Important Sponsor Update

Important Sponsor Update 

               Upcoming Deadlines, Changes, and Fee Implementation:

Changes to Course Accreditation Requirements –

27 N.C.A.C. Chapter 1D – Section .1520 was amended and approved by the NC Supreme Court on 08/20/2025.  With this rule change, online courses, as defined by 27 N.C.A.C. Chapter 1D – Section .1501, must be submitted for approval and paid for by the Sponsors. 

Effective September 1, 2025, the NC CLE department will no longer accept Bar Members’ Applications for NC CLE Credit for any online courses completed 9/1/25 or afterwards.  NC CLE Credit will not be granted to Bar members unless the Sponsor submits the Online Course for approval through the Sponsor Portal. 

Changes to Sponsor Attendance Reporting Deadline –

Effective December 1, 2025, the Sponsor Attendance Reporting Deadline will be 30 days following program completion.  Additionally, Sponsors must report ALL outstanding attendance completed in February by March 15 annually. 

This applies to ALL course types, including On-Demand. 

Sponsor Late Fees –

Effective December 1, 2025, the CLE Department will begin charging late fees for Sponsor Non-Compliance (reporting and application deadlines). 

1)       Late Program Application Fee - $50 + $50 Program Application Fee = $100 Total

This fee will be added to all program applications submitted LESS than 40 days prior to the Program Date. 

2)       Late Attendance Reporting Fee - $25

This fee will be invoiced to the Sponsor for any course attendance not received by the CLE Department within 30 days of completion or by March 15, if applicable, annually. 

No new CLE Courses will be approved for the Sponsor until attendance has been reported and the Late Fee has been paid.

This applies to ALL course types, including On-Demand.

On Demand Course Roll Over Period: December 1 – February 15

Per rule 27 N.C.A.C. Chapter 1D Section .1520(b)(4), On-Demand CLE Courses are approved for an initial 3 years, in which Sponsors must roll over courses annually for a lower renewal fee of $20.  After this initial 3-year period, the Course must be reviewed for NC CLE credit annually with a $50 Recertification Fee. 

The On-Demand Roll Over Period will be December 1 – February 15 annually for the following CLE Year.

Example: 2026 On Demand Rollover Period will run December 1, 2025- February 15, 2026.

Failure to submit an On-Demand Roll Over Course during this period will result in the 3-year approval ending and will require course resubmission as a new CLE Course through the Course Application Process if the Sponsor wishes to offer the course to NC Members for credit. 

Please note: ALL 2023 and Prior On-Demand Courses must be resubmitted for Course approval for 2026 if the Sponsor wishes to continue offering this course to NC Members for credit.

Registered Sponsor Annual Application Period: December 1 – December 31

The Annual Application Period for NC Registered Sponsor Status will be December 1 – December 31 for the following CLE year. 

 For 2026, this Annual Application Period will be December 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025.

If a Sponsor wishes to apply for Registered Sponsor Status for the 2026 year, the application must be submitted within this period.  Late applications will not be accepted. 

Specific information regarding the application process will be sent out in a separate communication at a later date. 

Requirements to be considered for Registered Sponsor Status can be found in Rule 27 N.C.A.C. Chapter 1D – Section 1522.