When Does California Switch to the NextGen Bar Exam?
- Exam today
- Administers its own bar exam 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
- MPRE
- Required
California specifics: Own 2-day exam until 2028; NextGen adopted 15 Jul 2026 by Supreme Court order; CA-law component TBD.
California administers its own bar exam today rather than the UBE, and adopts the NextGen bar exam with the July 2028 administration (July 25–26, 2028 (expected; NCBE has not published this date yet)).
That date decides which exam you study for. Candidates sitting in California 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.
California 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 California 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 State Bar of California Office of Admissions — always confirm deadlines with them directly.
California deadlines, fees and requirements
Taken from NCBE’s California 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
NCBE does not list filing deadlines for California; the State Bar of California Office of Admissions publishes them on its own site.
February 2027 California Bar Exam: exam February 23–24, 2027; application available October 1, 2026; timely filing deadline November 2, 2026; final filing deadline January 4, 2027. Source (checked September 9, 2026)
Fees per the State Bar's Schedule of Charges: application to take the California Bar Examination $878 (general applicant) or $1,650 (attorney applicant); laptop fee $153; late fees of $50 (applications filed during April for July, or during November for February) and $250 (after that, up to the final filing deadline). Source (checked September 9, 2026)
On July 15, 2026 the California Supreme Court adopted the NextGen UBE beginning with the July 2028 California Bar Exam. The State Bar will develop a California component to be administered no earlier than July 2029, which may test the California-law areas currently tested plus employment law and family law. Attorneys eligible for the one-day Attorneys' Exam who want a California license before 2029 are encouraged to take it no later than February 2028. Source (checked September 20, 2026)
Fees
NCBE’s UBE fee chart does not cover California; the State Bar of California Office of Admissions publishes its fee schedule. NCBE separately charges a $149 technology fee for the NextGen UBE.
Score portability
- Transferred NextGen UBE scores: No.
- Transferred legacy UBE scores: No.
State requirement, MPRE and the board
Jurisdiction-specific requirement for NextGen admission: not listed by NCBE.
MPRE: required, minimum score 86.
State Bar of California Office of Admissions. 180 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Phone: (415) 538-2300 Fax: (415) 538-2304
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.
California FAQs
Quick answers
When does California 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 State Bar of California Office of Admissions, so confirm deadlines with them directly.
What is the NextGen bar exam passing score in California?
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 California publishes its score.
Do I need the MPRE for admission in California?
Yes — California requires the MPRE.
What do I take if I sit the bar in California before July 2028?
California's current bar exam. Own 2-day exam until 2028; NextGen adopted 15 Jul 2026 by Supreme Court order; CA-law component TBD.
Does California accept transferred NextGen UBE scores?
No. California does not currently accept transferred NextGen UBE scores.
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