46 U.S. jurisdictions require lawyers to take mandatory or minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) courses in order to practice law within that particular jurisdiction. Click on the map below to access state-by-state MCLE information or view our summary of MCLE state requirements.

All lawyers are encouraged to contact their state accreditation body to discern any state particularities, limitations or regulations in any and all formats.

Q: What does MCLE stand for?
A: MCLE stands for mandatory or minimum continuing legal education.

Q: What role does the ABA play in the CLE accreditation process?
A: The ABA is not an accrediting body or regulatory agency, but a provider of continuing legal education to the legal community at large. CLE accreditation is given on a state-by-state basis. There is no nationwide accreditation since the MCLE programs are administered by the state supreme courts through a special CLE commission or board.

Access More Frequently Asked Questions by Type:

1. Overview of MCLE
   
2. For Attorneys/Participants
3. For External Groups (e.g., CLE Providers)
   

• The Continuing Legal Education Regulators Association (CLE Reg)
• MCLE Frequently Asked Questions
• Map of U.S. MCLE States—State-by-State MCLE Requirements
• Summary of MCLE State Requirements
• States Requiring MCLE—Contact Information for State Regulatory Agencies
• ABA Model Rule for Minimum Continuing Legal Education
• MCLE Summit 2001 Position Paper (PDF Document)
• Contact ABA-CLE

Uniform Certificate of Self-Study

New York Self-Study Confirmation Form

Illinois Participant Confirmation Form
For use with recorded products only, not live programs.

The American Bar Association is an accredited provider of continuing legal education in all states allowing MCLE credit for self-study. You can use ABA-CLE programs to fulfill MCLE requirements in accordance with your state's rules.

Credit hours shown in the ABA Web Store CLE catalog are for a typical 60-minute state. The MCLE rules on self-study vary by state. Please check your state's rules regarding the use of self-study for MCLE credit, including the formats that may be approved for self-study and the number of hours that may be satisfied through self-study.

The New York State Continuing Legal Education Board has preapproved for MCLE use all ABA-CLE products produced since August 1, 1997. Attorneys licensed in New York can earn MCLE credit with ABA-CLE products produced after this date.

Thank you for visiting the ABA Center for CLE Web site. To request additional information about ABA-CLE programs, products, and offerings, or to provide us with feedback or comments, please use our our online comment form.

American Bar Association
Center for CLE
321 N. Clark, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60654-7598

Telephone: 312-988-6217
Fax: 312-988-5368
Email: mcle@abanet.org