CLE Information for Members

CLE Requirements in North Carolina for New Lawyers

Any active member admitted to the North Carolina State Bar after January 1, 2011, must complete the Professionalism for New Attorneys (PNA) Program in the year the member is first required to fulfill CLE requirements. Credit for the program is applied to the mandatory requirements. If you were licensed in another state for five or more years at the time you were admitted to the NC State Bar, you are exempt from the requirement; however, you must notify the State Bar of the exemption when you pay your annual Bar dues for the first time. 

See 27 NCAC 1D, Sections .1500 and for the CLE rules and regulations.

CLE Requirements in North Carolina for Renewing Lawyers

The CLE requirements in North Carolina are 24  hours of approved CLE every two years.

Of these 24 hours, four must be in professional responsibility or professionalism or any combination thereof, one technology hour, and one professional well-being hour (formerly substance abuse/mental health awareness training). Lawyers are permitted to carry over up to 12 hours of CLE from one reporting period to the next. Hours will carry over as total hours only. Ethics, technology, and professional well-being hours must be taken every reporting period.

To facilitate the transition to the new rules effective March 1, 2024, a staggered reporting period has been established. Lawyers admitted in North Carolina with an odd year of admittance (e.g. 2023) will have a one-time, one year/12-hour requirement. Even year lawyers will go directly to two years/24 hours.

Lawyers will owe a $25 annual CLE attendance fee during the membership renewal process.

All active members admitted to the North Carolina State Bar after January 1, 2011, must complete the Professionalism for New Attorneys Program in the member's first reporting period. Credit for the program is applied to the mandatory requirements. If you were licensed in another state for five or more years at the time you were admitted to the NC Bar, you are exempt from the requirement; however, you must notify the State Bar of the exemption during the membership renewal process.

Click here to view FAQs about the Professionalism for New Attorneys Program

See 27 NCAC 1D, Sections .1500 for the CLE rules and regulations.

Claiming Exemption from CLE Requirements

An active member of the State Bar may qualify for one of the specified exemptions listed at 27 NCAC 1D, Rule .1517, or apply to the Board of Continuing Legal Education for an exemption based upon disability, hardship, or extenuating circumstances.

You must claim your exemption when you pay your annual membership dues. All exemptions must be reported every year. For special circumstances exemptions only, you must write to the Exemption Committee of the Board of Continuing Legal Education and request the exemption, explaining the reasons and providing any supporting documentation you feel would be helpful. The Exemption Committee will consider your request and reply in writing within 30 days. A special circumstances exemption is only valid for one calendar year.

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