Last reviewed: February 25, 2026. Please confirm details on the official State Bar site before publishing, since requirements/fees can change.

California MCLE Requirements Overview

California attorneys are generally required to complete 25 hours of MCLE every three years. Those 25 hours must include specific subtopics required by the State Bar of California.

• 4 hours in Legal Ethics
• 2 hours in Elimination of Bias, including at least 1 hour focused on Implicit Bias (and bias-reducing strategies)
• 2 hours in Competence, including at least 1 hour on Prevention and Detection (wellness competence may also be included)
• 1 hour in Technology and the Practice of Law
• 1 hour in Civility in the Legal Profession
• The remaining 15 hours may be satisfied with general MCLE.

Participatory vs. Self-Study

• At least 12.5 hours must be participatory.
• Up to 12.5 hours may be completed as self-study.

California MCLE Compliance Groups and Deadlines

The State Bar assigns attorneys to one of three compliance groups based on the first letter of the last name (as shown on the admit card). Each group has a compliance period and a reporting deadline.

• Group 1 (Last Names A–G)
  • Compliance Period: February 1, 2022 – March 29, 2028
  • Reporting Deadline: April 1, 2028
• Group 2 (Last Names H–M)
  • Compliance Period: February 1, 2024 – March 29, 2027
  • Reporting Deadline: March 30, 2027
• Group 3 (Last Names N–Z)
  • Compliance Period: February 1, 2023 – March 29, 2026
  • Reporting Deadline: March 30, 2026

Attorneys must complete MCLE within the compliance period and report by the deadline for their group. For the most accurate status, log into your State Bar Profile.

Reporting Your California MCLE Compliance

Many MCLE providers report completed credits directly to the State Bar. If your provider reports for you, it can reduce manual entry and help keep your Bar profile accurate.

Special Circumstances

• Newly admitted attorneys: New attorneys may have a reduced MCLE requirement proportional to the time they’ve been a member of the Bar (see the State Bar’s proportional requirement table).
• Inactive or exempt attorneys: If you were inactive or exempt for part of your compliance period, you may also be subject to a proportional requirement (see the same State Bar table).

Consequences of Non-Compliance

MCLE penalties and fees can change over time. The State Bar increased certain MCLE-related fees effective January 1, 2025. Your previous page referenced a $75 late fee; you should update that section.

• Late / non-compliance-related fee amount: $106 (effective Jan 1, 2025)
• Reinstatement fee amount: $318 (effective Jan 1, 2025)

Confirm the current fee schedule here: State Bar MCLE page .

Out-of-State CLE Courses

Attorneys may receive credit for CLE taken while physically outside California, as long as the course is accredited by an Approved Jurisdiction (per State Bar rules). See the State Bar MCLE pages for the approved jurisdictions list and details.

Calculation of CLE Credit Hours

CLE credit is commonly calculated by rounding instruction time to the nearest 1/4 hour. (Confirm exact rounding and qualification rules on the State Bar MCLE requirements page.)

Carry-Over of Excess Credits

California does not allow MCLE hours earned in excess of the requirement to carry over into the next compliance period.

Record Keeping

Attorneys must maintain proof of compliance for audits. Keep completion certificates and related records for at least the time required by the State Bar after you report compliance.

MCLE Audits

The State Bar may audit MCLE compliance. If audited, follow the instructions in your audit notice and in your State Bar Profile. If your provider supplies certificates, download and store them in a safe place.

Definition of Experienced Attorney

In California, attorneys are generally considered “experienced” after fulfilling New Attorney Training Program requirements and actively practicing law.

Alternative Ways to Earn MCLE Credit for Experienced Attorneys

• Self-Study: up to 12.5 hours may be self-study.
• Legal Writing: credit may be available for certain published legal materials.
• Teaching: credit may be available for teaching approved coursework or CLE activities (rules vary by context).
• Pro bono credit: do not assume pro bono earns MCLE credit in California. Verify on the State Bar site before advertising this as an option.

Contact the California MCLE Department

This page is provided for general informational purposes. For the official rules and your personal compliance status, refer to your State Bar Profile and the State Bar’s MCLE pages linked above.