When Does Alabama Switch to the NextGen Bar Exam?
- Exam today
- Administers the legacy UBE today
- First NextGen administration
- July 2028
- July 25–26, 2028 (expected; NCBE has not published this date yet)
- NextGen passing score
- TBA
- NCBE recommends 610–620
- Legacy UBE cut score
- 260
- until the switch (400-point scale)
- MPRE
- Required
Alabama specifics: Adds 3-hr Alabama-law essay component with NextGen.
Alabama still administers the legacy Uniform Bar Exam with a cut score of 260 on the 400-point scale. Its first NextGen administration is July 2028 — July 25–26, 2028 (expected; NCBE has not published this date yet).
That date decides which exam you study for. Candidates sitting in Alabama before July 2028 take the current exam; from July 2028 onward, the NextGen format applies. If your timeline could cross the switch — say a first attempt on the old exam and a retake after — factor in that the two formats reward different preparation.
Alabama has not announced its NextGen passing score yet. NCBE recommends setting it between 610 and 620 on the 500–750 scale — a sensible planning target in the meantime.
Adoption status sourced from NCBE’s decisions-by-jurisdiction page, NCBE’s Alabama listing and its 2026 Comprehensive Guide (Charts 7 and 17), checked on September 20, 2026. Registration windows, fees, and character & fitness requirements are set by the Alabama State Bar — always confirm deadlines with them directly.
Alabama deadlines, fees and requirements
Taken from NCBE’s Alabama listing and its 2026 Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, checked on September 20, 2026. Boards change these without notice, so treat the board’s own site as the final word.
Application deadlines
- February 2027 exam (legacy UBE)
- First filing deadline Oct. 1; no late filing period listed.
- July 2026 exam (for reference)
- First filing deadline Feb. 1. July 2027 deadlines usually follow the same pattern; the board publishes them.
Fees
- First-time takers
- $575 (plus C&F fee)
- Attorneys
- $575 (plus C&F fee)
- Repeaters
- $575
- Laptop
- $107
As listed in NCBE’s 2026 Comprehensive Guide (Chart 7). Where more than one amount appears, the tier depends on filing date or applicant category. NCBE also charges a separate $149 technology fee for the NextGen UBE, paid through the NCBE account.
Score portability
- Transferred NextGen UBE scores: Yes from July 2026, minimum Varies.
- Transferred legacy UBE scores: Yes (minimum 260); the legacy UBE runs in Alabama through February 2028.
- Maximum score age: 36 months.
Until the Supreme Court of Alabama sets the score required to pass the NextGen UBE in Alabama, any applicant who has taken the entire NextGen UBE in a single administration in another jurisdiction and earned a total scaled score entitling the applicant to admission in that jurisdiction may transfer his or her score.
State requirement, MPRE and the board
Jurisdiction-specific requirement for NextGen admission: Yes. A three-hour, essay-based examination focused on Alabama state law will be administered in conjunction with the NextGen UBE.
MPRE: required, minimum score 75.
Alabama State Bar. P.O. Box 671 Montgomery, AL 36101 Phone: (334) 269-1515 Fax: (334) 261-6310 Email: admit@alabar.org
Preparing for the NextGen format
The NextGen exam tests 8 foundational subjects through three item types — standalone MCQs (including 6-option select-two), integrated question sets, and performance tasks. BARGO covers all three with exam-format practice, honest availability per subject, and a free diagnostic to find your baseline.
Alabama FAQs
Quick answers
When does Alabama first offer the NextGen bar exam?
July 2028 — the administration runs July 25–26, 2028 (expected; NCBE has not published this date yet). Registration windows are set by the Alabama State Bar, so confirm deadlines with them directly.
What is the NextGen bar exam passing score in Alabama?
Not announced yet. NCBE recommends jurisdictions set passing between 610 and 620 on the 500–750 scale, so treat 615 as a planning midpoint until Alabama publishes its score.
Do I need the MPRE for admission in Alabama?
Yes — Alabama requires the MPRE.
What do I take if I sit the bar in Alabama before July 2028?
The legacy UBE, where Alabama's cut score is 260 on the 400-point scale. The legacy UBE's final administration nationwide is February 2028.
When is the application deadline for the February 2027 bar exam in Alabama?
Oct. 1, per NCBE's listing for Alabama. The February 2027 sitting in Alabama is the legacy UBE. Confirm the exact date and cut-off time with the Alabama State Bar before relying on it.
How much does the Alabama bar exam cost?
NCBE's 2026 Comprehensive Guide lists $575 (plus C&F fee) for first-time takers, $575 (plus C&F fee) for attorneys and $575 for repeaters, plus $107 to use a laptop. Where more than one amount is listed, the tier depends on filing date or applicant category. Fees change, so the board's own schedule is authoritative.
Does Alabama accept transferred NextGen UBE scores?
Yes, from July 2026, at a minimum transferred score of Varies. Scores must be no older than 36 months. Until the Supreme Court of Alabama sets the score required to pass the NextGen UBE in Alabama, any applicant who has taken the entire NextGen UBE in a single administration in another jurisdiction and earned a total scaled score entitling the applicant to admission in that jurisdiction may transfer his or her score.
What is the Alabama-specific requirement for NextGen admission?
A three-hour, essay-based examination focused on Alabama state law will be administered in conjunction with the NextGen UBE.
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