Understanding CLE requirements is critical for managing your education effectively and ensuring compliance with your state’s regulations.
Continuing legal education (CLE) is necessary to maintain your license and stay up-to-date with industry developments. However, CLE requirements can vary widely depending on where you practice. Understanding these variations is critical for managing your education effectively and ensuring compliance with your state’s regulations.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key aspects of CLE requirements across the U.S., including how credit hours are calculated. We’ve included an interactive table that allows you to search your state and be directed to the specific CLE page for each state — no digging needed!
State-by-State CLE requirements
For quick access to your state’s specific CLE requirements, click on your state’s image to access detailed information about its CLE obligations:
The difference between 50/60 minute credit hours
Different states calculate CLE credit hours using different time increments, which can impact the total number of credits you need to complete your education.
50-Minute Hour: A 50-minute credit hour means that a 60-minute session will usually provide 1.2 credit hours. States using this method include; CO, FL, KS, MO, NJ, NY, OK, RI, WV and WI.
60-Minute Hour: A 60-minute hour means that a full hour of instruction equals one credit hour. States that use this method include: AK, AL, AZ, AR, CA, CT, DE, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MN, MP, MS, MT, NE, NH, NV, NC, ND, NM, OH, OR, PA, PR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA and WY.
Knowing which model your state uses will help you accurately calculate your required credits and avoid any potential compliance issues.
Stay informed and compliant with CLE
Navigating CLE requirements effectively ensures that you stay up-to-date with your professional development and maintain compliance with your state’s regulations. Bookmark your state’s requirements page to keep track of your Mandatory CLE (MCLE) obligations and make informed decisions about your continuing education. If you need further assistance or have questions about specific requirements, contacting the American Bar Association (ABA), the CLE Regulators Association (CLEreg), or a local CLE provider can provide additional clarity.
Continuing education isn’t all you can do to be successful
While CLE is always going to be an important facet of having a successful practice, technology can play a big part in setting your firm up for scalable growth. Get started exploring the features of CARET Legal’s all-in-one legal practice management platform, or sign up for a free trial today.
