cle state requirements

State Rules

New North Carolina CLE Rules as of March 1, 2024

North Carolina is moving to a 2 year CLE cycle. 24 credit hours will be required with a minimum 4 hours of ethics, 1 hour of technology, and 1 hour of Professional Well Being (PWB). Attorneys admitted in an odd year will only be required to complete 12 total hours, including 2 ethics, 1 technology, and 1 PWB for the February 28, 2025 deadline. Attorneys admitted in an even year will be required to complete the 24 hour requirement for the February 28, 2026 deadline. So, to clarify, if you were admitted in an odd year, your CLE will be due in odd years and even year admitted will be due in even years.

Twelve hours of carry over credits will be allowed, but only counting toward general hours. You will have to complete ethics, technology and PWB each compliance cycle. The compliance year will move to March 1 - End of February starting March 1, 2024.

Old Rules

The "Old" North Carolina CLE requirement is 12 credit hours including 2 hour of ethics/professionalism and 1 hour technology credit each compliance cycle.

Attorneys are required to take 1 credit hour of substance abuse and debilitating mental conditions every three years. For example, in the year you take a Substance Abuse course you would need to take 8 general credit hours, 2 ethics credit hours, 1 hour of technology, and 1 substance abuse credit hour.

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.

Newly Admitted Attorneys

Newly admitted attorneys must complete the 12-hour Professionalism for New Attorneys (PNA) Program in the year the lawyer is first required to fulfill CLE requirements. Attorney Credits does not offer this newly admitted course.