District of Columbia bar exam requirements
DC gives the legacy Uniform Bar Exam through July 2027, with a passing score of 266, and switches to the NextGen UBE in February 2028 with a passing score of 616. The exam fee is $405 plus NCBE’s character and fitness fee. Registration opens in short windows and can close when seats fill, and there’s no late filing.
Sources: DC Court of Appeals Committee on Admissions and NCBE’s Comprehensive Guide, checked October 11, 2026. Confirm with the Committee before applying.
Deadlines and fees
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Registration | Short windows (February 2026 ran November 25 to December 5, 2025) that can close when seats fill |
| Late filing | Not available |
| Exam fee | $405, plus NCBE character and fitness fee |
| Laptop | About $150 (reported) |
| Admission on motion | $595, plus character and fitness fee |
Source: DC Committee on Admissions; NCBE. Laptop fee as reported.
Requirements
- Education: an ABA-approved JD isn’t strictly required (some non-ABA graduates qualify with ABA-school coursework), and foreign law graduates may be eligible, per NCBE.
- MPRE: 75 or higher.
- Score transfers: legacy UBE 266+ and NextGen 616+ (from July 2026), up to 5 years old.
- After admission: new members complete a mandatory course on the DC Rules of Professional Conduct, as reported.
Official source & community discussion
DC Court of Appeals: Committee on Admissions (official) →
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