Virginia Bar
Exam Details

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

Most students create an NCBE account when registering for the MPRE. Register with the NCBE at: ncbex.org/exams/mpre/registration/

You will then need to create an account with the VBBE (Virginia Board of Bar Examiners). The VBBE provides a helpful guide to walk you through the online application, as well as a checklist for the supplemental forms you will need to submit when you apply for the bar exam. Start and submit your VBBE application at: barexam.virginia.gov/bar/barapps.html

See a sample VBBE bar exam checklist at: barexam.virginia.gov/pdf/SampleChecklistSOF.pdf

See a sample bar exam application at: barexam.virginia.gov/pdf/SampleApplicationOpt1.pdf

We recommend taking the MPRE any time during your 2L year or as early in your 3L year as possible. Virginia requires an MPRE scaled score of 85 or higher which may be achieved at any time before taking the bar exam or prior to the expiration of a passing Virginia bar exam score. Passing Virginia bar exam scores are valid for 5 years from the date of the examination. The MPRE requirement must be met before you can be licensed. A raw score of approximately 32 correct out of 50 usually converts to a scaled score of 85. Applicants must provide verification of their MPRE score for admission to the Virginia Bar. You can request that your score be sent directly to Virginia when you take the MPRE, or you can download and submit a copy of your score report.

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 be eligible to sit for the Virginia Bar Exam, you’ll need to complete your application online and print and mail or hand-deliver the completed application and all required forms and documents. Be sure to print and save copies of the sample bar exam checklist and sample application available. You should use them as guides when gathering all required forms and documents to ensure you submit a complete application packet.

Filing deadlines:
February (Winter) exam: December 15

July (Summer) exam: May 10*
*The statutory filing deadline, May 10, 2026, is a Sunday; therefore, the filing deadline is extended to Monday, May 11, 2026

Applications must be filed and documents received by the deadlines noted above. Virginia does not accept extensions or late filings.

Filing fees:
Bar exam application: $575
Character and Fitness: $575

For steps on how to complete an online application, visit: barexam.virginia.gov/bar/barapps.html

Find a complete list of applicable rules at: barexam.virginia.gov/pdf/VBBERules.pdf

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

As part of the bar exam application process, you’ll provide background information that helps the VBBE conduct a character and f itness investigation.

You will be asked to disclose details about your personal, academic, work and financial histories, as well as information on any criminal or civil proceedings to which you were a party. Candor is key. You will also need to submit copies of documents like your credit report, military service record, driving records and proof of citizenship. As part of the character and fitness review, all applicants must submit fingerprints and passport-style photos so the VBBE can verify your identity and obtain copies of any documents necessary for their investigation.

After you’ve submitted a complete application, the Board will make a determination on your character and fitness. The duration of the review process varies depending on the nature of the investigation.

For more information on the character and fitness screening process, visit: barexam.virginia.gov/cf/cf.html

The Virginia Bar Exam includes a significant writing component, and we strongly encourage you to use a laptop for maximum efficiency. If you fail to register for the Laptop Program, you will have to handwrite the exam.

Laptop registration begins the second Wednesday of January for the February exam and the second Wednesday of June for the July exam.

The Board of Bar Examiners offers all timely filed bar exam applicants the ability to use their laptop computers for the essay portion of the Virginia Bar Exam. They have contracted Extegrity, to provide this service. All applicants who timely and properly register for the laptop program will be allowed to participate.

All payments must be made to Extegrity. You will be required to download, install and verify the operation of Extegrity Exam4 software on your laptop prior to the exam. There will be a fee of $175 for participation in the Laptop Program. The fee covers software licensing plus additional administrative costs associated with administration of the Laptop Program. The entire fee is payable to Extegrity, which only accepts payment via the registration form.  

For more information on registering a laptop, visit the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners website at: barexam.virginia.gov/bar/laptop/ barltprg.html

The Virginia Bar Exam is a two-day exam that requires a passing score of 140. Exam components include:

• Day one (60% of score): consists of nine essay questions plus 10 multiple-choice questions with emphasis on Virginia law.
• Day two (40% of score): is the 200-question, multiple-choice Multistate Bar Exam (MBE). Applicants may transfer an MBE scaled score of 133 or greater, taken within the preceding 3 years, to be able to sit for only the essay portion of the exam.

Virginia essay subjects: Contracts, Creditors’ Rights, Criminal Law, Domestic Relations, Evidence, Local Government Law, Professional Responsibility, Real Property, Torts, Uniform Commercial Code, Virginia Civil and Criminal Procedure (including appellate practice), Wills, Trusts and Estate.

MBE test subjects: Constitutional Law, Contracts/Sales, Criminal Law/Procedure, Evidence, Federal Civil Procedure, Real Property, Torts

Helpful tip: Remember to bring an extension cord in case your laptop charger does not reach the provided outlet.