State FAQ

TOP NORTH CAROLINA CLE QUESTIONS

What is the new North Carolina CLE requirement as of March 1, 2024?

24 credit hours every 2 years - including 4 hours of legal ethics, 1 hour of technology, and 1 hour of Professional Well Being (PWB).

What is special for the February 28, 2025 and February 28, 2026 compliance cycles?

If you were admitted to North Carolina in an odd numbered year you will only be required to complete 12 total hours for the February 28, 2025 compliance deadline. The 12 hours require a minimum 2 hours of ethics, 1 hour of technology and 1 hour of PWB. If you were admitted to North Carolina in an even numbered year you will be required to complete 24 hours for the February 28, 2026 compliance deadline.

How many CLE hours can I take through Attorney Credits?

All 12/24 North Carolina CLE credit hours can be taken online.

What is the old North Carolina CLE requirement?

Twelve credit hours every year - including 2 hours of legal ethics and 1 hour of technology every year. One required hour of substance abuse every 3 years.

How do Attorney Credits' CLE courses qualify for credit in North Carolina?

All of our online and downloadable on-demand CLE courses have been approved for CLE credit by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Continuing Legal Education.

What are my CLE compliance and reporting requirements?

Reporting Cycle: Annual
Compliance Deadline: End of February
Reporting Deadline: End of February

What is the requirement for newly admitted attorneys?

A newly admitted attorney must complete the 12-hour Professionalism for New Attorneys (PNA) program.

Does Attorney Credits offer courses for newly admitted attorneys?

No. Attorney Credits does not offer the PNA course.

Can I carry hours forward to the next year?

Yes, up to 12 credit hours may be carried over to the next compliance period. No more than 2 hours of legal ethics may be carried over to the next year.

Does Attorney Credits verify my completion?

Yes, under the North Carolina CLE Requirements we must monitor your completion of the course. For online streaming video courses you must click on randomly inserted pop ups to confirm that you are viewing the video. For downloadable courses we have embedded numeric codes in the courses. You must write these numbers down and then enter them on our website after you complete the course to obtain your course certificate. Please note that the date you enter the codes and get the certificate is the date that will be printed on the certificate.

Does Attorney Credits report my CLE hours to the North Carolina State Bar Board of Continuing Legal Education?

Yes, Attorney Credits does report your completed courses to the North Carolina State Bar Board of Continuing Legal Education. Our automated attendance reports run on 1st and 15th of every month and these are mailed to the state. In addition, we also maintain a record of all your completed courses and you can access your certificates of completion at anytime from our website. Please note that the State Bar of North Carolina charges $3.50 per credit hour which the attorney pays directly to the state bar. North Carolina attorneys will be billed by the North Carolina Bar for their attendance fees after they return their annual report forms each year.

How do I report the completion of my CLE requirement at the end of my compliance period?

In January you will receive an annual report form showing all of the information that the North Carolina State Bar Board of Continuing Legal Education has regarding your CLE credit hours for the preceding year. All active members of the North Carolina State Bar must update and return this form to the North Carolina State Bar Board of Continuing Legal Education by February 28. You can review your CLE records online at: https://www.nccle.org/member-login.

Who do I contact for more information?

For more information about CLE in North Carolina, please call the North Carolina State Bar Board of Continuing Legal Education at (919) 733-0123 or visit the North Carolina State Bar Board of Continuing Legal Education webpage: http://www.nccle.org.

You may also contact Attorney Credits by phone. For further assistance and information about the North Carolina CLE requirement, please call our Support Center at (760) 434-1885.