Pennsylvania's judiciary will have to complete at least three hours of training in ethics and nine hours on other aspects of their job annually under rules imposed last week by the Supreme Court.
Continuing education standards that take effect in January apply to justices, county and appeals court judges and senior judges.
Chief Justice Thomas Saylor says there's been no way to track judges' attendance at continuing education programs.
The classes will help jurists brush up on changes in law, procedures and other matters.
The Supreme Court is also establishing a board to make decisions about accreditation, determine if waivers should be granted and hear appeals regarding failure to comply.
The changes were developed by looking at practices in other states and gathering input from judges, scholars and education specialists.
