If you assume federal inactive status with the Board of Professional Responsibility under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 10.3(a), you will be designated as inactive with the CLE Commission and thus exempt from CLE requirements, unless otherwise ordered by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Section 2D(2)(c) of the Regulations of the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education states, “Attorneys wishing to return to active status from inactive or exempt status under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 10.3(a), (c), or (d) will not be required to earn or report CLE to become active if they certify that their occupation involved the application of legal principles, the practice of military law, or the study or instruction of law at a law school during the last two years they were inactive.
Of course, you may also remain active and continue to earn CLE each year.