Every year, the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE®) administers The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE®) on the last Tuesday and Thursday of February and July. It consists of 3 components: the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE®), the Multistate Performance Test (MPT®), and the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE®).
While some jurisdictions have their own bar exam, most have adopted at least 1 UBE component and nearly all use the MBE. Read on for jurisdiction-specific bar exam dates and filing deadlines for 2025.
UBE Schedule
The UBE spans 12 total testing hours broken into four 3-hour segments, with breaks between the morning and afternoon sessions. Non-UBE jurisdictions typically follow a similar schedule. However, some have 3-day bar exams or administer different components.
| UBE Schedule | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 6 MEE questions | 2 MPT tasks |
| Wednesday | 100 MBE questions | 100 MBE questions |
How to Schedule Your Bar Exam
Follow the steps below to schedule your UBE appointment. Requirements, costs, and fees vary even among UBE jurisdictions. For detailed, jurisdiction-specific information, click the link on the appropriate jurisdiction from the charts below.
- Create an NCBE Account: Go to the NCBE website and create an account to get your NCBE Number.
- Check for Existing NCBE Number: Use the NCBE Account Lookup to see if you already have an NCBE Number.
- Register for the UBE: Log in to your NCBE Account and select the jurisdiction where you will take the UBE and your desired exam date.
2025 UBE Administration Dates
| 2025 UBE Administration Dates |
|---|
| February 25-26 |
| July 29-30 |
Filing Deadlines for UBE-Jurisdictions
Below is a list of filing deadlines for the February 2025 UBE. The NCBE has yet to release this information for the July exam. Some jurisdictions have more than one late filing deadline, while others (indicated by an em dash “—”) do not have one at all. Note that all first filing deadlines below are in 2024. Only late filing deadlines in January are in 2025.
| Jurisdiction | February 2025 First filing deadline | February 2025 Late filing deadline |
|---|
2025 Bar Exam Administration Dates for Non-UBE Jurisdictions
While many non-UBE jurisdictions follow the testing calendar established by the NCBE, there are a few exceptions. Non-UBE jurisdictions set exam dates independently, and some have yet to announce them for 2025. Please check with the appropriate Board of Bar Examiners website for updated information.
| 2025 Non-UBE Bar Exam Administration Dates | ||
|---|---|---|
| State | Winter | Summer |
| California | February 25-26 | July 29-30 |
| Delaware | February 25-26 | July 29-30 |
| Florida | February 25-26 | July 29-30 |
| Georgia | February 25-26 | July 29-30 |
| Hawaii | TBA | TBA |
| Louisiana | February 17, 19, 21 | July 21, 23, 25 |
| Mississippi | February 25-26 | July 29-30 |
| Nevada | February 25-27 | July 29-31 |
| South Dakota | February 25-26 | July 29-30 |
| Virginia | February 25-26 | July 29-30 |
| Wisconsin | February 25-26 | July 29-30 |
| Guam | February 25-26 | July 29-30 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | February 26-27 | July 29-30 |
| Palau | TBA | TBA |
| Puerto Rico | TBA | TBA |
Filing Deadlines for Non-UBE Jurisdictions
Below is a list of filing deadlines for non-UBE jurisdictions for February 2025. Most have not officially announced this information for the July exam. Some jurisdictions have more than 1 late filing deadline, while others (indicated by an em dash “—”) do not have one at all. Note that all first filing deadlines below are in 2024. Only late filing deadlines in January are in 2025.
| Jurisdiction | February 2025: First filing deadline | February 2025: Late filing deadline |
|---|---|---|
| California | Nov. 1 | Jan. 1 |
| Delaware | Nov. 5 | Dec. 3 |
| Florida | Nov. 15 | Dec. 15/ Jan. 15 |
| Georgia | Jan. 1 | Jan. 15 |
| Guam | Dec. 1 | Jan. 1 |
| Hawaii | Nov. 1 | — |
| Louisiana | Nov. 1 | Dec. 15 |
| Mississippi | Sept. 1 | Nov. 1 |
| Nevada | Oct. 1 | Dec. 1 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Dec. 22 | Jan. 5 |
| Palau | No Feb. exam | No Feb. exam |
| Puerto Rico | TBA | — |
| South Dakota | Nov. 1 | — |
| Virginia | Dec. 15 | — |
| Wisconsin | Dec. 1 | Jan. 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What days are the bar exam?
How often is the bar exam offered?
The bar exam is offered twice a year, in February and again in July.
Which state has the hardest bar exam?
California is commonly thought to have the hardest bar exam. Its pass rate is low, its cut score is among the highest in the country, and the exam tests state-specific laws alongside UBE components.
Is there a different bar exam for each state?
No. Most states have adopted the UBE. While about a dozen states administer their own bar exam, they typically integrate components of the UBE, most notably, the MBE.
