Tennessee

No — Tennessee does not require CLE to be in person. Under current Tennessee law, attorneys may satisfy all credit hours via approved distance learning (live or recorded), as the prior limitation on online credits was removed as of November 1, 2022.

Tennessee CLE Format Rules

• Rule 21 of the Tennessee Supreme Court allows credit earned via in-person or distance learning formats without restriction.
• An attorney may receive credit for live-streamed sessions (webcasts) and prerecorded programs as long as they are approved and satisfy the Commission’s interactivity or format criteria.
• The Order effective November 1, 2022 eliminated caps on distance learning credit, meaning all required CLE credits may now be earned via online or on-demand methods.
• On-demand distance learning is allowed, but no credit is allowed for viewing a recorded program if the participant has already received credit for the original live presentation.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, attorneys are no longer required to attend in person — live webcasts and approved recorded/distance learning courses now satisfy the CLE requirement entirely.

Tennessee attorneys report CLE via an Annual Report Statement filed after the compliance year ends (deadline March 1); providers submit attendance, and attorneys may use a notarized Affidavit if needed to prevent penalties.

Key Details:

• The CLE compliance period ends December 31; attorneys must file their Annual Report Statement by March 1.
• Providers have 30 days after completion of the program to report attendance to the Commission.
• If reported credits aren’t posted by deadline, the attorney may submit a notarized Affidavit of Compliance for already-accredited courses to prevent suspension or extra fees.
• For out-of-state or unaccredited programs, attorneys may submit a “Request for Credit” or “Application for Accreditation” along with supporting materials.
• Attorneys must keep their certificates and documentation; the Commission matches provider reports with the attorney’s record.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, attorneys certify CLE compliance through an Annual Report Statement by March 1, relying on provider-reported attendance—or, when necessary, a notarized Affidavit—to secure their compliance status.

No — judges in Tennessee do not have a separate CLE regime; they are generally exempt from the attorney CLE requirement while serving as judges.

Under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21, the CLE requirement applies to attorneys, but Justices, Judges, and Magistrate Judges are exempt on the basis of their judicial continuing education or comparable programs.

Details

• Rule 21 lists as an exemption: “All Justices, Judges, and Magistrate Judges … shall not be subject to the

Yes — Tennessee’s rules permit certain attorneys to be exempt from CLE or claim exemptions, but these must be affirmatively claimed via the Annual Report Statement.

Exemptions (or deferred obligations) in Rule 21 include nonresident attorneys not practicing Tennessee law, active U.S. military, age 70+, full-time law professors not practicing, public officials barred from practice, and judges; but inactive license status alone does not automatically exempt.

Details / Exceptions

• Nonresident Exemption: Lawyers licensed in Tennessee but residing outside the state and not practicing

In Tennessee, CLE credit counts when earned through Commission-approved educational and professional activities under Supreme Court Rule 21.

Attorneys must earn 15 credit hours per calendar year, including 3 hours of Ethics & Professionalism (EP).

Allowed CLE activities

• Attendance at approved live or distance-learning programs (in-person, webcasts, recorded) — all hours,

Yes — you can submit CLE compliance online in Tennessee, but only in limited circumstances (i.e. for courses not reported by providers) via forms and the CLE portal.

normally, accredited providers report attendance to the Tennessee CLE Commission under Supreme Court Rule 21.

Details:

• Providers (not attorneys) are required to electronically report CLE attendance within 30 days of completion.
• Attendance

Yes — Tennessee allows some delayed reporting of CLE credits (up to one year after the date earned), but late reporting may trigger noncompliance fees if not done by December 31 of the compliance year.

By Supreme Court Rule 21, attorneys should report CLE credit “no later than one year” from when the credit was earned, and failing to submit by December 31 may incur non-compliance fees.

Details & Process

• Under Tennessee Rule 21(e): “CLE credit should be reported … as soon thereafter as is practical, but

Placing a Tennessee law license on inactive status does not automatically excuse the CLE requirement.

Under Supreme Court Rule 21 § 2.03(h), an attorney must formally file a Request for Inactive Status with the CLE Commission to claim exemption—otherwise the CLE obligation continues.

Details

• Rule 21 § 2.03(h) specifically allows an attorney who is not practicing law to request inactive status and thereby claim

No — Tennessee’s CLE rules do not distinguish between part-time and full-time attorneys; all covered attorneys must meet the same requirement (unless exempted by age, nonpractice, or other status).

Under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 21, every attorney who is required to comply must complete 15 hours of CLE annually, including 3 hours in Ethics/Professionalism and 12 hours of General credit.

Details:

• All required hours may be earned via in-person or distance learning formats, with no mandatory live minimum.
• Carryover

In Tennessee, CLE credits begin being recorded as soon as providers submit attendance (within 30 days of the course). However, you cannot formally certify your CLE compliance until after the calendar year ends (December 31) — the reporting deadline is March 31 of the following year.

Key Details

• Attorneys must complete 15 CLE credit hours each year, including 3 hours of Ethics/Professionalism.
• Providers are required to report attendance and credits to the Commission within 30 days after the event.
• Compliance is assessed after the year closes: hours must be earned by December 31.
• The Annual Report Statement (for reporting) is issued in March, and attorneys must submit any missing or corrected hours by March 31.
• The Commission does not begin to assess compliance until the 30-day provider reporting window has passed after December 31.

Key Takeaway
You can start having CLE credits entered into your record right after completing courses (via provider reporting), but your formal CLE compliance reporting can only occur after December 31, with a March 31 deadline for submission.

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.

Tennessee provides a reporting grace window through March 31 following the December 31 CLE deadline. Attorneys who miss December 31 may still complete required CLE and submit their affidavit by March 31 to avoid suspension.

Tennessee CLE Timeline

• December 31: Deadline to complete all required CLE hours.
• January 1: $100 noncompliance fee is assessed for attorneys who did not complete CLE.
• March 31: Last date to file an exemption or affidavit remedying deficiencies and to pay the noncompliance fee.

After March 31

• Attorneys still noncompliant by May 31 incur additional “continuing noncompliance” fees if deficiencies or fees remain uncorrected.
• On July 1, the Commission prepares a draft suspension order for attorneys who failed to remedy noncompliance by May 31.

Key Takeaway: Tennessee effectively offers a grace period through March 31 after year-end to cure CLE deficiencies and submit compliance, but failure to act by that date can lead to more severe fees and suspension actions.

Tennessee attorneys must complete 15 CLE credit hours per year, including 3 hours in ethics.

The CLE reporting cycle is the calendar year (January 1 to December 31), with reporting due by March 31.

Details

• Breakdown: 12 hours general + 3 hours ethics.
• Carryover: Up to 15 hours (including 3 ethics) may be carried forward to

The CLE reporting deadline in Tennessee is March 31 following the December 31 compliance year.

Attorneys must complete 15 CLE hours (including 3 ethics) by December 31 and then report compliance by March 31.

Tennessee CLE Reporting Rules

• Compliance deadline: December 31 each year
• Reporting deadline: March 31 for submission of the

Yes — Tennessee attorneys may apply for an “Exceptional Relief” petition, which can include requests for extensions, waivers, or modifications of CLE obligations under certain circumstances. The Supreme Court Rule 21 and the Exceptional Relief Rule permit relief for hardship or extenuating circumstances.

Tennessee CLE Rules & Deadlines

• Tennessee lawyers must complete 15 CLE hours annually (including 3 Ethics/Professionalism).
• CLE must be completed by December 31 each year, and compliance is reported by March 31 with penalties for late compliance thereafter.
• Under Rule 21(e), CLE hours are to be reported “as soon thereafter as is practical, but no later than one year from the date the CLE credit was earned.”

Exceptional Relief / Extension Authority

• An attorney may file for Exceptional Relief to seek waivers, extensions, or modifications of CLE requirements for undue hardship or extenuating circumstances.
• The Exceptional Relief petition must follow procedures set by the CLE Commission under Rule 21 and related regulations.

What You Should Do

1. Review Supreme Court Rule 21 and the Exceptional Relief procedures.
2. Prepare a petition for Exceptional Relief specifying the relief you seek (extension, waiver, adjustment) and detailing your hardship or extenuating circumstances.
3. File the petition with the Tennessee CLE Commission by the deadline for your reporting period.
4. Continue to earn CLE credits where possible while your petition is pending.
5. If relief is granted, comply with the adjusted timeline or modified CLE plan set by the Commission.

Limitations & Considerations

• Relief (extension, waiver, or modification) is discretionary, not guaranteed.
• Exceptional Relief is not a routine extension — it is intended for genuine hardship or extenuating circumstances.
• Even with an extension, you must still satisfy some form of compliance (earning or reporting) by the adjusted deadline or face sanction.

Key Takeaway
Tennessee does allow attorneys to request extensions or adjustments through the Exceptional Relief process under Rule 21, but you must file a detailed petition showing genuine hardship or extenuating circumstances—and don’t expect the relief to be automatic.

Tennessee attorneys must complete 15 CLE credit hours each year. That requirement includes 3 hours in ethics and 12 general credits.

Annual CLE Requirements in Tennessee

• Total requirement: 15 credit hours per compliance year
• Ethics requirement: 3 credit hours
• General credits: 12 credit hours
• Compliance deadline: December 31
• Reporting deadline: March 31

Carryover & Format Rules

• Up to 15 hours of credit (including up to 3 EP credits) may be carried into the next compliance year.
• All formats (live or distance) may be applied toward the requirement, with no fixed cap on distance learning formats.

Key Takeaway: Tennessee’s annual CLE cycle requires 15 hours per year, including 3 ethics hours, with full flexibility to use live or distance learning credits and a one-year carryover option.

You report CLE credits in Tennessee by submitting the Annual Report Statement to the Tennessee Commission on CLE by March 31 (or, if claiming an exemption, by that date), certifying that you completed the required credits by December 31.
The CLE year is calendar (January 1 – December 31), and all attorneys must earn 15 credit hours (including 3 in ethics/professionalism) under Rule 21 of the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Overview of Tennessee CLE Reporting

• Under Supreme Court Rule 21, attorneys must earn 15 CLE hours annually, of which 3 must be ethics/professionalism (“EP”) credits.
• CLE providers must submit attendance lists and pay reporting fees within 30 days of the program.
• The Commission sends each attorney an Annual Report Statement (paper or electronic) by February 28.
• Attorneys must complete and deliver the Report Statement by March 31, either showing compliance, claiming an exemption, or filing a substitute program request.
• If compliance is late, noncompliance fees apply and attorneys may cure the deficiency via a late filing or affidavit by May 31.
• Attorneys may carry forward up to 15 excess hours (including EP) into the next compliance year.

Steps to Report CLE in Tennessee

• Complete your 15 CLE hours (with 3 ethics) by December 31.
• Keep your certificates, attendance records, provider information, and agendas.
• Confirm that providers submitted your attendance to the Commission within 30 days.
• Around February, you will receive the Annual Report Statement from the CLE Commission.
• Fill out and return the Report by March 31, indicating compliance or claiming exemption or substitution, and pay any fees due.
• If your Report shows noncompliance, cure by filing an affidavit or making up the CLE plus paying the noncompliance fee by May 31.
• If you earned credits through Sprout Education, ensure we’ve submitted your attendance (when permitted) and that your certificates support your filing.

Key Takeaway: In Tennessee, you complete 15 CLE hours by December 31, then submit the Annual Report Statement by March 31. Sprout Education supports attendance reporting where allowed, but verifying credits and meeting deadlines is your responsibility.

No — Tennessee does not maintain a minimum in-person classroom CLE requirement.

As amended, all required CLE hours may be earned via in-person, live interactive (e.g. webcasts), or distance learning formats, without a physical attendance floor.

Details

• Tennessee attorneys must complete 15 CLE hours annually, including 3 ethics/professionalism hours and 12 general hours.

Yes — Tennessee allows carryover of CLE credits, up to 15 hours (i.e. one full year’s requirement).
Under Supreme Court Rule 21, Section 4.02(b), hours in excess of the 15-hour requirement in a compliance year may be carried forward, but only for the immediately succeeding compliance year.

Details & nuances

• The Rule states: “Up to fifteen (15) hours of credit earned in a compliance year in excess of the fifteen (15) credit annual requirement may be carried forward … but only for the succeeding compliance year.”
• All hours — whether from in-person or distance learning — are eligible to apply toward that carryover cap.
• The Rule requires those carryover hours to be “reported and paid” in the year earned, for them to be valid in the next year.
• CLE providers and summaries corroborate: attorneys may carry over 15 credits (up to 12 general + 3 ethics/professionalism) into the next year.
• Some sources note that the carryover is limited to one subsequent year — unused carryover after that year lapses.

Key Takeaway
In Tennessee, you can carry over up to 15 CLE credits (including ethics) into the next compliance year, but the carryover is limited to just that one year and only applies if reported properly.