Minimum Continuing Legal Education Providers

The State Bar of California is the only entity authorized to approve providers and education activities for California Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit and Legal Specialty Minimum Continuing Legal Education (LSMCLE) credit.

Types of providers

MCLE and LSMCLE providers are categorized as either Single Activity Providers or Multiple Activity Providers.

Single Activity Provider

A Single Activity Provider (SAP) is an organization approved to hold and grant MCLE or LSMCLE credit for a single MCLE or LSMCLE activity for a period of two years from the date of the activity, provided that no substantive changes are made to the program, after applying for and receiving approval of the activity in accordance with the State Bar procedures and paying appropriate fee(s). More information on becoming an SAP.

Multiple Activity Provider

A Multiple Activity Provider (MAP) is an organization approved to hold and grant credit for any MCLE or LSMCLE activity for a period of two years, after applying for and receiving approval of MAP status in accordance with State Bar procedures and paying the appropriate fee(s). Providers approved for MAP status do not have to submit separate applications to request approval for each program offered. More information on becoming an MAP.

What's new

Attendance record uploads

Effective October 2, 2023, the State Bar implemented a new attendance record upload process. State Bar Rule 3.602(C) requires an MCLE or LSMCLE provider to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity.

Attendance records are uploaded by completing the following steps:

Download and complete the State Bar Attendance Record Upload template;
Save the template following the instructions in the “General Instructions” tab; and
Fill out the online MCLE and LSMCLE Attendance Record Upload Form and upload your records.

If you do not receive notification that your submission was successful, please contact ProviderRecords@calbar.ca.gov.

Provider application and payment processing

The State Bar implemented a new paperless online application and payment process for providers to complete their applications, attach supporting documents, and submit fees via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, and Discover).*

The application review process takes four to six weeks from the date of receipt and cannot be expedited. The State Bar notifies providers that an application is approved or denied by email.

*Only credit card payments are accepted for online applications, and a nonrefundable service fee of 2.5 percent will be added to all transactions.

To submit an application through another format, or to use another form of payment, please email providers@calbar.ca.gov.

Applying for MAP status

Before applying for MAP status, a provider must receive State Bar approval for six different and separate MCLE activities held on six different dates within two years preceding the date of its application, in addition to fulfilling the other requirements of the MCLE provider rules.

Once approved, a provider has MAP status for two years.

Renewal of MAP status

To be eligible for renewal of MAP status, a provider must submit evidence that it has offered six different MCLE activities that meet the requirements of the MCLE provider rules, within the two years preceding its renewal application.

Provider application fees

A new provider fee structure was approved by the State Bar’s Board of Trustees that includes different application and renewal fees for for-profit, nonprofit, and government providers, and possible late fees.

Application Fees with Late Fees: General MCLE and Legal Specialty Provider

Fees are nonrefundable.

Application/Fee Type	Application & Fee Deadlines	For-Profit Application Fee & Late Fee	Nonprofit/Gov. Agency Application Fee & Late Fee
SAP application	Before activity start date	$150	$115
30-day course late fee	1–30 days post activity start date	$90 (Plus SAP application fee)	$90 (Plus SAP application fee)
Two-year activity late fee	31 days–2 years post activity start date	$210 (Plus SAP application fee)	$210 (Plus SAP application fee)
MAP renewal	Before status expiration date	$600	$460
30-day renewal late fee	1–30 days post status expiration date	$300 (Plus MAP application fee)	$300 (Plus MAP application fee)
Two-year renewal late fee	31 days–2 years post status expiration date	$750 (Plus MAP application fee)	$750 (Plus MAP application fee)
MAP status reinstatement fee	Over 2 years post status expiration date	$50 (Plus application fee)	$50 (Plus application fee)

New MCLE course requirements

Beginning with the compliance period ending January 31, 2025, licensees are required to also complete and report compliance on the following new subfields:

Competence credit (two hours required)
- At least one hour focused on prevention and detection education that addresses substance use or other mental or physical issues that impair a licensee’s ability to perform legal services with competence (prevention and detection competence); and
- An optional hour focused on wellness education, including physical and mental wellness and wellbeing or stress management, in the context of the practice of law and the impact these issues can have on an attorney’s ability to perform legal services with competence (wellness competence).
Technology in the Practice of Law credit (one hour required)
One hour addressing technology in the practice of law, including education on technology tools, programs, or applications to assist attorneys in their law practice.
Civility in the Legal Profession credit (one hour required)
One hour addressing civility in the legal profession, including education that discusses the link between civility and bias, incivility that is directed at opposing parties or counsel, and incivility aimed at the judiciary.

Contact information

MCLE and LSMCLE Certification Program
State Bar of California
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
providers@calbar.ca.gov
415-538-2120