How to be Licensed in More Than One State - Choosing Your Bar Exam Jurisdiction - Key Factors

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Noah

Guidance on choosing a bar exam jurisdiction when seeking licensure in more than one state. Covers decision factors such as where you will work or live, job market considerations, professional and personal connections, prior residences and employment, school alumni networks, and the benefits of the UBE with score transferability. Explains types of bar exams, including the UBE, the NextGen UBE transition period, and non-UBE jurisdictions, plus reciprocity and licensing limitations for taking multiple exams.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Deciding Factors

Where you will work or live

Connections and prior background

Consider the UBE

Types of Bar Exam

The UBE/Uniform Bar Exam

The NextGen UBE

State Bar Exam/Non-UBE Jurisdictions

UBE Jurisdictions and Timeline

UBE Jurisdictions list

NextGen UBE timeline

Transferring your UBE Score

Requirements and fees

Expiration and minimum scores

How to be Licensed in More Than One State Choosing Your Bar Exam Jurisdiction Deciding Factors • Where will you work? • Ask your firm which bar exam to take • With a federal job, you can likely be admitted anywhere, but ask your supervisor what their preference is • If you are not sure where you will work, then consider where you will live • If you don’t have a job lined up, pay attention to the job market in potential jurisdictions • Look to where you have the most connections • Past Residences • Previous Employment • Location of Friends & Family • Your school’s alumni network • Consider the UBE • Offers the most flexibility • Able to transfer UBE Score • Pay attention to additional admission requirements • Look at the jurisdiction’s reciprocity agreements with other jurisdictions • You will take the bar exam within the jurisdiction of the exam, unlike the MPRE (make sure to reserve a hotel) • NOTE: You are not able to take two bar exams during the same exam administration Types of Bar Exam • The UBE/Uniform Bar Exam • Each July and February, the same exam is administered in over 40 jurisdictions • For example, DC’s and NY’s bar exam is the UBE. Someone taking the bar exam in these two jurisdictions in July 2026 will be taking the same exam • Some jurisdictions also have a state law component that is separate from the bar exam • The NextGen UBE • Replacing the UBE between 2026-2028 • State Bar Exam/Non-UBE Jurisdictions • All jurisdictions except for Louisiana will have the same multiple-choice element of the bar exam (the MBE) • But the writing day will vary, and will be state-specific essays or multiplechoice questions UBE Jurisdictions • Alabama (NextGen: July 2028) • Alaska (NextGen: July 2028) • Arizona (NextGen: July 2027) • Arkansas • Colorado (NextGen: July 2028) • Connecticut (NextGen: July 2026) • District of Columbia (NextGen: Feb 2028) • Idaho (NextGen: July 2026) • Illinois (NextGen: Feb 2028) • Indiana (NextGen: July 2028) • Iowa (NextGen: July 2027) • Kansas (NextGen: July 2028) • Kentucky (NextGen: July 2027) • Maine (NextGen: July 2028) • Maryland (NextGen: July 2026) • Massachusetts (NextGen: July 2028) • Michigan • Minnesota (NextGen: July 2027) • Missouri (NextGen: July 2026) • Montana • Nebraska (NextGen: July 2027) • New Hampshire (NextGen: July 2027) • New Jersey • New Mexico (NextGen: July 2027) • New York (NextGen: July 2028) • North Carolina • North Dakota (NextGen: July 2027) • Ohio (NextGen: July 2028) • Oklahoma (NextGen: July 2027) • Oregon (NextGen: July 2026) • Pennsylvania (NextGen: July 2028) • Rhode Island (NextGen: July 2028) • South Carolina • Tennessee (NextGen: July 2027) • Texas (likely NextGen: July 2028) • Utah (NextGen: July 2028) • Vermont (NextGen: July 2027) • Washington (NextGen: July 2026) • West Virginia (NextGen: July 2027) • Wyoming (NextGen: July 2027) • US Virgin Islands (NextGen: July 2026) State-Specific & Future NextGen Jurisdictions • California • Delaware (NextGen: February 2028) • Florida (NextGen: July 2028) • Georgia (NextGen: July 2028) • Hawaii (NextGen: July 2028) • Louisiana • Mississippi (Next Gen: TBD) • Nevada • South Dakota (NextGen: July 2027) • Virginia (NextGen: July 2028) • Wisconsin NextGen UBE Timeline July 2026: Connecticut, Guam, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Palau, Virgin Islands, Washington July 2027: Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming February 2028: Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois July 2028: Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia Date TBD: Mississippi UBE States Not Yet Announced (Possibly

FAQs

What factors should you consider when choosing a bar exam jurisdiction?

Consider where you will work, ask your firm for which bar exam to take, and if unsure, think about where you will live. Also review your job market, connections, past residences, prior employment, friends and family, and your school’s alumni network.

What is the UBE and why does it offer more flexibility?

The UBE/Uniform Bar Exam is administered in many jurisdictions, and offers flexibility because you can often transfer your UBE score. Some jurisdictions also include a separate state law component.

Can you take two bar exams during the same administration?

No. The guidance explicitly notes that you are not able to take two bar exams during the same exam administration.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Noah