does not impose mandatory CLE on attorneys.

Attorneys may voluntarily attend CLE programs, but there is no state-level deadline or reporting window for those credits.

Key Takeaway
There is no “earliest reporting” in South Dakota — CLE is voluntary, so no formal reporting window exists.

No — South Dakota does not require CLE at all, so there is no requirement that CLE be live, webcast, or in person.

South Dakota CLE Rules

• CLE is entirely voluntary; there is no annual or biennial requirement.
• Attorneys may attend CLE events, but they are not required for license renewal.
• Formats such as live, webcast, or recorded programs may be offered voluntarily, but none are mandatory.

Key Takeaway: In South Dakota, CLE is not mandatory, so there is no requirement for live or in-person participation.

No — South Dakota currently has no mandatory CLE requirement at all, so there is no distinction (and no burden) for part-time vs full-time attorneys.

South Dakota is a non-mandatory CLE state; attorneys are not required by rule to complete CLE to maintain their licenses.

Details:

• The State Bar of South Dakota affirms that CLE is voluntary, and practitioners are encouraged (but not required) to

South Dakota currently has no mandatory CLE requirement, so there is no special rule for inactive attorneys.

Because CLE is not yet required, inactive status does not change any obligations—but if rules change, reinstatement rules may adopt CLE requirements.

Details

• State Bar offers an “Inactive Membership” option for members not practicing, with lower dues and no voting rights or

South Dakota does not require attorneys to complete or report CLE credits. No reporting format—such as affidavit, transcript, or portal—is mandated in the state.

Key Details:

• South Dakota is a non-mandatory CLE jurisdiction; continuing legal education is voluntary.
• Because there is no CLE requirement, attorneys do not file reports, maintain CLE logs for compliance, or submit certificates to a regulatory body.

Key Takeaway: In South Dakota, there is no CLE reporting format because CLE is not mandatory.

No — carryover CLE credits are not applicable in South Dakota because there is no mandatory CLE requirement.
South Dakota is a non-mandatory CLE state, so there is no regulated carryover system.

Details & nuances

• The State Bar of South Dakota states that CLE is voluntary and not required to maintain a license.
• CLE overage or carryforward is irrelevant in South Dakota’s regulatory scheme because there is no baseline CLE requirement to exceed.
• CLE providers or jurisdictional aggregators also acknowledge that carryover is “N/A” in South Dakota.

Key Takeaway
Because South Dakota has no mandatory CLE, there is no formal carryover mechanism for CLE credits.

Because South Dakota does not currently require mandatory CLE, there is no formal process for reporting CLE credits.
Attorneys may voluntarily attend continuing legal education, but there is no obligation to certify or submit those credits to any regulatory body.

Overview of South Dakota CLE Status

• The State Bar of South Dakota describes itself as a “Non-Mandatory CLE State.”
• The ABA also lists South Dakota as having no MCLE requirement.
• A recent vote among attorneys favored adopting mandatory CLE in the future (proposed 20 hours every two years beginning 2027), but such change has not yet been implemented.
• Until such rules are adopted and approved by the South Dakota Supreme Court, CLE remains voluntary for attorneys in the state.

Steps You Can Take (Voluntary / Best Practices)

• Keep detailed records of any CLE activity you complete: certificates, agendas, dates, providers.
• Use your CLE participation to satisfy requirements in other jurisdictions where you are licensed.
• Monitor developments in South Dakota law or court rules in case a mandatory CLE rule is adopted.
• If you earn credits through Sprout Education, retain proof of attendance; if a future rule requires reporting, you’ll be prepared to document your credits.

Key Takeaway: In South Dakota, there is currently no requirement to report CLE credits because CLE is not mandated. Sprout Education supports recordkeeping and reporting where required by other jurisdictions, but you are under no obligation to report CLE in South Dakota today.