When Does Hawaii 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
Hawaii specifics: State component: 15 MCQs on Hawaii RPC; won't accept transferred NextGen scores.
Hawaii 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 Hawaii 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.
Hawaii 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 Hawaii 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 Board of Examiners Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii — always confirm deadlines with them directly.
Hawaii deadlines, fees and requirements
Taken from NCBE’s Hawaii 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 Hawaii; the Board of Examiners Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii publishes them on its own site.
Hawaiʻi bar applications must be submitted by November 1 for the February examination and by April 1 for the July examination. The bar examination fee is $500 (effective February 2014) and is not transferred or refunded; NCBE's character and fitness fee and an ExamSoft laptop fee are charged separately. Exams are given on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the week of the last Wednesday of February and July. Source (checked September 9, 2026)
Fees
NCBE’s UBE fee chart does not cover Hawaii; the Board of Examiners Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii 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.
Hawaii does not intend to accept transferred NextGen scores.
State requirement, MPRE and the board
Jurisdiction-specific requirement for NextGen admission: Yes. 15 multiple-choice questions based on the Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct.
MPRE: required, minimum score 85.
Board of Examiners Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii. Ali'iolani Hale, Rm. 103 417 S. King St. Honolulu, HI 96813-2912 Phone: (808) 539-4919 Fax: (808) 539-4978 Email: baradmissions@courts.hawaii.gov
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.
Hawaii FAQs
Quick answers
When does Hawaii 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 Board of Examiners Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii, so confirm deadlines with them directly.
What is the NextGen bar exam passing score in Hawaii?
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 Hawaii publishes its score.
Do I need the MPRE for admission in Hawaii?
Yes — Hawaii requires the MPRE.
What do I take if I sit the bar in Hawaii before July 2028?
Hawaii's current bar exam. State component: 15 MCQs on Hawaii RPC; won't accept transferred NextGen scores.
Does Hawaii accept transferred NextGen UBE scores?
No. Hawaii does not currently accept transferred NextGen UBE scores. Hawaii does not intend to accept transferred NextGen scores.
What is the Hawaii-specific requirement for NextGen admission?
15 multiple-choice questions based on the Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct.
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