Delaware Bar
Exam Details

All law students are required to create an NCBE Account that comes with a unique NCBE number for identification purposes.  You will need this number to be able to take the MPRE (see below) and the MBE (Multistate bar exam) which are developed by the NCBE (National Conference of Bar Examiners). The MBE is administered on day two of the Delaware Bar Exam

Most students create an NCBE account when registering for the MPRE. Register with the NCBE at: https://auth.ncbex.org/account/create. You will need to create an account with the Board of Bar Examiners of the Supreme Court of Delaware for your bar application: You can register and submit your application at: courts.delaware.gov/bbe/debarapp.aspx

You will also need to complete the NCBE Character and Fitness application: ncbex.org/character-and-fitness/jurisdiction/de

The Board of Bar Examiners of the Supreme Court of Delaware provides a helpful checklist for the required documents you will need to the Delaware Bar Application: courts.delaware.gov/bbe/debarapp.aspx

We recommend taking the MPRE any time during 2L year or as early in your 3L year as possible. A scaled score of 85 on the MPRE within 4 years preceding, or by December 31 in the year after passing the Delaware Bar Examination, is required for admission to the Delaware bar. Applicants must provide verification of their MPRE score for admission to the bar of Delaware.  The MPRE is a two-hour, 60-question multiple-choice exam developed by the NCBE and administered in the spring, summer, and fall. When registering for the MPRE, students can select one of two dates offered at a time (see chart below) on a first come, first served basis.

MPRE Dates (Registration Deadline / *Accommodation Registration Deadline):

• March 24 or 25, 2026 (January 22, 2025 / *November 20, 2025)
• August 11 or 12, 2026 (June 11, 2026 / *April 23, 2026)
• November 12 or 13, 2026 (September 17, 2026 / *July 30, 2026)

Registration for 2026 exams will open on December 16, 2025. The 2026 exam fee is $185.

The online, on-demand BARBRI MPRE Review course allows you to watch specific lecture segments that correspond with a particular topic module. The course is accompanied by an outline book (hard copy and/or digital), lecture handout, multiple practice exams, and BARBRI’s exclusive multiple-choice questions. You can register for the free BARBRI MPRE Review Course here: barbri.com/mpre

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To take the Delaware Bar Exam, you’ll need to complete your application online and pay your filing fee. Meeting earlier deadlines will help you save as the application fee increases the longer you wait.

They typically are:

February 2006 exam
Early filing deadline: first Tuesday in November — Law School Graduate: $700/Attorney: $800
Early filing deadline: first Tuesday in December — Law School Graduate: $900/Attorney: $1,000
July 2006 exam
Early filing deadline: first Tuesday in April — Law School Graduate: $700/Attorney: $800
Early filing deadline: first Tuesday in May — Law School Graduate: $800/Attorney: $1,000

2026 exam fees have not been released. Fees above are accurate as of the July 2025 bar exam. 

Initial Application: Documents filed with initial application include the following: (1) Recent photo (passport like), (2) Authorization & Release form, (3) First Affidavit of Completeness, 4) NCBE Acknowledgment of Complete Application, and (5) Completed NCBE Character and Fitness Application.

Supplemental Documents: Some supplemental documents will need to be filed after your initial application submission. These include:

Second Affidavit of Completeness: (due around 7/1 for July exam or 2/1 for February exam, exact dates TBD)

• Official law school transcript

Third Affidavit of Completeness (due around 9/1 for July exam or 4/1 for February exam, exact dates TBD)

• First Preceptor Certificate
• Credit History Reports
• Application for all law schools attended
• Official Undergraduate and Post Graduate Transcript
• Criminal History Reports, both federal and Delaware

For information on additional documents needed: Board of Bar Examiners - Supreme Court - Delaware Courts - State of Delaware

For more information and exam details, download the free BARBRI Bar Exam Digest at: barbri.com/bar-exam-digest or by scanning the code.

As part of the bar exam online application process, you’ll provide information that assists Delaware Board of Bar Examiners conduct a character and fitness investigation.

You will be asked to disclose details about your personal, academic, work and financial histories, as well as criminal record and civil proceedings. Candor is key. You will also need to include information including, military service, driving records and citizenship.

As part of the character and fitness review, all applicants must submit fingerprints for the purpose of the Board verifying the identity of the applicant and obtaining a current record of any criminal activity. Applicants must obtain certified personal criminal history reports from Delaware and the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( “FBI”).  IndentoGo is the exclusive provider for the state of criminal history reports.  You can also obtain an FBI criminal history report from IndentoGo or certain US Post Offices.  Instructions are provided on the DE Board of Bar Examiners website.

Investigations are conducted for passing Applicants only. Once the exam results are posted, the investigations will begin. Each passing applicant will be assigned to a Board member who will investigate your application. The investigation includes a personal interview.

Applicants will need to submit their character and fitness application through the NCBE.  

Find a list of character and fitness questions and instructions to help prepare for the online process at: Board of Bar Examiners - Supreme Court - Delaware Courts - State of Delaware

The Delaware Bar exam is a two day exam and requires a passing score of 143.  

Scores are based on:

• 50% – Two Multistate Performance Tests ( MPT) and 4 Delaware Essay Exam Questions ( on day one) 
• 50% – Multistate Bar Exam ( MBE) a 200 question multiple choice exam on day two ( Morning and Afternoon sessions)  

MPT format: “Closed universe” practical questions using instructions, factual data, cases, statues, and other reference materials supplied by examiners.

Delaware Essay Subjects Tested: Business Entities ( DE Corporations, LLCs, and Limited Partnerships), Criminal Law and Procedure (including the DE criminal code), Civil Procedure in all DE and Federal Courts (including Family Law), Wills & Trusts, Property, Constitutional Law, Torts, Contracts, Evidence, Equity.

MBE subjects tested: Constitutional Law, Contracts/Sales, Criminal Law/Procedure, Evidence, Federal Civil Procedure, Real Property, Torts.  Please note: DE does not accept an MBE score from an exam taken in another jurisdiction.  

The Delaware Supreme Court approved administering the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam, beginning in February 2028. Please refer to the state bar examiners website for additional details: courts.delaware.gov/bbe

Preceptor: Delaware requires candidates to select a preceptor and execute their Preceptor Certificate by September 1/April 1 depending on when you are sitting for the bar exam. Your preceptor can be any DE lawyer qualified under Board Rules 9 & 10 and Supreme Court rule 52.  Often candidates select preceptors from firms where they have been employed or other lawyers or judges for whom they have worked or clerked.  Your preceptor is obligated to review your application. 

Clerkship: Delaware requires all candidates to complete a clerkship.  The Clerkship is required to be full time for a 12 week period, it does not need to be continuous, but which may not begin prior to matriculation at a law school described in Supreme Court Rule 52(a)(5). A week means a forty-hour work week. The Clerkship is required to be completed in Delaware, under the supervision of a Delaware attorney. Each applicant must also complete a Clerkship Checklist. The Clerkship Checklist is available on the Board’s website. Both the Clerkship and Clerkship Checklist must be  completed before an applicant can be admitted to the Bar.

Attorney Registration and the Pre-Admission Conference: Delaware holds a pre-admission conference that is mandatory for all passing applicants. The conference attendance is a prerequisite to admission. Attendance at the pre-admission conference is mandatory for anyone who passed the immediately preceding administration of the Bar Exam regardless of whether you intend to be admitted at the admission ceremony. Professional attire is required.