HOW TO APPLY FOR THE FEBRUARY 2026 BAR EXAM - Application Guidelines and Filing Process

Sep 21, 2026

Guidance for applying to the February 2026 District of Columbia Bar Exam covers registration dates, seat-limited closing rules, nonrefundable fees, and the obligation to read and follow D.C. admission and unauthorized practice rules. It explains updated application procedures, administrative termination for incomplete or unpaid submissions, and requirements for applicants without ABA-approved JD or LLB credentials. The filing process details required electronic items, notarized authorization and release, MPRE handling, accommodation documentation, photo criteria, and fee payments plus background investigation timing.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Registration and Deadlines

Registration period and seat capacity

Nonrefundable fees and key rules

Admission Rules and Applicant Responsibilities

Governing D.C. rules to review

Administrative termination and no exceptions

Applicants Without ABA-Approved Law School Degrees

ABA credit hour guidance and transcript audit

Degree equivalency requirements

Proper Application Filing Process

Required completed items checklist

Authorization and release form requirements

MPRE declaration and minimum score

Accommodations and supporting documentation

Photo and payment deadlines

How to Register and Apply for the Exam

Account creation and screening questions

Electronic application steps

Paying application fee and NCBE investigation fee

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE FEBRUARY 2026 BAR EXAM Registration opens November 25, 2025, 9:00am ET and will close when the seating capacity of 450 seats is reached OR will close December 5, 2025, 11:59pm. Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Application fees are not refundable nor transferable to a future exam. Rules Regulating Admission to the Bar in the District of Columbia You are responsible for reading and understanding the rules governing admission and unauthorized practice of law: D.C. App. Rule 46 and D.C App. Rule 49 Application procedures have changed. Do not rely upon instructions from other websites and sources or from prior application periods to the District of Columbia. You are responsible for all information published on this website regarding the February bar exam. The volume of applications and the timeframe for exam preparation prohibit special exceptions for individuals who do not follow all instructions and deadlines. Your application is subject to administrative termination if you do not complete your application and pay fees according to the directions. Applicants with law degrees from Non-ABA Approved Law Schools If you did not obtain a JD or LLB from an ABA approved law school, please also read the Guidance Regarding 26 ABA Credit hour Requirement for Graduates of non-ABA Approved Law Schools. Pursuant to Rule 46(c)(4), the Committee on Admissions will audit credits from an ABA approved law school transcript to determine if “all such 26 credit hours [have been] earned in courses of study, each of which is substantially concentrated on a single subject tested on the Uniform Bar Examination.” DC requires that LLB or non-ABA approved JD transcripts demonstrate that the applicant completed a degree that is substantially equivalent to a Juris Doctor degree that would be awarded by a law school approved by the ABA. This requirement may differ from the non-ABA approved LLB and JD degree requirements. Proper Application Filing Process For your application to be properly filed for the bar exam, you must complete the items below. Your application is not complete until you have followed all of the steps below. You must complete every step in the process before all seats are filled OR no later than December 5, 2025, 11:59 pm Eastern Time. There is no late filing period. There are NO EXCEPTIONS. A completed application must have all of the following: 1. Completed electronic application 2. Any required supplemental documents 3. The notarized District of Columbia authorization and release form dated within 30 days of the date you submit your application. If you have applied previously, you must upload a current authorization and release form. There are no exceptions. 4. MPRE Declaration. You must request that your MPRE score be reported to the District of Columbia or upload an unofficial score report with your application. An MPRE score is not required to sit for the exam, but a minimum score of 75 is required for admission. 5. Your accommodation request and supplemental documentation if you wish to apply for accommodations. Please note that you must indicate “yes” in the screening questions if you intend to apply for accommodations. You must submit required documents when you submit your application; however you may submit supplemental documentation (if you wish) up until December 5, 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Documentation submitted after December 5, 2025 will not be reviewed. 6. Your photo (see requirements below to avoid photo being rejected.) 7. Application fee of $405 due at the time the application is submitted AND the background investigation fee paid to NCBE due no later than December 29, 2025. Please do not wait until the last minute. Please note that this is a deadline imposed by the District of Columbia for the purposes of exam registration. The later deadline given by NCBE does not apply if you wish to sit for the February 2026 exam. *NOTE: If

FAQs

When does registration open and when does it close for the February 2026 Bar Exam?

Registration opens November 25, 2025 at 9:00am ET and closes when seating capacity of 450 is reached OR on December 5, 2025 at 11:59pm. There is no late filing period.

What happens if an applicant does not complete the application and pay the required fees?

The application is subject to administrative termination if the applicant does not complete the application and pay fees according to the directions. There are also no exceptions to the required steps and deadlines.

Do applicants with degrees from non-ABA approved law schools need additional credit or transcript review?

Yes. The guidance describes how the Committee on Admissions will audit credits from an ABA-approved law school transcript to determine completion of 26 substantially concentrated credit hours. It also requires LLB or non-ABA approved JD transcripts to demonstrate substantially equivalent degree completion to a ABA-approved Juris Doctor.

Sep 21, 2026

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