If you practice in Virginia, October 31st will be here sooner than you think. Do you have all the credits you need to keep your license active and remain in good standing with the Virginia State Bar? Between client deadlines and everything else competing for your attention, CLE credits are probably the last thing on your mind — but a few minutes now can save you a real headache later.

What Are My Deadlines, and How Many Credits Do I Need?

Virginia's mandatory continuing legal education program requires every active member of the Virginia State Bar to complete 12.00 credits each compliance period, including 2.00 credits of Ethics/Professionalism — sometimes referred to simply as legal ethics credit. All required Virginia CLE must be completed by October 31st, but you have until December 15th at 4:45 PM Eastern to report your credits to the Virginia MCLE Board — a separate compliance deadline and reporting deadline that catches a surprising number of attorneys off guard.

For every NBI course you complete, you'll receive a Certificate of Attendance (Virginia's Form 2) and a verified certificate of completion. You can self-report those credits online through the Virginia State Bar website, or mail your completed Form 2 directly to the MCLE Department.

What CLE Course Formats Can I Take?

Virginia attorneys need a minimum of 4.00 credit hours from live programs each year — and "live" here includes more than in-person seminars. Live on-site courses, webcast programs, and telephone seminars with real-time interaction all satisfy this requirement. NBI offers numerous live, online programs that let you interact with faculty in real time, fulfilling the live-interactive portion of your Virginia MCLE requirement.

Beyond that, the Virginia State Bar allows a maximum of 8.00 credits from pre-recorded programs. NBI's extensive catalog of on-demand courses lets you bank those hours on your own schedule.

Carryover Rules

Already finished this year's 12 credits? You can carry over up to 12.00 credits into next year's reporting period, including up to 2.00 ethics credits. There's a limit on the pre-recorded side, though: only 8.00 of those carried-over credits can come from pre-recorded or other distance-learning formats — the same cap that applies to earning credits in the first place.

Reporting Your Credits

Virginia is a self-report jurisdiction, so it's on you to confirm your hours actually landed on your record — sponsors don't submit attendance directly to the MCLE Board on a blanket basis. Keep your certificates of completion on hand, log into the Virginia State Bar website to verify your transcript, and don't wait until December 14th to discover something didn't post correctly. At the end of each reporting period, the Virginia MCLE Board sends out a report listing the courses on file; if it looks accurate and shows you've met your 12-hour requirement, no further action is needed, but if anything looks off, you have until the December 15th deadline to correct it.

What if I Don't Meet My Virginia MCLE Requirement?

The Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia establish this mandatory continuing legal education program, and the penalties for missing a deadline are specific rather than vague. Failing to complete your 12 hours by October 31st triggers a non-compliance fee. Failing to report by the December 15th reporting deadline on top of that adds a separate late filing fee. If the deficiency goes unresolved, the next step is administrative suspension from the practice of law — which is a far more disruptive outcome than a couple of missed course registrations.

What if I'm a Newly Admitted Attorney?

If this is your first year as an active member of the Virginia State Bar, you're exempt from the standard MCLE requirements for the compliance period in which you were admitted — one of a handful of exemptions built into the program (others apply to judges and certain inactive members). It doesn't hurt to complete CLE coursework anyway, though — any credits you earn during that exempt year can carry over into your first full reporting period.

That exemption doesn't cover everything, though. All newly admitted Virginia attorneys must still complete the Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course within their first 24 months of admission to the Virginia State Bar, regardless of their general MCLE exemption status. Once that first exempt year ends, standard MCLE compliance applies going forward just like any other active member.

Frequently Asked Questions About Virginia CLE Deadlines

How many CLE credits do Virginia attorneys need each year?

Active members of the Virginia State Bar must complete 12.00 credits per compliance period, including 2.00 hours of Ethics/Professionalism and a minimum of 4.00 hours from live programs.

When is the Virginia CLE compliance deadline?

All required CLE must be completed by October 31st. The separate reporting deadline — when you must report those credits to the Virginia MCLE Board — is December 15th at 4:45 PM Eastern.

Can I carry over CLE credits to next year?

Yes. Up to 12.00 credits can carry over, including up to 2.00 ethics credits, though no more than 8.00 of those carried-over credits can come from pre-recorded programs.

What happens if I miss the October 31st deadline?

You'll incur a non-compliance fee for missing the completion deadline, and a separate late filing fee if you also miss the December 15th reporting deadline. Continued non-compliance can lead to administrative suspension.

Are newly admitted attorneys exempt from Virginia CLE requirements?

Yes, for the compliance period in which they're first admitted. They must still complete the Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course within 24 months of admission, separate from the general MCLE exemption.

How do I report my Virginia CLE credits?

Self-report online through the Virginia State Bar website using the Virginia course ID on your Form 2 Certificate of Attendance, or mail your completed Form 2 to the MCLE Department directly.

Can I complete all 12 hours through on-demand courses?

No. A minimum of 4.00 hours must come from live programs — live on-site, webcast, or telephone seminars all qualify. The remaining hours, up to 8.00, can come from pre-recorded, on-demand courses.

NBI Is Here to Help

NBI makes it easier than ever to complete your Virginia MCLE credits in one convenient place. Choose from hundreds of courses across dozens of practice areas to get the knowledge you need while staying compliant. NBI also offers unlimited CLE subscriptions that let you save money while keeping up with current legal topics, plus firm CLE subscriptions that cover every attorney on your team.

Join nbi-sems.com today and explore our full library of Virginia CLE courses and find the continuing legal education that fits where you are and where you are going.