Attorney FAQs

• How do I find my ARDC Number?

• Five Tips for Your First Reporting Period with the Transcript System

• What if I do not know my MCLE password or the one I have is not working?

• How do I unlock my account?

• How can an attorney get either a letter of good standing or proof of MCLE compliance?

• What contact information does the MCLE Board use when sending me notices about my MCLE requirements?

• Which attorneys admitted under a limited Illinois license are subject to the MCLE Requirements?

• How do the CLE credits I earn get added to my transcript?

• What if I am missing credits on my transcript?

• What are the MCLE Requirements for the 2022-2024 Reporting Period?

• How do I add carryover credit from my NAA requirement reporting period to my transcript for the 2022-2024 reporting period?

• How do I add carryover credit from the 2020-2022 reporting period to my transcript for the 2022-2024 reporting period?

• Do I need to report my compliance for the 2022-2024 Reporting Period?

• Can I submit a compliance report for the 2022-2024 Reporting Period before all my credits appear in my transcript?

• How do I request a grace period extension by July 31, 2024 to secure an extension to October 31, 2024 to complete my credits for the 2022-2024 Reporting Period?

• How do I report my out-of-state exemption for the 2022-2024 Reporting Period?

• Do the Diversity/Inclusion and Mental Health/Substance Abuse requirements in Illinois change the qualifications for an out-of-state exemption for the 2022-2024 Reporting Period?

• How do I request a grace period extension by July 31, 2025 to secure an extension to October 31, 2025 to complete my credits for the 2023-2025 reporting period?

• How do the CLE credits I earn get added to my transcript?

• What if I am missing credits on my transcript?

• What are the MCLE Requirements for the 2023-2025 Reporting Period?

• How do I add carryover credit from the 2021-2023 reporting period to my transcript for the 2023-2025 reporting period?

• How do I add carryover credit from my NAA requirement reporting period to my transcript for the 2023-2025 reporting period?

• Do I need to report my compliance for the 2023-2025 Reporting Period?

• Can I submit a compliance report for the 2023-2025 Reporting Period before all my credits appear in my transcript?

• How do I report my out-of-state exemption for the 2023-2025 Reporting Period?

• Do the Diversity/Inclusion and Mental Health/Substance Abuse requirements in Illinois change the qualifications for an out-of-state exemption for the 2023-2025 Reporting Period?

• As a newly admitted attorney, what are my MCLE requirements and deadlines?

• What are the MCLE requirements for newly-admitted attorneys who previously practiced law in another state?

• Can I earn credits toward my NAA Requirement before being admitted to the Illinois bar?

• Which courses qualify as Basic Skill Courses, and how can I find one?

• Are any attorneys exempt from their NAA Requirement?

• How do I report compliance with, or exemption from, the NAA Requirement?

• What if I can't finish my NAA Requirement by the completion deadline?

• What if I fail to report for NAA reporting period by the reporting deadline?

• What happens if I do not report compliance or exemption and pay the late fee by the grace period deadline for my NAA reporting period?

• What happens if I fail to report compliance or exemption and pay my late fee before the ARDC's final deadline for my NAA reporting period?

• What is my first regular two-year reporting period after my newly-admitted attorney reporting period ends?

• As a newly admitted attorney, when can I begin to earn carryover credit for my initial two-year reporting period?

• How do the CLE credits I earn get added to my transcript?

• As a newly admitted attorney, what are my MCLE requirements and deadlines?

• What are the MCLE requirements for newly-admitted attorneys who previously practiced law in another state?

• Can I earn credits toward my NAA Requirement before being admitted to the Illinois bar?

• Which courses qualify as Basic Skill Courses, and how can I find one?

• Are any attorneys exempt from their NAA Requirement?

• Do I need to keep copies of my attendance or teaching certificates?

• How do I report compliance with, or exemption from, the NAA Requirement?

• What if I can't finish my NAA Requirement by the initial credit completion deadline?

• What if my online transcript does not reflect that I completed my NAA requirements by my initial credit completion deadline?

• What happens if my transcript does not reflect compliance, I do not report an out-of-state exemption, or I fail to pay my late fee by the grace period credit reporting deadline for my NAA reporting period?

• What is my first regular two-year reporting period after my newly-admitted attorney reporting period ends?

• As a newly admitted attorney, when can I begin to earn carryover credit for my initial two-year reporting period?

• How are attorneys placed in their two-year reporting period group?

• How do the CLE credits I earn get added to my transcript?

• What is my current two-year reporting period, and what are the deadlines for it?

• How many CLE hours, including professional responsibility (PR), are required in a two-year reporting period?

• What if I am missing credits on my transcript?

• How will carryover credits be handled in future reporting periods?

• How are carryover hours calculated from a two-year reporting period to the next?

• Do I need to keep copies of my attendance or teaching certificates?

• Are any attorneys exempt from their two-year reporting period requirement?

• Do attorneys report their compliance to the MCLE Board at the end of their two-year reporting period?

• What should I do if I have not completed my CLE credits by the June 30 completion deadline at the end of my two-year reporting period?

• What happens if my transcript does not reflect compliance by June 30, I did not request a grace period extension, and I did not report an out-of-state exemption by my July 31 reporting deadline?

• What happens if by November 30 my transcript fails to reflect that I complied by October 31, I did not report a valid out-of-state exemption, or I did not pay my late fee for the two-year reporting period that ended earlier that year?

• How does an attorney request reinstatement after removal from the master roll of attorneys for MCLE non-compliance?

• When may an attorney begin earning credits for the current reporting period after reinstatement to the master roll for an MCLE noncompliance removal?

• Is there a cap on the number of MCLE reporting periods an attorney must address when reinstating to the master roll after removal for MCLE noncompliance?

• Which attorneys are entitled to claim an exemption from the MCLE requirements?

• Are there any partial exemptions from the MCLE requirements?

• Which inactive or retired attorneys qualify for an exemption from the MCLE requirements and how is the exemption reported?

• When I return to active status from inactive or retired status, do I need to complete credits?

• Are there consequences for switching my license between inactive or retired and active?

• Which judges qualify for an exemption from their MCLE requirements and do qualifying judges have to report their exemption?

• Which judicial law clerks or staff members qualify for exemption from their MCLE requirements and do attorneys qualifying for the exemption need to report it?

• Are attorneys on active duty in the military exempt from their MCLE requirements?

• What are the requirements for an out-of-state attorney to be exempt from their Illinois MCLE requirements and does that exemption need to be reported to the MCLE Board?

• May I apply for a temporary exemption from or extension of time to complete CLE requirements?

• What types of courses or activities can I participate in to earn CLE credit?

• How do I find out if a course qualifies for CLE credit?

• What requirements and limitations apply to earning CLE credit by attending a traditional CLE course?

• Does the MCLE Board have automatic reciprocity with other states that have comparable MCLE requirements?

• Where can I find a list of Illinois Accredited CLE Courses?

• Where can I find free Illinois Accredited CLE Courses?

• How is credit calculated and reported to the Board for teaching an accredited CLE course or activity?

• When can an attorney earn CLE credit for attending or teaching a bar association or professional organization meeting?

• When can an attorney earn CLE credit for attending or teaching a live out-of-state or live technology course not accredited for Illinois credit by the course provider?

• What are nontraditional activities or courses that the attorney enters into My MCLE on the Board's website?

• In what cases will attendance at law school courses qualify for CLE credit?

• Can an attorney earn CLE credit for part-time teaching of a law course at a university, college, or community college?

• Can an attorney earn CLE credit for teaching part-time at an ABA-accredited law school?

• Can an attorney earn CLE credits by serving as a judge at a moot court competition or other simulation involving law students?

• What general requirements and limitations apply to legal scholarship research and writing credits?

• How can I find more information about earning CLE credit from a mentoring program?

• When can an attorney earn CLE credit for attending an Illinois Supreme Court Board, Commission, Committee, or Task Force Meeting?

• Can I earn credit through self-study?

• Can an attorney request that the MCLE Board accredit an activity for CLE credit not specifically authorized by the Court's MCLE Rules?

• As an out-of-state attorney with an Illinois license, what are my options?

• How do I verify teaching CLE credit reported to the MCLE Board by a course provider, bar association, or professional organization?

• How do I claim Illinois CLE credit for attending or teaching a qualifying live out-of-state or live technology course and add it to My MCLE list of reported credits?

• How do I claim CLE credit for attending a qualifying law school course and add it to My MCLE list of reported credits?

• How do I claim CLE credit for qualifying part-time teaching of a law course at a university, college, or community college and add it to My MCLE list of reported credits?

• How do I claim CLE credit for qualifying part-time teaching of a law course at an ABA-accredited law school and add it to My MCLE list of reported credits?

• How do I claim CLE credit for judging a qualifying law student simulation or competition and add it to My MCLE list of reported credits?

• How do I claim CLE credit for researching and writing a qualifying legal scholarly work and add it to My MCLE list of reported credits?