Washington bar exam requirements
Washington now gives the NextGen UBE (since July 2026, after its last legacy exam in February 2026), with a passing score of 610. The fee is $595 ($645 for attorneys); for February 2027 the timely deadline was October 5, 2026. Testing in July 2026 was cancelled for some applicants: they could sit a make-up exam on September 1-2, 2026 or move to February 2027 in Tacoma without paying the application or exam fee again.
Sources: Washington State Bar Association, Washington Supreme Court order, NCBE’s July 2026 make-up notice and Comprehensive Guide, checked October 11, 2026. Confirm with the WSBA before applying.
Deadlines and fees
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| February exam | Timely: October 5 (late filing has been available until early November in past years) |
| July exam | Timely: March 5; late: April 5 |
| Exam fee | $595 first-time; $645 attorneys (plus character and fitness fee, with Washington sales tax on NCBE’s fee since October 2025) |
| July 2026 affected applicants | Make-up exam September 1-2, 2026 or transfer to February 2027 without new WSBA or NCBE exam fees; NCBE refunds the July technology fee |
Source: WSBA; Washington Supreme Court; NCBE.
Requirements
- Washington Law Component: an open-book, timed online multiple-choice test, with Washington study materials available before and during the test.
- MPRE: 85 or higher, no more than 3 years before or 40 months after the passing exam.
- Score transfers: legacy UBE 266+ up to 40 months old; NextGen scores of 610+.
- Education: generally an ABA-approved JD; Washington also has a law clerk (law office study) route, and foreign law graduates may qualify with extra education.
- No attempt limit (reported).
Official source & community discussion
NCBE: July 2026 Washington make-up exam (official) →
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