Oregon Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Requirements

Oregon CLE Requirements at a Glance

Requirement	Details
Total Hours	45 credit hours every 3 years
Ethics / Professionalism	5 hours (3 ethics, 1 mental health/substance use, 1 access to justice)
Delivery Formats Allowed	Live, webinar, or on-demand (if accredited)
On-Demand / Self-Study Cap	No cap if completed through accredited programs
Compliance Period	3-year cycle based on year of admission
Reporting Deadline	January 31 following the end of the reporting period
Carryover Credit	Up to 15 general CLE hours may carry forward; specialty credits may not
Exemptions / Special Rules	Newly admitted attorneys, inactive members, retired attorneys, and judges
Reporting Responsibility	Attorneys self-report via the Oregon State Bar MCLE Reporting Portal

Overview

Oregon attorneys must complete 45 CLE credit hours every 3 years, including 5 specialty hours: 3 in ethics, 1 in mental health/substance use, and 1 in access to justice. Compliance is tracked in 3-year reporting cycles based on the attorney’s year of admission, and reporting must be completed by January 31 of the year following the cycle through the Oregon State Bar MCLE Portal.

CLE Credit Hour Requirements

• 45 CLE hours every 3 years
• Of those, 5 hours must be in specialty areas:
  • 3 hours in ethics
  • 1 hour in mental health and substance use education
  • 1 hour in access to justice (diversity, equity, inclusion, or bias awareness)
• Remaining 40 hours may be in general law or practice topics
• Courses may be completed live, via webcast, or through accredited on-demand programs
• Credit may also be earned through teaching, writing, or bar-related educational activities
• Programs must be approved by the Oregon State Bar MCLE Program

Compliance Period

• CLE compliance runs on a 3-year cycle based on admission year:
  • Attorneys admitted in 2022 report in 2025, those admitted in 2023 report in 2026, etc.
• All CLE must be completed by December 31 of the final year in the reporting cycle
• Certification of compliance is due by January 31 of the following year

Reporting and Deadlines

• Attorneys self-report CLE through the Oregon State Bar MCLE Portal
• Accredited providers report attendance directly to the OSB
• Attorneys are responsible for ensuring their transcript is complete and accurate
• The OSB may issue deficiency notices for incomplete or late compliance

Carryover Rules

• Up to 15 general CLE hours may carry forward to the next 3-year cycle
• Ethics, access to justice, and mental health/substance use credits cannot carry forward

Exemptions and Special Rules

• Newly admitted attorneys are subject to a shorter New Admittee MCLE requirement:
  • 15 total CLE hours, including 10 in practical skills and 3 in ethics
  • Must complete within the first reporting period
• Inactive, retired, and judicial members are exempt while in those statuses
• Attorneys reinstating to active status must make up CLE requirements from their prior inactive period
• Hardship waivers or extensions may be granted for good cause

Approved Providers, Accreditation & Alternative Credit Methods

• CLE programs must be accredited by the Oregon State Bar MCLE Program
• Out-of-state CLE programs accredited by another jurisdiction may qualify upon submission for approval
• Attorneys may earn CLE credit for:
  • Teaching accredited CLE or law school courses
  • Authoring published legal materials
  • Serving on bar association educational committees
• Providers must retain attendance records for 5 years

Non-Compliance Penalties

• Attorneys who fail to complete or report CLE receive a Notice of Noncompliance
• A 30-day grace period is provided to cure deficiencies
• Continued noncompliance may result in administrative suspension by the Oregon Supreme Court
• Reinstatement requires completion of CLE, payment of fees, and proof of compliance

How to Report CLE in Oregon

1. Complete 45 CLE hours, including 5 specialty hours, by December 31 of your reporting period
2. Log in to the Oregon State Bar MCLE Reporting Portal
3. Verify your CLE transcript and confirm all courses are listed
4. Submit your certification of compliance by January 31
5. Retain attendance and completion records for audit purposes

Oregon CLE Frequently Asked Questions

How many CLE hours are required in Oregon?

45 hours every 3 years, including 3 in ethics, 1 in mental health/substance use, and 1 in access to justice.

Can I complete CLE online?

Yes. There is no cap on accredited online or on-demand CLE.

Can I carry over CLE hours?

Yes. Up to 15 general hours may carry forward, but specialty credits cannot.

Who is exempt from CLE in Oregon?

Newly admitted attorneys (until the end of their first shortened reporting period), inactive members, retired attorneys, and judges.

What happens if I fail to complete or report CLE?

You’ll receive a deficiency notice and risk administrative suspension if not cured within the grace period.

What is the New Admittee MCLE requirement?

New Oregon attorneys must complete 15 CLE hours within their first reporting period, including 10 in practical skills and 3 in ethics.

Oregon CLE Resources

• Oregon State Bar MCLE Program: https://www.osbar.org/mcle/
• CLE Rules: https://www.osbar.org/_docs/mcle/Rules.pdf
• CLE Reporting Portal: https://www.osbar.org/mcle/login.html
• MCLE FAQs: https://www.osbar.org/mcle/faq.html