An applicant seeking a UBE score from a UBE jurisdiction must take all components in the same jurisdiction and during the same administration in order to earn a portable UBE score.

Courtesy seating allows an applicant to sit for the UBE in the jurisdiction for geographical convenience without having the intention to seek admission in that jurisdiction, as long as the jurisdiction is satisfied that the applicant is a bona fide candidate for admission in another UBE jurisdiction.

Attorneys’ Exam refers to a short form or other form of bar examination administered to attorneys admitted in other jurisdictions.

The following information from the main chart is also presented in an individual chart further below:

Click anywhere in a row to see a summary of that jurisdiction’s answers.

Supplemental Remarks

What is the minimum passing MPRE score?

Connecticut  Accepts satisfactory completion of a course in professional responsibility/legal ethics offered by a law school approved by the Bar Examining Committee as part of its regular curriculum. Must be completed with a grade of either C or Pass within 4 years before or within 1 year after the date the applicant files their application for admission to the Connecticut bar.

New Jersey  New Jersey will accept a score of 75 or better on the MPRE. In lieu thereof, applicants may present evidence of satisfactory ­performance in a law school course on ethics.

Are there any time parameters within which an MPRE score must be earned or achieved?

Alabama   Acceptable MPRE score is valid for 36 months from the date of administration of the MPRE. UBE score transfer applicants must successfully complete the MPRE no earlier than 36 months before the transferred UBE score was earned.

Alaska  Not more than 8 years prior to the applicant’s Alaska application for admission.

Arizona  Within 8 years before the successful bar examination or within 5 years after the successful bar examination or after a UBE in which the applicant earned the minimum passing score required by Arizona.

Arkansas  An MPRE for a bar exam applicant must have been taken within 3 years of the date the applicant sits for the bar exam or within 1 year after the bar exam in which the applicant obtains a passing score.

Colorado  Validity of the MPRE score for exam and UBE score transfer applicants is 5 years from the date of application if admitted in another jurisdiction, and 2 years if they are not. For on motion applicants, validity of the MPRE score is 5 years, but the MPRE requirement is waived if the applicant has been engaged in the authorized active practice of law for 15 years or more in another jurisdiction with no public discipline and previously took the MPRE for admission in another jurisdiction. MPRE need not be completed prior to filing an application.

Connecticut  Within 4 years before or within 1 year after the date the applicant files his/her application for admission to the Connecticut Bar.

Idaho  Prior to taking the Idaho Bar examination or transferring the UBE score to Idaho, or within the next two scheduled MPRE administrations after successfully completing the Idaho Bar examination or transferring the UBE score to Idaho.

Indiana  Within 2 years before or after the date the applicant successfully takes the UBE in Indiana. For applicants admitted via transferred UBE score, no earlier than 2 years before the applicant sat for the UBE on which they achieved a score of 264.

Kansas  To be eligible to sit for the UBE in Kansas or to file a verified application for admission to the bar in Kansas, an applicant must (1) complete the MPRE; (2) request the official score to be reported to Attorney Admissions; and (3) receive a passing score as determined by the Board. An official score report must be received by Attorney Admissions no later than January 15 for the February examination and June 15 for the July examination.

Kentucky Applicants must achieve a passing score on the MPRE before being permitted to sit for the bar examination. Once the minimum MPRE score is achieved by an applicant, there is no time limit on acceptance of the score for any method of admission.

Maine  An applicant for admission by examination must have taken and obtained a passing score on the MPRE within 15 years prior to the date on which the applicant is admitted. An applicant for admission by transferred Uniform Bar Examination score must have taken and obtained a passing score on the MPRE within 15 years prior to the date on which the application is filed.

Maryland For applicants not currently admitted in good standing to the bar of any US state or territory, the MPRE score must result from an administration of the MPRE occurring not more than 3 years prior to the date when the applicant files a Notice of Intent to Take the UBE in Maryland or a Notice to Transfer a Qualifying UBE Score to Maryland. For applicants currently admitted in good standing to the bar of another US state or territory, there is no age limit for the MPRE score, so long as the score can be officially reported to the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners by NCBE or, if the score is too old to be reported by NCBE, by bar admissions officials in another US state.

Massachusetts  The MPRE score report is a filing requirement and therefore it must be taken and passed prior to applying for admission.

Missouri  An applicant must provide proof of a passing score within 1 year after the date of written notification of having passed the bar
examination.

Montana  No earlier than 3 years prior to the first day of the administration in which the applicant sat for the Montana Bar Examination, or no later than 9 months after successful completion of the Montana Bar Examination.

Nebraska  An MPRE score cannot be counted if older than 3 years from rendition of the final score.

New York  The MPRE may be taken before or after the bar examination but a passing MPRE score is valid for 4 years from the date the applicant sat for that MPRE.

North Carolina  General Applicants must pass the MPRE within 24 months next preceding the beginning day of the written bar examination the applicant passes, or within 12 months thereafter.

North Dakota  MPRE scores earned earlier than 5 years preceding receipt of an application will not be accepted. If the MPRE is taken after submission of an application, a score of 85 or higher needs to be earned within 2 years after receipt of an application for admission or the rule on automatic withdrawal of an incomplete application may be triggered.

Oklahoma  MPRE scores are valid for an unlimited period of time.

Oregon  The applicant must either: (a) pass the MPRE within 36 months prior to applying for admission or while an application is pending; or (b) have been admitted in another jurisdiction where passage of the MPRE is required for admission and has substantially and continuously engaged in the practice of law for at least 12 months in that jurisdiction.

Rhode Island  Applicants seeking admission under Article II, Rule 1 (admission on examination) must have achieved the required minimum MPRE score within 5 years prior to the application deadline for the bar examination. Rule 1B applicants (admission on transferred UBE score) must have achieved the required minimum MPRE score within 5 years prior to filing their Petitiion for Admission.

South Carolina  MPRE must have been taken within 3 years of date on which application is filed.

Tennessee  Scores are valid for 2 years from the date of administration of the MPRE; if the applicant is a licensed attorney in good standing in another US jurisdiction, an expired MPRE score of 82 or higher will satisfy the requirement.

Texas  Any time within 5 years of passing the UBE.

Vermont  No sooner than 3 years before initially sitting for the UBE and no later than 1 year after being notified of having passed the UBE. For UBE transfer applicants, the passing MPRE score must be from no earlier than 3 years before, and no later than 1 year after, the date of the application for admission.

Washington  MPRE score must be earned no more than 3 years prior to or 40 months after the successful UBE.

West Virginia  25 months from successful bar examination.

Wyoming  Applicant must submit evidence of a passing score.

Virgin Islands  MPRE scores obtained in another jurisdiction may be accepted provided that the scores certified are no more than 3 years old.

Do you accept MBE scores transferred from other jurisdictions?

Alabama   An applicant who has taken and passed a bar examination in another jurisdiction, has been admitted to practice in that jurisdiction, and has earned an MBE scaled score of 140 or above may elect to be excused from taking the MBE provided that the examination is administered within 25 months.

Kansas  Transferred score must have been earned within 13 months, a minimum scaled score of 125, applicant must have passed entire exam from the transferring jurisdiction, and applicant must have never failed a Kansas Bar Examination to be eligible to transfer an MBE score. In concurrent examination or in a prior examination conducted within 13 months of the current examination, if a scaled score of 125 or above and passed the entire exam in one sitting in the transferring jurisdiction.

Michigan  Applicants electing to transfer an MBE score from a reciprocal jurisdiction will not earn a transferable UBE score. The MBE score must be earned within 3 years of the bar exam the applicant wishes to sit for, and the jurisdiction must certify the date the MBE was taken, that the applicant passed the entire bar exam of which the MBE was a part, the MBE actual scaled score the applicant achieved, and that the jurisdiction that administered the MBE affords reciprocal transfer rights to Michigan attorneys seeking admission to that jurisdiction.

Minnesota  May be eligible for admission without taking the Minnesota Bar Examination, upon proof of admission in another jurisdiction and proof applicant has received a scaled score of 145 or more on MBE taken as part of and at the same time as essay or other written exam given by other jurisdiction. Completed application and evidence of score must be received within 3 years of date of exam.

Missouri  Transferred score must have been earned within 19 months of the exam, applicant must have passed entire exam in one administration in the transferring ­jurisdiction, and applicant cannot have previously failed the Missouri exam.

North Dakota  May be eligible for admission without written examination, upon proof of admission in another jurisdiction and proof applicant received scaled score of 150 or more on MBE taken as a part of and at the same time as essay or other written exam given by other jurisdiction and proof of MPRE passing score of at least 85. Petition for Admission and proof of eligibility must be filed with the Board within 2 years of date of exam in jurisdiction of admission.

Oklahoma  Concurrent examinations only; actual scaled score.

West Virginia  Actual scaled score if taken within 13 months of present exam and part of a successful exam. Applicant who has previously failed West Virginia bar examination may not transfer an MBE score.

Virgin Islands  Will accept a scaled MBE score of 133 or more if taken within 3 years of the date of the exam.

Do you allow courtesy seating?

Alaska  Courtesy seating is limited to Alaska Bar members or passing Alaska applicants. The policy states, “An Alaska Bar member, or a person who has passed the Alaska bar exam, but not yet been admitted, may take the UBE/Alaska bar exam for the purpose of obtaining a transferable score. The applicant must pay the full application fee.”

District of Columbia  Some licensed attorneys may be eligible to sit for the bar exam; however, attorney applicants who are able to apply on motion under any provision of the admission rules are not eligible to sit for the bar exam.

Maine  The Maine Board of Bar Examiners recently voted to temporarily suspend Courtesy Seat applications for both the February 2025 and July 2025 bar examinations. The Board will review the suspension’s impact and may elect to make the suspension permanent after the July 2025 exam administration.

Oregon  Oregon does not require an applicant to assert an intent to practice law in Oregon. Courtesy seating policies for current Oregon State Bar members are established by the Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners after the timely filing deadline for bar applications. If permitted, current members may apply during the late filing deadline without paying a late filing fee.

To qualify for the Attorneys’ Exam, must an applicant be a graduate of an ABA-approved law school?

Rhode Island  Applicants seeking admission under Article II, Rule 2(a) (attorney admission on examination) who have not graduated from an ABA-approved law school may sit for the Attorney’s Examination provided that they have been engaged in the full-time active practice of law for at least 5 years of the last 10 years immediately preceding filing of the application, or they have been engaged in the full-time teaching of law at a law school accredited by the ABA for at least 5 years of the last 10 years immediately preceding the filing of the application.

Minimum Passing MPRE Score by UBE Jurisdiction

Supplemental Remarks

What is the minimum passing MPRE score?

Connecticut  Accepts satisfactory completion of a course in professional responsibility/legal ethics offered by a law school approved by the Bar Examining Committee as part of its regular curriculum. Must be completed with a grade of either C or Pass within 4 years before or within 1 year after the date the applicant files his or her application for admission to the Connecticut bar.

New Jersey  New Jersey will accept a score of 75 or better on the MPRE. In lieu thereof, applicants may present evidence of satisfactory ­performance in a law school course on ethics.

Are there any time parameters within which an MPRE score must be earned or achieved?

Alabama   Acceptable MPRE score is valid for 25 months from the date of administration of the MPRE. UBE score transfer applicants must successfully complete the MPRE no earlier than 25 months before the transferred UBE score was earned.

Alaska  Not more than 8 years prior to the applicant’s Alaska application for admission.

Arizona  Within 2 years before the successful bar examination or within 5 years after the successful bar examination or after a UBE in which the applicant earned the minimum passing score required by Arizona.

Arkansas  An MPRE for a bar exam applicant must have been taken within 3 years of the date the applicant sits for the bar exam or within 1 year after the bar exam in which the applicant obtains a passing score.

Colorado  MPRE scores may be earned no more than 2 years prior to filing application. MPRE need not be completed prior to filing an application.

Connecticut  Within 4 years before or within 1 year after the date the applicant files his/her application for admission to the Connecticut Bar.

Idaho  Prior to taking the Idaho Bar examination or transferring the UBE score to Idaho, or within the next two scheduled MPRE administrations after successfully completing the Idaho Bar examination or transferring the UBE score to Idaho.

Indiana  Within 2 years before or after the date the applicant successfully takes the Indiana bar examination.

Iowa  MPRE scores will only be accepted for 3 years after the date the MPRE is taken.

Kansas  To be eligible to sit for the UBE in Kansas or to file a verified application for admission to the bar in Kansas, an applicant must (1) complete the MPRE; (2) request the official score to be reported to the Clerk of the Appellate Courts; and (3) receive a passing score as determined by the Board. An official score report must be received by the Clerk of the Appellate Courts no later than January 15 for the February examination and June 15 for the July examination.

Kentucky  Applicants must have taken and passed the MPRE before being allowed to sit for the bar examination.

Maine  An applicant for admission by examination or by transferred UBE score must have taken and obtained a passing score on the MPRE within 15 years prior to the date on which the application is filed.

Maryland  For applicants not currently admitted in good standing to the bar of any US state or territory, the MPRE score must result from an administration of the MPRE occurring not more than 3 years prior to the date when the applicant files a Notice of Intent to Take the UBE in Maryland. For applicants currently admitted in good standing to the bar of another US state or territory, there is no age limit for the MPRE score, so long as the score can be officially reported to the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners by NCBE or, if the score is too old to be reported by NCBE, by bar admissions officials in another US state.

Massachusetts  The MPRE score report is a filing requirement and therefore it must be taken and passed prior to applying for admission.

Missouri  An applicant must provide proof of a passing score within 1 year after the date of written notification of having passed the bar
examination.

Montana  No earlier than 3 years prior to the first day of the administration in which the applicant sat for the Montana Bar Examination, or no later than 9 months after successful completion of the Montana Bar Examination.

Nebraska  An MPRE score cannot be counted if older than 3 years from rendition of the final score.

New Mexico  MPRE scores must have been earned in the period starting 5 years before the application is submitted and ending 1 year after the applicant is notified that he or she has passed the bar exam.

New York  The MPRE may be taken before or after the bar examination but a passing MPRE score is valid for 4 years from the date the applicant sat for that MPRE.

North Carolina  General Applicants must pass the MPRE within 24 months next preceding the beginning day of the written bar examination the applicant passes, or within 12 months thereafter.

North Dakota  MPRE scores earned earlier than 5 years preceding receipt of an application will not be accepted. If the MPRE is taken after submission of an application, a score of 85 or higher needs to be earned within 2 years after receipt of an application for admission or the rule on automatic withdrawal of an incomplete application may be triggered.

Oregon  The applicant must either: (a) pass the MPRE within 36 months prior to applying for admission or while an application is pending; or (b) have been admitted in another jurisdiction where passage of the MPRE is required for admission and has substantially and continuously engaged in the practice of law for at least 12 months in that jurisdiction.

Rhode Island  Applicants seeking admission under Article II, Rule 1 (admission on examination) must have achieved the required minimum MPRE score within 5 years prior to the application deadline for the bar examination. Rule 1B applicants (admission on transferred UBE score) must have achieved the required minimum MPRE score within 5 years prior to filing their Petitiion for Admission.

South Carolina  MPRE must have been taken within 3 years of date on which application is filed.

Tennessee  Scores are valid for 2 years from the date of administration of the MPRE; if the applicant is a licensed attorney in good standing in another US jurisdiction, an expired MPRE score of 82 or higher will satisfy the requirement.

Texas  Any time prior to, or within 2 years after, passing the Texas Bar Exam.

Vermont  No sooner than 3 years before initially sitting for the UBE and no later than 1 year after being notified of having passed the UBE. For UBE transfer applicants, the passing MPRE score must be from no earlier than 3 years before, and no later than 1 year after, the date of the application for admission.

Washington  MPRE score must be earned no more than 3 years prior to or 40 months after the successful UBE.

West Virginia  25 months from successful bar examination or from application for admission on motion.

Wyoming  Applicant must submit evidence of a passing score.

Virgin Islands  MPRE scores obtained in another jurisdiction may be accepted provided that the scores certified are no more than 3 years old.

Do you accept MBE scores transferred from other jurisdictions?

Alabama   An applicant who has taken and passed a bar examination in another jurisdiction, has been admitted to practice in that jurisdiction, and has earned an MBE scaled score of 140 or above may elect to be excused from taking the MBE provided that the examination is administered within 25 months.

District of Columbia  Accepts MBE scaled score of 133 or more transferred from another jurisdiction if taken within the preceding 25 months. May be eligible for admission without written examination, upon proof of admission in another jurisdiction and proof applicant received scaled score of 133 or more on MBE taken as a part of and at the same time as essay or other written exam given by other jurisdiction in which applicant is admitted and proof of MPRE passing score of at least 75. Must be a graduate of an ABA-approved law school.

Illinois  Accepts MBE from 2 prior exams. Applicant must have passed exam in other jurisdiction with MBE scaled score of at least 141.

Kansas  Transferred score must have been earned within 13 months, a minimum scaled score of 125, applicant must have passed entire exam from the transferring jurisdiction, and applicant must have never failed a Kansas Bar Examination to be eligible to transfer an MBE score. In concurrent examination or in a prior examination conducted within 13 months of the current examination, if a scaled score of 125 or above and passed the entire exam in one sitting in the transferring jurisdiction.

Michigan  Michigan will begin administering the UBE in July 2022 or February 2023. Michigan has not yet determined whether it will continue accepting transferred MBE scores from other jurisdictions once it begins administering the UBE.  Prior to its first administration of the UBE, Michigan’s MBE score transfer policy is as follows: Within 3 years of the bar exam, foreign jurisdiction must certify date MBE was taken, that applicant passed entire bar exam of which the MBE was part, the MBE actual scaled score applicant achieved and that the jurisdiction which administered the MBE affords reciprocal transfer right to Michigan attorneys seeking admission to that jurisdiction.

Minnesota  May be eligible for admission without taking the Minnesota Bar Examination, upon proof of admission in another jurisdiction and proof applicant has received a scaled score of 145 or more on MBE taken as part of and at the same time as essay or other written exam given by other jurisdiction. Completed application and evidence of score must be received within 3 years of date of exam.

Missouri  Transferred score must have been earned within 19 months of the exam, applicant must have passed entire exam in the transferring ­jurisdiction, and applicant cannot have previously failed the Missouri exam.

North Dakota  May be eligible for admission without written examination, upon proof of admission in another jurisdiction and proof applicant received scaled score of 150 or more on MBE taken as a part of and at the same time as essay or other written exam given by other jurisdiction and proof of MPRE passing score of at least 85. Petition for Admission and proof of eligibility must be filed with the Board within 2 years of date of exam in jurisdiction of admission.

Oklahoma  Concurrent examinations only; actual scaled score.

West Virginia  Actual scaled score if taken within 13 months of present exam and part of a successful exam. Applicant who has previously failed West Virginia bar examination may not transfer an MBE score.

Virgin Islands  Will accept a scaled MBE score of 133 or more if taken within 3 years of the date of the exam.

Do you allow courtesy seating?

Alaska  Courtesy seating is limited to Alaska Bar members or passing Alaska applicants. The policy states, “An Alaska Bar member, or a person who has passed the Alaska bar exam, but not yet been admitted, may take the UBE/Alaska bar exam for the purpose of obtaining a transferable score. The applicant must pay the full application fee.”

District of Columbia  Some licensed attorneys may be eligible to sit for the bar exam; however, attorney applicants who are able to apply on motion under any provision of the admission rules are not eligible to sit for the bar exam.

Michigan  will begin administering the UBE in July 2022 or February 2023. Whether or not Michigan will allow courtesy seating has not yet been determined at time of publication.

Nebraska  Courtesy seating applicants are still required to satisfy character and fitness requirements to sit for the exam.

Oregon  Oregon does not require an applicant to assert an intent to practice law in Oregon; however, we do not allow current members of the Oregon State Bar to take the Oregon Bar Exam.

To qualify for the Attorneys’ Exam, must an applicant be a graduate of an ABA-approved law school?

Rhode Island  Applicants seeking admission under Article II, Rule 2(a) (attorney admission on examination) who have not graduated from an ABA-approved law school may sit for the Attorney’s Examination provided that they have been engaged in the full-time active practice of law for at least 5 years of the last 10 years immediately preceding filing of the application, or they have been engaged in the full-time teaching of law at a law school accredited by the ABA for at least 5 years of the last 10 years immediately preceding the filing of the application.