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Provider Options and Requirements for Course Accreditation

Attention Providers! Applications to accredit courses and providers are accepted via e-mail only. Each application form includes instructions and the e-mail address to use. The Board’s e-mail server automatically rejects all e-mails that exceed 5 megabytes, the Board does not receive those e-mails. If your e-mail exceeds 5 megabytes, please zip the attachments or divide the attachments into more than one e-mail. The Board’s server sends an auto-response when the Board receives an e-mail. If you have questions about submitting an application, please contact the office before submitting it.

Option 1: Apply to Become an Accredited CLE Provider

A CLE provider experienced in offering high-quality legal education programs for attorneys can apply to accredit all its courses, regardless of location, as an Accredited CLE Provider. The MCLE Board may grant Accredited CLE Provider status to providers who establish:

  • it has presented, within the past two years, at least five separate courses or activities of CLE which meet the standards of the MCLE Rules and the Board’s Provider FAQs; or
  • its CLE courses or activities have consistently met the MCLE Rules and the Board’s standards set in the Board’s Provider FAQs.

The provider needs to take two steps to apply for Accredited CLE Provider status:

  1. complete and submit Form 2 Document icon, along with all requested materials, to the Board via e-mail at mcle@mcleboard.org; and
  2. mail the proper fee (check or money order) with a printed copy of Form 2 Document icon (but not the attachments) to the postal address in the instructions. To determine the proper fee, refer to the Fee Schedule. An application must be complete, including payment, before it is reviewed for accreditation.

To maintain Accredited CLE Provider status, the provider needs to: 1) pay an annual fee; 2) submit an annual report listing all of its CLE courses presented throughout the annual accreditation period; and 3) if the provider charges attorneys an attendance fee, pay the $1.00 per hour/per Illinois attorney fee. Continued accreditation is continual based on review and approval of the provider's annual report.

Accredited CLE Provider Responsibilities (PDF) revised December, 2009

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Option 2: Applying to Accredit a Course Through An Individual Course Application

NEW! Form 1 Tutorial

A CLE provider can apply to accredit a course through an individual course application. This option is likely most suitable for the occasional provider. The provider needs to complete and submit Form 1 Document icon. With each application, the provider also must submit: a timed agenda; brief faculty credentials; and either a written description of each session or the course materials (if the materials are voluminous, a representative sample of no more than 25 to 50 pages).

  1. Submit Form 1 Document icon and its attachments to the Board via e-mail at apps@mcleboard.org; and
  2. Mail the proper fee and a printed copy of its completed Form 1 Document icon (but not the supporting attachments) to the postal address listed in the Form 1 Document icon instructions. To determine the proper fee, consult the Fee Schedule. Applications may be submitted any time before the course start date but no more than 60 days after the course start date. When an application is submitted more than 60 days after the course start date, the course is ineligible for accreditation so the application will be denied on that basis with no refund of the application fee or late fee.

Individual Course Provider Responsibilities (PDF) revised December, 2009

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Basic Skills Course Accreditation

Any provider (including Accredited CLE Providers) who wishes to present a Basic Skills Course for newly admitted Illinois attorneys can complete Form 1a Document icon for individual course accreditation. A Basic Skills Course is a 15 hour integrated program comprised of specific topics. The application must include a planned cirriculum. For advanced accreditation the application must be submitted 45 days in advance.

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Application Fees

Application fees vary depending on whether a provider is applying as an Accredited CLE Provider or applies for Individual Course accreditation. Illinois Supreme Court MCLE Fee Schedule.

  • Accredited CLE Providers are responsible for an annual fee based on the amount of courses presented during the accreditation year and whether or not the provider charges attorneys an attendance fee or not; or
  • Individual Course Providers are responsible for an individual application fee. This fee can be $20, $30 or $50. Applications and corresponding fees must be submitted more than 60 days after the course start date. A $25 late fee must be added for any application submitted after the course start date.
  • Nonrefundable Application Fees
    Effective January 15, 2010, the MCLE Board will not refund or credit applicants for individual course application fees or late fees when an application is denied. When an application is submitted more than 60 days after the course start date, the course is ineligible for accreditation so the application will be denied on that basis with no refund of the application fee or late fee.

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Attendance Fees

Providers who charge attorneys to attend an accredited CLE course is responsible for paying a $1.00 per hour/per Illinois attorney fee. The Board continues to work on developing an on-line process to collect this fee. In the meantime, the procedure is as follows:

  • Accredited CLE Providers pay this fee upon submission of their annual report; and
  • Individual Course Providers of 2007 courses will be contacted by email and required to complete and submit a short report along with the fee. Fee collection for 2008 courses will be announced, please keep posted to this website.

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Annual Report (Accredited CLE Providers only)

Annual Reports from Accredited CLE Providers who selected January 1st as their accreditation start date should submit an annual report by January 31st of the following year covering CLE courses held January 1 - December 31. Annual Reports from Accredited CLE Providers who selected July 1st as their accreditation start date should submit an annual report by July 31st of the following year covering CLE courses held July 1 - June 30. More >

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Delivery Methods and Interactivity

Interactivity is a key component to all CLE programs. It is recommended that individual course providers and Accredited CLE Providers request all anticipated delivery methods on the initial application form. Individual course providers who seek to add delivery methods after accreditation has been issued will be required to submit a new application and fee for the additional delivery method. Accredited CLE Providers will need to send an email titled "Request to Amend Accredited CLE Provider Status" and may be subject to a revision in their annual fee based on the amount of programs offered in an annual period. More >

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Required Financial Hardship Policy

All providers applying to accredit courses either through Accredited CLE Provider status or individual course applications must have a financial hardship policy. The policy addresses those attorneys who wish to attend its courses, but for whom the cost would be a financial hardship. MCLE Rule 795(f).

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Course Evaluations

Providers must give each participant an opportunity to complete evaluation questionnaires addressing each CLE course's content, instruction and written materials. More >

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Provider Records

The provider must keep the course materials for three years. More >

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Green Policy
The MCLE Board's office is paperless. Applications to accredit courses and providers are accepted via e-mail only. Each application form includes instructions and the e-mail address to use. Paper applications are not reviewed. Paper applications and related hard-copy documents are shredded after 30 days unless the applicant requests and pays for their return. Due to electronic storage constraints, the Board's e-mail server has a limit of 5 megabytes per e-mail. Because the Board’s server automatically rejects all e-mails that exceed 5 megabytes, the Board does not receive those e-mails. If your e-mail exceeds 5 megabytes, please zip the attachments or divide the attachments into more than one e-mail. The Board’s server sends an auto-response when the Board receives an e-mail. If you have questions about submitting an application, please contact the office before submitting it.