.1522 Registered Sponsors

Note: The following regulations of the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Program were amended by the North Carolina Supreme Court on June, 14, 2023, and October 18, 2023. The new regulations will not be enforced until March 1, 2024.

The former text of the CLE regulations can be found on this page. 

(a) Registered Sponsor Status. Notwithstanding the requirements of Rule .1520(b), the following rules apply to registered sponsors:

(1) Presumptive Approval of Programs. Once an organization is approved as a registered sponsor, the continuing legal education programs sponsored by that organization are presumptively approved for credit; however, application must still be made to the board for approval of each program pursuant to Rule .1520(a). The Board will provide notice of its decision on CLE program approval requests pursuant to the schedule set by the Board and approved by the Council. A program will be deemed approved if the notice is not timely provided by the Board pursuant to the schedule. The registered sponsor may request reconsideration of an unfavorable accreditation decision by submitting a letter of appeal to the Board within 15 days of receipt of the notice of disapproval. The decision by the Board on an appeal is final.

(2) Professionalism for New Admittees (PNA) Programs. Registered sponsors shall be permitted to provide PNA programs approved pursuant to Rule .1525 of this subchapter.

(3) Other services provided by the Board. The CLE Board may, in its discretion, provide additional services and adjustments to registered sponsors, including but not limited to reduced program application fees, different application deadlines, and optional payment structures. However, all registered sponsors shall be treated uniformly.

(b) Eligibility Standards. The Board may, in its sole discretion, register a sponsor if it meets the following requirements:

(1) The sponsor shall submit an application in the manner directed by the Board;

(2) The application shall contain all information requested by the Board and include payment of an application fee in an amount set by the Board;

(3) The sponsor must have had at least 20 programs approved for credit in the year prior to applying for Registered Sponsor status; and

(4) The sponsor shall suitably demonstrate a history of consistent compliance with the rules of this subchapter.

(c) Annual Renewal. Registered Sponsors must renew their status annually in the time and manner directed by the Board, including the payment of an annual renewal fee in an amount set by the Board.

(d) Revocation of Registered Sponsor Status. The Board may, at any time and in its sole discretion, revoke the registration of a registered sponsor for failure to satisfy the requirements of this subchapter. A sponsor who has its status revoked may re-apply for Registered Sponsor Status pursuant to Paragraph (b) of this rule.

(e) Previously Registered Sponsors. A sponsor that was previously designated by the board as a registered sponsor prior to the effective date of this revised rule shall maintain its registered sponsor status for the duration of the CLE year in which this rule becomes effective but shall be required to renew its status annually subject to the revised eligibility requirements in Paragraph (b) of this rule.

History Note:  Authority - Order of the North Carolina Supreme Court, October 7, 1987, 318 N.C. 711;

Readopted Eff. December 8, 1994

Amendments Approved by the Supreme Court: March 7, 1996; March 6, 1997; February 3, 2000; March 3, 2005; September 25, 2019; June 14, 2023; October 18, 2023

Rule transferred from 27 N.C. Admin. Code 1D .1524 on June 14, 2023