Temporary Rule Change: Due to COVID-19, the cap on distance learning credits earned through live online seminars or live webinars has been eliminated for 2022 and 2023 compliance periods. There is still a limit of 6.00 CLE credits for pre-recorded online courses for 2022 and 2023 compliance periods.
Total credit hours: 12.00 credit hours every year.
A maximum of 6.00 credit hours may be taken as distance learning programs. However, the cap on distance learning credits earned through live online seminars and live webinars has been eliminated for 2022 and 2023 compliance periods. Note, there is still a limit of 6.00 credit hours for pre-recorded online courses for 2022 and 2023 compliance periods.
Deadline to Complete CLEs: Attorneys are randomly assigned to one of three Compliance Groups with the following deadlines:
Reporting Deadline: 30 days after program completion.
Reporting Period: 1 year
In Pennsylvania, attorneys must complete 12.00 CLE credits each year by the deadline for their assigned Compliance Group to maintain good standing with the Pennsylvania Bar. There are exceptions for members of the judiciary, active duty military lawyers, newly admitted lawyers, and lawyers with voluntary inactive status and non-resident active deferral status.
The reporting period is 1 year.
There are three Compliance Groups, with the following deadlines:
You are permanently assigned to a compliance group when you are admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar. You can check your CLE status on the Pennsylvania CLE Board website.
Accredited CLE providers are required to report your CLE attendance to the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board within 30 days after the program.
You can complete a maximum of 6.00 Pennsylvania CLE credits with distance learning courses.*
*Due to COVID-19, a temporary rule change eliminates the cap on distance learning credits earned through live online seminars and live webinars for 2022 and 2023 compliance periods. There is still a limit of 6.00 credit hours for pre-recorded online courses for 2022 and 2023 compliance periods.
Pennsylvania attorneys can currently carry over up to 24.00 credits earned from live in-person courses for two successive compliance periods. The rule allows you to carry up to twice the annual credits required. You may carry over ethics and substantive credits. Any excess ethics credits will fulfill substantive credits requirements before being carried over to the following year.
Distance learning CLE credits cannot be carried over.**
**Due to COVID-19, a temporary rule change permits distance learning credits earned through live online seminars or live webinars during 2022 and 2023 compliance periods to carry over.
Pennsylvania attorneys must complete 2.00 ethics CLE credits every compliance period, which may include ethics, professionalism, or substance abuse.
Yes. In-program attendance verification is required.
Newly admitted attorneys in Pennsylvania are exempt from Pennsylvania Bar CLE requirements for up to 2 years after their admission to the bar. Newly admitted attorneys must also complete the Pennsylvania Bridge the Gap program.
Yes. Although you are not required to meet CLE requirements during your first year, up to 24.00 CLE credits earned during that time will carry over for up to 2 compliance periods.
You are permanently assigned to a compliance group when you are admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar. You can check your CLE status on the Pennsylvania CLE Board website.
Depending on your compliance group, you have a grace period of up to 2 years after admission to the bar before you must report Pennsylvania CLE credits. You must complete your first 12.00 CLE credits (including the Bridge the Gap credits) by the deadline for your compliance group (either April 30, August 31, or December 31) the year after you were admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar.
Yes. All new attorneys in Pennsylvania must complete the Pennsylvania Bridge the Gap program by the end of the compliance period after their grace period.
No. The Pennsylvania Bridge the Gap requirement is for attorneys new to the practice of law.
Yes. The Pennsylvania Bridge the Gap courses provide attorneys with information specific to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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