Important Information Re: Posting CLE Credits with The Florida Bar

I originally posted this article in April 2012, just this morning, I was contacted by another FRP who had her FRP terminated due to confusion about CLE posting… 

Recently, a local paralegal logged on to the Florida Bar’s website to post new CLE credits, only to discover that her account no longer existed. After making some calls, she found out her FRP status had been revoked because of an error in her CLE reporting. Even though she had actually exceeded her requirements and clearly an error was made, she is now being told that she will have to re-apply.

(Update: the paralegal who had this program was eventually re-instated without the need to re-apply, but it took a LOT of phone calls and emails and determination – it was not an easy thing to do)

Because I feel like this was a really simple mistake that anyone could have made, I wanted to make sure everyone had a refresher of how to post their credits, to make sure they won’t run into a similar problem.

The full instructions are listed on the Florida Bar’s website and I have posted them below. The problem in this situation was, when the paralegal was entering her ethics CLE credits, she entered “0” under General and then entered the number of ethics credits under Ethics. But actually, ALL credits need to be entered under General, and then ALSO entered under the second category, if applicable. While entering credits into both sections might seem like double dipping, it isn’t. This is the way their system is set up.

The rule requires that you have 30 total hours of continuing education each cycle. Your total hours will appear as “General” on the website when you enter credits or check your hours. 5 of the 30 hours must be in ethics or professionalism. You still need 30 total hours. In other words, your “General” column must equal 30. The Ethics/Professionalism column must equal 5. You do not add General + Ethics/Professionalism to determine total number of hours.

1. Go to www.floridabar.org and go to the section where you enter your credits (I used to give you the direct link, but it changes every time they change their website. So, just login to your profile and the link should be on that first page that it takes you to)

Florida Registered Paralegal Continuing Education

Course Approved For Credit By:

• The Florida Bar
• Natl Assoc of Legal Assistant (NALA)
• Natl Fed of Paralegal Assoc (NFPA)

Course History: FRP CE History

Reference: Continuing Education Requirements

7. Click on the name of the course provider. It you took a course given by The Florida Bar, click on The Florida Bar. If you took a course given by NALA, click on Natl Assoc of Legal Assistants (NALA). If you took a course given by NFPA, click on Natl Fed of Paralegal Assoc (NFPA).

IF YOU TOOK A COURSE WHERE CREDIT WAS GIVEN BY THE FLORIDA BAR you will be taken to a page that will ask you to fill in the course number. The course number should have been given to you by the provider. If you do not have a course number, contact your provider. Enter the course number in the box provided and click on Retrieve Course. After clicking Retrieve Course the information regarding the number of hours will automatically be added. You will need to enter the date the course was completed at the end of the page. Then click on Continue. You will then be taken to a page to review and confirm your information. If the information is not correct, go back to the previous page by clicking on Go Back on the bottom. If the information is correct, click I agree and then Submit. You will then be taken to the FRP CE Course Credit Entry Confirmation page. You may print the confirmation for your records by clicking on Printable Version and following the directions on the screen. If you do not print the confirm page, at the bottom of the confirmation page you will find links that allow you to Post Another Course, check your CE History, or go to The Florida Bar’s homepage. Click on the link you want or just exit the website.

IF YOU TOOK A COURSE WHERE CREDIT WAS GIVEN BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ASSISTANTS (NALA) you will be taken to a page where you will have to fill in the following information:

Course Title — this will be provided to you by NALA
Hours
General CE Credit — enter the total number of hours given for the course. For example, if the course was 4 hours, enter 4.0. This information will be provided to you by NALA. You must enter a number here. Even if your course was only giving ethics credit, you must enter a number here. For example, if you took a NALA course which was 1 hour of ethics credit, enter 1 here. You will also enter 1 for the ethics credit (see below).

Ethics Credit — enter the number of hours of ethics credit given, if any. For example, if the 4 hour course included 1 hour of ethics credit, enter 1. This information will be provided to you by NALA.

Professionalism Credit — enter the number of hours of professionalism credit given, if any. For example, if the 4 hour course included 1 hour of professionalism credit, enter 1. This information will be provided to you by NALA.

NOTE — If the course was less than 1 hour, you can select .5 for 30 minutes. Time less than 30 minutes will not be offered or recognized.

Date of Course Completion — enter the date you completed the course

Click Continue

You will then be taken to a page to review and confirm your information. If the information is not correct, go back to the previous page by clicking on Go Back on the bottom. If the information is correct, click I agree and then Submit. You will then be taken to the FRP CE Course Credit Entry Confirmation page. You may print the confirmation for your records by clicking on Printable Version and following the directions on the screen. If you do not print the confirm page, at the bottom of the confirmation page you will find links that allow you to Post Another Course, check your CE History, or go to The Florida Bar’s homepage. Click on the link you want or just exit the website.

IF YOU TOOK A COURSE WHERE CREDIT WAS GIVEN BY THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS (NFPA) you will be taken to a page where you will have to fill in the following information:

Course Title — this will be provided to you by NFPA
Hours
General CE Credit — enter the total number of hours given for the course. For example, if the course was 4 hours, enter 4.0. This information will be provided to you by NFPA. You must enter a number here. Even if your course was only giving ethics credit, you must enter a number here. For example, if you took a NFPA course which was 1 hour of ethics credit, enter 1 here. You will also enter 1 for the ethics credit (see below).

Ethics Credit — enter the number of hours of ethics credit given, if any. For example, if the 4 hour course included 1 hour of ethics credit, enter 1. This information will be provided to you by NFPA.

Professionalism Credit — enter the number of hours of professionalism credit given, if any. For example, if the 4 hour course included 1 hour of professionalism credit, enter 1. This information will be provided to you by NFPA.

NOTE — If the course was less than 1 hour, you can select .5 for 30 minutes. Time less than 30 minutes will not be offered or recognized.

Date of Course Completion — enter the date you completed the course

Click Continue

You will then be taken to a page to review and confirm your information. If the information is not correct, go back to the previous page by clicking on Go Back on the bottom. If the information is correct, click I agree and then Submit. You will then be taken to the FRP CE Course Credit Entry Confirmation page. You may print the confirmation for your records by clicking on Printable Version and following the directions on the screen. If you do not print the confirm page, at the bottom of the confirmation page you will find links that allow you to Post Another Course, check your CE History, or go to The Florida Bar’s homepage. Click on the link you want or just exit the website.