Iowa CLE 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.

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.

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.

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

• OnDemand courses

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.

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.

• State Contact Information:
  • Address: Commission on Continuing Legal Education Judicial Branch Building 1111 East Court Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50319
  • Phone Number: (515) 697-7874
  • Email Address: cle@iowacourts.gov
  • Website: https://www.iowacourts.gov/

• Additional Iowa CLE Information
  • Iowa Judicial Branch Office of Professional Regulation
  • Iowa Judicial Branch
  • Iowa State Bar Association

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

• OnDemand courses

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.