General Iowa Continuing Legal Education Credit Requirements
In Iowa, active status attorneys must complete 15.00 CLE credits (including 1.00 legal ethics credit and 1.00 credit in either attorney wellness or diversity and inclusion) every year to maintain good standing with the Iowa State Bar.
Credit Hour: 60 minutes (rounded down to the nearest 1/4 hour).
CLE credit in Iowa is calculated using a 60-minute hour, and the time is rounded down to the nearest 1/4 hour. Partial credit is awarded only when the minimum segment requirement is met.
Iowa requires attorneys (whether part of a law firm or independent) to complete at least 1.00 credit in legal ethics and 1.00 credit in either attorney wellness or diversity and inclusion. These credits may be earned through any approved moderated or unmoderated course format, provided the course content specifically addresses ethics, wellness, or inclusion in the legal profession.
Iowa attorneys must complete all 15.00 required credits by December 31 each year. Attorneys must report their credits by March 10 of the following year.
The reporting period is 1 year and ends on December 31 for all attorneys.
If you fail to complete and report your CLE credits by the March 10 deadline, you may be assessed late fees and face non-compliance actions. The Iowa Supreme Court Commission on CLE may also require additional steps to regain good standing.
Iowa attorneys are responsible for tracking and reporting their own CLE credits.
At the end of your reporting period you must complete your CLE transcript and file your annual CLE report on the Iowa Judicial Branch Office of Professional Regulation website.
Yes. If you discover an error after submitting your annual CLE report, you may file an amended report through the Iowa Office of Professional Regulation. It is your responsibility to ensure that your CLE transcript is accurate and up to date.
You are not required to submit certificates of completion when reporting credits, but you should retain them for your records in case of an audit. The Iowa Office of Professional Regulation recommends keeping CLE documentation for at least two years.
Experienced attorneys can fulfill their Iowa CLE requirement by completing courses approved and accredited by the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education. Examples of accepted course formats include:
Moderated Activity
- CLE classes in Live Traditional classrooms
- Webinars
Unmoderated Activity
Iowa attorneys may carry over up to 30.00 CLE credits for up to two reporting years. You must indicate on your annual report that you wish to carry credits over. Excess credits for legal ethics, attorney wellness, and diversity & inclusion carry over as general CLE credit only.
Yes. You may carry over a maximum of 30.00 CLE credits for up to two subsequent reporting years. However, any ethics, wellness, or inclusion credits will convert to general credits unless they are used in the year earned.
Moderated activity refers to programs where you can interact with the presenter or other participants, such as live in-person events or live webinars. Unmoderated activity refers to OnDemand or recorded content where no interaction occurs. Both formats are now accepted for full credit in Iowa.
There is no longer a limit to the number of CLE credits that you can earn with unmoderated activity courses. You may complete all 15.00 CLE credits with unmoderated activities. Unmoderated activity credits may carry over.
No. In-program attendance verification is not required.
Yes. Iowa has an annual reporting cycle. Attorneys must complete 15.00 credit hours of CLE courses every calendar year and report them by the following March 10.
You can verify course approval through the Iowa Judicial Branch Office of Professional Regulation.
- State Contact Information:
- Address: Commission on Continuing Legal Education Judicial Branch Building 1111 East Court Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50319
- Phone Number: (515) 348-4670
- Email Address: cle@iowacourts.gov
- Website: https://www.iowacourts.gov/
- Additional Iowa CLE Information
Are you newly admitted to the Iowa State Bar? Here’s what you need to know:
Newly admitted attorneys in Iowa are exempt from CLE reporting requirements for the year in which they are admitted to practice law in Iowa.
Newly Admitted attorneys are exempt from CLE credit requirements from their admission date to December 31st of their admission year. Credits earned from NBI CLE courses during this time can be carried over to the first reporting period. Examples of accepted course formats include:
Moderated Activity
- CLE classes in Live Traditional classrooms
- Webinars
Unmoderated Activity
Yes. You are not required to report CLE credits between the time you are admitted to practice law in Iowa and December 31 of your admission year. However, if you do complete CLE courses during that time, you can receive credit for those for your first reporting period.
Your first reporting period ends on December 31 of the first full calendar year following your admission to the Iowa State Bar.
No. There are no special CLE requirements for newly admitted attorneys in Iowa.
Attorneys within their first 5 years of practice are considered Newly Admitted Attorneys in Iowa.