Missouri NextGen Bar Exam: Dates, Passing Score & Requirements
- Exam today
- Administers the NextGen bar exam now
- First NextGen administration
- July 2026
- February 23–24, 2027
- NextGen passing score
- 610
- on the 500–750 scale
- Legacy UBE cut score
- 260
- until the switch (400-point scale)
- MPRE
- Required
Missouri specifics: First wave; Missouri Educational Component Test required.
Missouri is one of the 10 first-wave jurisdictions that adopted the NextGen bar exam for its debut on July 28–29, 2026. If you are testing in Missouri, the NextGen format — three 3-hour sessions mixing multiple-choice questions, integrated question sets, and performance tasks — is already your exam.
The announced passing score is 610 on the 500–750 scale — NCBE's recommended range is 610–620, so Missouri sits at the accessible end of that band.
The next administration in Missouri runs February 23–24, 2027.
Adoption status sourced from NCBE’s decisions-by-jurisdiction page, NCBE’s Missouri 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 Missouri Board of Law Examiners — always confirm deadlines with them directly.
Missouri deadlines, fees and requirements
Taken from NCBE’s Missouri 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 (NextGen UBE)
- First filing deadline Oct. 1; late filing deadline Nov. 1 / Dec. 1.
- July 2026 exam (for reference)
- First filing deadline March 2; late filing deadline April 1 / May 1. July 2027 deadlines usually follow the same pattern; the board publishes them.
Fees
- First-time takers
- $560 – $1,400
- Attorneys
- $560 – $1,400
- Repeaters
- $560 – $850
- Laptop
- $125
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.
Bar exam fee for non-attorneys and attorneys is $485 if never previously registered for a bar examination in Missouri but did apply for a character and fitness report as a 1L or 2L law student; $910 if never previously registered for a bar examination in Missouri and did not apply for a character and fitness report as a 1L or 2L law student. Bar exam fee for repeaters is $485 (timely filed) if applicant failed the most recent bar examination in Missouri; $585 (timely filed) if applicant failed a bar examination in Missouri other than the most recent exam or failed to appear at the exam for which applicant was registered.
Score portability
- Transferred NextGen UBE scores: Yes from July 2026, minimum 610.
- Transferred legacy UBE scores: Yes (minimum 260); the legacy UBE runs in Missouri through February 2026.
- Maximum score age: 5 years.
State requirement, MPRE and the board
Jurisdiction-specific requirement for NextGen admission: Yes. Rules require an open-book online test, the Missouri Educational Component Test (MECT), for applicants to complete as a condition of licensure. Review materials are posted to assist applicants.
MPRE: required, minimum score 80.
Missouri Board of Law Examiners. P.O. Box 104236 Jefferson City, MO 65110-4236 Phone: (573) 751-9814 Fax: (573) 751-5335
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.
Missouri FAQs
Quick answers
When does Missouri first offer the NextGen bar exam?
July 2026 — the administration runs February 23–24, 2027. Registration windows are set by the Missouri Board of Law Examiners, so confirm deadlines with them directly.
What is the NextGen bar exam passing score in Missouri?
610 on the 500–750 scale.
Do I need the MPRE for admission in Missouri?
Yes — Missouri requires the MPRE.
When is the application deadline for the February 2027 bar exam in Missouri?
Oct. 1, with a late filing deadline of Nov. 1 / Dec. 1, per NCBE's listing for Missouri. The February 2027 sitting in Missouri is the NextGen UBE. Confirm the exact date and cut-off time with the Missouri Board of Law Examiners before relying on it.
How much does the Missouri bar exam cost?
NCBE's 2026 Comprehensive Guide lists $560 – $1,400 for first-time takers, $560 – $1,400 for attorneys and $560 – $850 for repeaters, plus $125 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 Missouri accept transferred NextGen UBE scores?
Yes, from July 2026, at a minimum transferred score of 610. Scores must be no older than 5 years.
What is the Missouri-specific requirement for NextGen admission?
Rules require an open-book online test, the Missouri Educational Component Test (MECT), for applicants to complete as a condition of licensure. Review materials are posted to assist applicants.
Also first offering NextGen in July 2026
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