North Carolina bar exam requirements
North Carolina gives the legacy Uniform Bar Exam through February 2028, with a passing score of 270, and switches to the NextGen UBE in July 2028 with a passing score of 620. The application fee is $850 (plus $250 if filed late); for February 2027 the timely deadline was in early October 2026, with late filing into November. Applicants must also pass North Carolina’s own exam on decedents’ estates and trusts.
Sources: Board of Law Examiners of the State of North Carolina rules, NCBE’s Comprehensive Guide and NextGen chart (September 2026), checked October 11, 2026. Exact deadline dates as reported. Confirm with the Board before applying.
Deadlines and fees
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| February exam | Timely: early October (October 6, 2026 reported); late: early November |
| July exam | Timely: early January; late: early March |
| Exam fee | $850; late fee $250; supplemental (repeat) application $400 |
| Attorneys / admission on motion | $1,650 / $2,000 |
| Laptop | About $125 (reported) |
Source: North Carolina Board of Law Examiners rules; NCBE. Exact dates and laptop fee as reported.
Requirements
- North Carolina Component Exam: on decedents’ estates and trusts, required for exam and transfer applicants; offered in February and July with the bar exam and in May and November on its own.
- MPRE: 80 or higher, within 24 months before or 12 months after the exam you pass.
- Score transfers: legacy UBE 270+ up to 3 years old; NextGen transfers accepted from July 2026 per NCBE’s latest chart.
- Fingerprints: required with the application.
- Character and fitness: handled by North Carolina, not NCBE.
Official source & community discussion
Board of Law Examiners of North Carolina (official) →
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