Frequently Asked Questions

Except for associate and retired members, every active and senior OBA member must comply with the requirements unless covered by an exemption under Supreme Court Rule 2.

Yes

The period from January 1 through December 31 is the Oklahoma MCLE compliance period.

Newly licensed attorneys are exempt from the educational requirement for the remainder of the calendar year during which they are first admitted to practice law in Oklahoma. Credit earned while exempt may be carried forward, if that credit is reported the year it is earned.

It is not possible for attorneys to self-report their credits online. Providers are required to post credits within 30 days. The lawyer may submit a certificate of course completion to mcle@okbar.org or by the regular mail.

Yes. A maximum of one year's requirement may be carried to the following year, providing such credit is reported the year it is earned.

Lawyers receive an Interim credit reminder in October by email. Members can check their current status online at any time or contact the MCLE Department.

The MCLE rules no longer require that an Annual Report of Compliance be filed by members whose MCLE record reflects that he or she earned the required credit by December 31. The Annual Report of Compliance must be filed by members who do not have sufficient credit on their MCLE transcript or by members who must report an exemption. Exemptions for newly admitted attorneys are recorded automatically. No report is required from members entitled to this exemption. MCLE exemptions can also be reported online at www.okmcle.org.

Many sponsors are familiar with the application and attendance reporting procedures in Oklahoma and may submit applications at the attorney's request. Attorneys are also able to submit applications for possible approval. If the sponsor does not apply, an attorney may apply for course approval by completing the Uniform Application for Approval of CLE. The completed application, along with the $15 per application fee and the required attachments should be submitted to the OK MCLE office. A review of the seminar handout materials may also be required. MCLE Regulation 4.5 requires that applications should be submitted at least 45 days before the program. Applications may also be submitted within 90 days after a program or by December 31, whichever comes first. Applicants are notified of the MCLE department’s decision by email.

Allocation of continuing legal education credits is never arbitrary. Each 50 minute segment of actual legal instruction constitutes 1.0 CLE credit. Fractions of credit are rounded to the nearest whole or half credit.

No. The OBA MCLE department will review an application for a CLE program held in any state or country.

In addition to in-person programs, lawyers may earn credit by completing OK MCLE approved distance learning programs, including webcasts, webcast replays, video conferences, teleconferences and on-demand programs. There are no restrictions on the number of distance learning credits lawyers may use each year.

Oklahoma approves in-house programs, when the program meets the OK MCLE in-house requirements. These requirements are found on the forms. Applications must be submitted at least 45 days prior to the program. In-house programs must be open and available to outsiders, if space permits and the program must meet all the standards for course approval found in Rule 7, Regulation 4.

Credit is available for regular enrollment or auditing an ABA accredited college of law course. Credit awarded is equal to 3 times the number of credit hours granted by the college of law for completion of the course. A college transcript is required.

Attorneys may apply for teaching credit using the prescribed form. A notice of approval will be sent to the lawyer by email. Sponsors are also able to post teaching credit.

Lawyers are entitled to 6 CLE credits for each 50 minutes of instruction at an approved continuing legal education activity. If there are multiple presenters, the time is divided by the number of presenters. Teaching credit is not awarded for the conference moderator and will not be awarded for teaching to a non-attorney audience. However, it may be possible to earn CLE teaching credit for presentations made to paralegals, legal assistants or legal secretaries. Teaching credit is also available to those who teach a course in an ABA accredited law school. The instructor is entitled to 6 CLE credits for each college credit hour granted by the college for completion of the course.

No.

No. There is assessed a $100 fee when credits are completed after December 31, but before the following February 15. When credits for the previous year are completed after February 15, the late fee is $200. Members who remain noncompliant will be suspended.

The MCLE Commission has the authority to consider written requests for a full or partial waiver. There is a form to complete to make this request. Medical requests must be accompanied by a supporting statement from a physician.

No. The OK MCLE office is the regulatory office. This office reviews programs for possible OKMCLE credit and keeps a record of the OK MCLE approved courses attended by OBA members. The OBA CLE department presents CLE programs. You can find a catalog of their courses on the OBA website, www.okbar.inreach.com

The MCLE Office is located at the Oklahoma Bar Center. This office can be reached at (405) 416-7009 or (800) 522-8065 or mcle@okbar.org.

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Yes. The Bar Center is open for visitors. Due to new security measures, please check in at the front desk.

It is possible that the course provider hasn't reported your credit. Providers usually report credit within 30 days.

Use the View Full Transcript Link at the top your profile page to see your credit and the year to which that credit is applied.

Complete and submit a copy of the Uniform Application for Approval of a CLE form along with the $50 application fee and the required attachments. Applications may be sent by a mailing service or emailed to mcle@okbar.org . Upon request, the application fee payment may be made by phone. Providers should apply for approval 45 days before the activity. While this is ideal, it is not always practical. Applications may be submitted within 90 days after a program or by December 31, whichever comes first. Please do not assume the course will be approved.

Virtual programs must meet all the course approval requirements, including the attendance verification requirement. Providers of any distance learning program must have procedures in place to independently verify an attorney's completion of a program. Verification procedures may vary by format and by provider. An attorney affidavit attesting to the completion of a program is not by itself sufficient.

Allocation of continuing legal education credits is never arbitrary. Each 50 minute segment of actual CLE instruction constitutes 1.0 CLE credit.

Oklahoma approves in-house programs when the program meets the criteria set forth in the MCLE policy. Applications for approval of an in-house activity form must be received 45 days in advance of the program. In-house programs must be open and available to outsiders, if space permits and the program must meet all the requirements found in Rule 7, Regulation 4 (link to that Regulation)

Legal ethics credits may be approved for presentations that focus on professional responsibility, legal ethics or legal malpractice prevention. Attorney well-being and substance use disorders training may also qualify for ethics credit. Ethics instruction must be presented in identifiable blocks of time and focused on the areas listed above.

Unless exempt, every active and senior member, must complete a minimum of 12 Oklahoma MCLE approved CLE credits during the calendar year. At least two of the 12 CLE credit hours must also be approved for legal ethics.

The period from January 1 through December 31 is the Oklahoma MCLE compliance period.

Provicers of approved programs are required to report attendance 30 days after the program or by January 10 of the following year, whichever comes first. The provider should use the Online Attendance Reporting portal.

A "presumptive approved provider" is an organization whose CLE courses are presumed to be approved. Educational programs presented by presumptive approved providers do not qualify for MCLE credit if the topics are not directly related to substantive or procedural law or ethics or other MCLE requirements are not met. Presumptive approved providers are required to submit applications, but no additional fees are required.

After the provider has presented at least five OK MCLE approved programs, the provider may submit an forms for possible presumptive approval. If approved the presumptive approved provider is assessed a $300 annual fee. There is no fee to submit the application.

Attorneys are entitled to 6 CLE credits for each 50 minutes of instruction at an OK MCLE approved continuing legal education activity. If there are multiple presenters, the time is divided by the number of presenters. Teaching credit is not awarded for the conference moderator and will not be awarded for teaching to a non-attorney audience. However, it may be possible to earn CLE teaching credit for presentations made to paralegals, legal assistants or legal secretaries. Presenters are not entitled to attendance credit for session(s) that they present.

The MCLE Office is located at the Oklahoma Bar Center. This office can be reached at (405) 416-7009 or (800) 522-8065 or mcle@okbar.org

Online audio programs include archived audio programs that may be downloaded to any personal digital player. This type of program does not have to be listened to immediately and is usually available to the registrant for several weeks. The program must include downloadable materials. Registrants are required to provide an audio code available in the program in order to verify completion. Members who are listening to this type of program on December 31, must make sure that they log in and provide this code before midnight (Central Time) on December 31.

Online video programs are prerecorded seminars or segments of prerecorded seminars. Members who watch this type of program near the end of the year must make sure they obtain verification that they completed the program by midnight (Central Time) on December 31st.

Live, in person programs are the traditional method of obtaining CLE. Members have the benefit of continuing legal education coupled with the networking and fellowship opportunities not available through other CLE delivery methods.

Webcasts are programs that are broadcast live ("real time") over the internet. A webcast includes a live video stream of the presenter, downloadable materials and PowerPoint slides, if used by the presenter.

Webinars are programs broadcast live ("real time"). Audio is delivered over the telephone. Materials and PowerPoint presentations are delivered via the internet. Webinars have a live desktop component that makes this form of delivery especially appropriate for technology training.

Telephone seminars are programs broadcast live ("real time"). Audio is delivered over the telephone. Materials and PowerPoint presentations are delivered via the internet before the seminar begins.

Videos of seminars that were approved by the OK MCLE department may be replayed for MCLE credit if viewed at the same time and same place with five or more licensed attorneys. Please contact the MCLE department for information about attendance reporting for this type of programming.