Staying up to date on developments in the law is important for any attorney, regardless of their practice area. Many states require Continuing Legal Education courses (CLEs) for lawyers to keep up their license. However, the requirements vary by jurisdiction - and it can be hard to keep track of the different methods for reporting your credits.
Below are the CLE requirements for each state, including reporting deadlines, carry-over policies, and how attorneys report their credits.
Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many jurisdictions have waived in-person CLE requirements and other general requisites for 2020-2021. Check with your jurisdiction to find out more.
State |
Number of Credits/Reporting Period |
Deadlines |
Can Credits Carry Over? |
How to Report Your CLE Credits |
Alabama |
12 per year; at least 1 Ethics credit and at least 6 live | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline February 15th | Yes; up to 12 credits, including 1 ethics credit, can carry over to the next reporting period | Program sponsors report attendance; no action needed unless you receive a letter of noncompliance |
Alaska |
3 Ethics credits per year required; 9 hours of general credits recommended | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline February 1st | Yes; up to 12 credits can carry over to the next reporting period | Alaska Bar Association Portal |
Arizona |
15 credits per year; at least 3 Ethics credits | Courses complete by June 30th; reporting deadline September 15th | Yes; up to 15 credits, including 3 Ethics credits, can carry over to the next reporting period | State Bar of Arizona Portal |
Arkansas |
12 credits per year; at least 1 Ethics credit | Courses complete by June 30th; reporting deadline July 31st | Yes; up to 12 credits, including 1 Ethics credit, can carry over to the next reporting period | Arkansas Judiciary Attorney Portal https://attorneyinfo.aoc.arkansas.gov/info |
California |
25 credits every three years; at least 4 Ethics credits, 1 Elimination of Bias, 1 Competence Issues | Deadlines vary by compliance groups based on last name | No | My State Bar Profile |
Colorado |
45 credits every three years; at least 7 Ethics credits | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline January 31st | No | Colorado Supreme Court CLE Tracking |
Connecticut |
12 credits per year; at least 2 Ethics credits | Courses complete by December 31st; | Yes; 2 credits, including Ethics credits, may carry over to the next year | No requirement to report credits, but records should be kept for 7 years in case of disciplinary action |
Delaware |
24 credits every 2 years; at least 4 Ethics credits and at least 12 hours of live courses | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline March 31st | Yes; 20 credits can carry over to the next reporting period, Ethics credits carry over as general CLE credits | Course sponsors submit attendance lists |
District of Columbia |
No mandatory CLE requirement; newly admitted attorneys and those who have been inactive for 5 or more years must complete the Mandatory Course on the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct and District of Columbia Practice | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Florida |
33 credits every three years; at least 5 in Legal Ethics, Professionalism, Bias Elimination, Substance Abuse, or Mental Illness Awareness; at least 3 in Technology | Reporting groups assigned by Florida Bar | No | Florida Bar Member Portal |
Georgia |
12 credit hours per year; at least 1 Ethics credit; at least 1 Professionalism credit; trial attorneys must complete 3 hours of Trial Skills | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline January 31st | Yes; up to 12 regular CLE credits, 2 Ethics credits, 3 Trial Skills, 2 Professionalism, and 6 Distance Learning credits may carry over | CLE sponsors submit attendance reports |
Hawaii |
3 credit hours per year; 1 Ethics credit required every third year | Course deadline and reporting deadline December 31st | Yes; 3 credits can be carried over to the next reporting period (Ethics credits cannot be carried over) | CLE sponsors report attendance |
Idaho |
30 credits every three years; at least 3 must be Ethics credits | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline February 1st | No | CLE sponsors report attendance |
Illinois |
30 credit hours every two years; at least 6 in Professional Responsibility (1 Diversity and Inclusion, 1 Mental Health and Substance Abuse) | Courses completed by June 30th; reporting deadline July 31st | Yes; up to 10 credits can carry over to the next reporting period, except Professional Responsibility credits | Illinois MCLE Board Portal |
Indiana |
36 credits every three years; at least 3 Ethics credits; at least 6 hours completed per year | Course deadline and reporting deadline December 31st | No | CLE sponsors report attendance; Commission for Continuing Legal Education sends out letters to attorneys annually to certify |
Iowa |
15 credit hours per year; at least 1 Ethics credit; at least 1 Diversity & Inclusion or Attorney Wellness | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline March 10th | Yes; any excess credits can carry over into the next two reporting periods; Ethics, Diversity & Inclusion, and Attorney Wellness credits carry over as general credit hours | Iowa Supreme Court Office of Professional Regulation Portal |
Kansas |
12 credit hours per year; at least 2 Ethics credits | Courses complete by June 30th; reporting deadline July 31st | Yes; up to 10 credits (except Ethics credits) may carry over into the next reporting period | Providers of programs held in the state of Kansas report attendance; attorneys must submit a signed affidavit within 30 days of completing a program held online or outside the state |
Kentucky |
12 credit hours per year; at least 2 Ethics credits | Courses complete by June 30th; reporting deadline August 10th | Yes; 24 credits (including up to 4 Ethics credits) may carry over into the next two reporting periods | Kentucky Bar Association Portal |
Louisiana |
12.5 credit hours per year; at least 1 Ethics credit and 1 Professionalism credit | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline January 31st | Yes; up to 8 general credits can carry over to the next reporting period | CLE sponsors report attendance |
Maine |
12 credits per year; at least 1 live Ethics course and 1 live, in-person Harassment & Discrimination course | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline last business day in February | Yes; up to 10 credits (except Ethics and Harassment & Discrimination credits) may carry over to the next reporting period | Attorneys submit an annual report with course title, date, location, sponsor, and number of credit hours for all courses taken or carried over in the previous calendar year |
Maryland |
No mandatory CLE requirement | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Massachusetts |
No mandatory CLE requirement | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Michigan |
No mandatory CLE requirement | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Minnesota |
45 credit hours every 3 years; at least 3 Ethics and 2 Elimination of Bias | Courses complete by June 30th of reporting year; reporting deadline August 31st | No | Courses individually reported on Minnesota Board of Legal Education Online Attorney and Sponsor Integrated System (OASIS) |
Mississippi |
12 credit hours per year; at least 1 Ethics credit | Courses complete by July 31st; reporting deadline August 15th | Yes; up to 12 credits may carry over to the next reporting period (Ethics credits carry over as general credits) | Annual report submitted on State of Mississippi Judiciary Portal |
Missouri |
15 credits per year; at least 1 Elimination of Bias credit | Courses complete by June 30th; reporting deadline July 31st | Yes; any excess credits can carry over to the next reporting year (with the exception of on-demand courses) | Annual Report of Compliance submitted online |
Montana |
15 credit hours per year; at least 2 Ethics credits; no more than 5 hours on-demand | Courses complete by March 31st; reporting deadline May 15th | Yes; up to 30 live credits (4 of which may be Ethics) can carry over to the next reporting period | Report courses on Montana Continuing Legal Education Portal |
Nebraska |
10 credit hours per year; at least 2 Ethics credits | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline January 20th | Yes; up to 5 credits may be carried over into the next reporting period; Ethics credits and distance learning cannot carry over | CLE sponsors report attendance; attorneys can self-report and maintain their transcript |
Nevada |
13 credit hours per year; at least 2 Ethics credits and 1 Substance Abuse credit | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline February 15th | Yes; up to 20 general credits, 4 Ethics credits, and 2 Substance Abuse credits may carry over into the next two reporting periods | CLE sponsors report attendance; attorneys affirm on Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education portal |
New Hampshire |
12 credit hours per year; at least 2 Ethics credits | Courses complete by June 30th; reporting deadline July 1st | Yes; 12 credits, including 2 Ethics credits, can carry over to the next reporting period | Attorneys self-determine whether a program qualifies for CLE credit and report using New Hampshire MCLE Attorney Reporting Tool |
New Jersey |
24 credit hours every two years; at least 5 Ethics credits, of which at least 2 are Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting groups determined by attorney's birthdate | Yes; up to 12 credits may carry over to the next reporting period | CLE Compliance Tracker |
New Mexico |
12 credit hours per year; 10 General credits, 2 Ethics credits; no more than 4 on-demand | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline January 31st | Yes; 12 credits, including 2 Ethics, can carry over to the next reporting period | CLE sponsors submit attendance for already-approved courses, attorneys can self-report other live courses and self-study |
New York |
24 credit hours every two years; at least 2 Ethics, at least 1 Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias | Deadlines vary based on the attorney's birthdate | Yes; 6 credits can carry over to the next reporting period | Attorneys certify their credits when they complete their attorney registration. The state board advises keeping certificates of attendance for four years in case of an audit. |
North Carolina |
12 credit hours per year; at least 2 Ethics credits and 1 Technology credit each year; at least one Substance Abuse credit every three years | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline February 28th | Yes; 12 credits, including 2 Ethics credits, may carry over to the next reporting period | CLE providers report attendance, attorneys receive an Annual Report they must certify |
North Dakota |
45 credit hours every three years; at least 3 Ethics credits | Courses complete by June 30th; reporting deadline July 31st | Yes; 15 credits may carry over to the next reporting period; Ethics credits do not carry over | Attorneys file Report of Compliance with State Bar Association of North Dakota |
Ohio |
24 credits every two years; at least 2 Professional Conduct credits, which includes Ethics, Professionalism, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, Mental Health, or Access to Justice | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline January 31st | Yes; 12 credits, which cannot be Professional Conduct or self-study, may carry over to the next reporting period | CLE sponsors report attendance |
Oklahoma |
12 credit hours per year; at least 2 Ethics credits | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline February 15th | Yes; 12 credits, 2 of which can be Ethics credits, may carry over to the next reporting period | CLE sponsors report attendance |
Oregon |
45 credit hours every three years; at least 5 Ethics credits, 1 Child and Elder Abuse Reporting, 3 Access to Justice, and 1 Substance Abuse & Mental Health | Courses complete by April 30th; reporting deadline May 31st. | Yes; up to 15 credits may carry over, including a maximum of 6 Ethics credits. Elder Abuse Reporting, Child Abuse Reporting, and Access to Justice carry over as general credits | CLE sponsors report attendance |
Pennsylvania |
12 credits per year; at least 2 credits in Ethics, Professionalism, or Substance Abuse | Deadlines vary by compliance group | Yes; up to 24 credits can carry over into the next two reporting periods | CLE sponsors report attendance |
Puerto Rico |
24 credits every two years; at least 4 Ethics credits | Courses complete by the last day of the month before the attorney's birth month; reporting deadline 30 days after CLE deadline | Yes; up to 24 credits may transfer to the next reporting cycle | CLE providers report attendance, attorneys certify at the end of each cycle (some programs may need to be self-reported) |
Rhode Island |
10 credit hours per year; at least 2 Ethics credits | Courses complete and reported by June 30th | Yes; up to 10 credits can carry over to the next reporting period | CLE sponsors report attendance |
South Carolina |
14 credits per year; at least 2 in Ethics, 6 live in-person; at least 1 Substance Abuse credit every two years | Courses completed by February 28th; reporting deadline March 1st | Yes; up to 14 credits, including 2 Ethics credits, may carry into the next reporting period; Substance Abuse credits cannot carry over | South Carolina CLE sponsors report attendance; attorneys can self-report other courses by emailing their certificate of attendance to the Commission. |
South Dakota |
No mandatory CLE requirement | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Tennessee |
15 credit hours per year; at least 3 Ethics credits and 7 live in-person credits | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline March 31st | Yes; up to 15 credits, including 3 Ethics credits, may transfer to the next reporting period | State-accredited CLE providers report attendance; attorneys must self-report for other programs |
Texas |
15 credit hours per year; at least 3 Ethics credits | Courses complete and reported by the last day of attorney's birth month | Yes; up to 15 credits may carry over to the next year | Your MCLE Hours |
US Virgin Islands |
24 credits every two years; at least 4 in Ethics, 1 in Mental Health/Substance Abuse; 2 in Technology; 4 in US Virgin Islands Law Programming | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline January 31st | Yes; up to 6 credits may transfer to the following period | Virgin Islands Bar Association Login |
Utah |
24 credits every two years; at least 2 in Ethics and 1 in Professionalism | Courses complete by June 30th; reporting deadline July 31st | No | Program sponsors report attendance |
Vermont |
24 credits every two years; at least 2 Ethics, 1 Attorney Wellness, 1 Diversity and Inclusion, and 12 via Moderated Programming or Non-Moderated with Interactivity | Courses complete by June 30th; reporting deadline July 1st | Credits earned in the second year of the reporting cycle may carry over | Attorneys certify CLE compliance on license renewal statement |
Virginia |
12 credit hours per year; at least 2 Ethics and 4 Live | Courses complete by October 31st; reporting deadline December 15th | Yes; up to 12 credits, including 2 Ethics credits, may carry over | Virginia State Bar Member Portal |
Washington |
45 credits every three years; at least 15 Law & Legal Procedure, 6 Ethics; no more than 8 credits in a single day | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline February 1st | Yes; up to 15 credits, including 2 Ethics credits, may carry over | Washington MCLE Portal |
West Virginia |
24 credits every two years; at least 3 Ethics credits | Courses complete June 30th, even years; reporting deadline July 31st | Yes; up to 6 credits, excluding Ethics credits, may carry over to the next reporting period | Sponsors of approved West Virginia programs generally report attendance, but attorneys are encouraged to self-report on their bar member portal |
Wisconsin |
30 credits every two years; at least 3 Ethics (cannot be on-demand) | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline February 1st | Yes; up to 15 credits, excluding Ethics, may be carried over | Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners CLE |
Wyoming |
15 credits per year; at least 2 in Ethics | Courses complete by December 31st; reporting deadline January 15th | Any excess live credits may carry over to the next two reporting periods | Wyoming State Bar CLE Credit Submission |