When Does South Dakota Switch to the NextGen Bar Exam?
- Exam today
- Administers its own bar exam today
- First NextGen administration
- July 2027
- July 27–28, 2027
- NextGen passing score
- TBA
- NCBE recommends 610–620
- MPRE
- Required
South Dakota specifics: Own exam now (incl. Indian Law essay); accepts 620+ NextGen transfers from Jul 2026.
South Dakota administers its own bar exam today rather than the UBE, and adopts the NextGen bar exam with the July 2027 administration (July 27–28, 2027).
That date decides which exam you study for. Candidates sitting in South Dakota before July 2027 take the current exam; from July 2027 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.
South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners — always confirm deadlines with them directly.
South Dakota deadlines, fees and requirements
Taken from NCBE’s South Dakota 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 South Dakota; the South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners publishes them on its own site.
The South Dakota bar portal is open for the February 2027 bar exam. The Supreme Court has adopted the NextGen exam with a first administration in July 2027, so February 2027 is the last offering of the MPT/MEE/ILQ and MBE in South Dakota. Source (checked September 9, 2026)
Fees: South Dakota application fee $450; NCBE Character and Fitness report $395 for a first bar exam after graduation or $550 more than one year after graduation; fingerprints $50; Examplify laptop registration $100. Source (checked September 9, 2026)
Fees
NCBE’s UBE fee chart does not cover South Dakota; the South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners publishes its fee schedule. NCBE separately charges a $149 technology fee for the NextGen UBE.
Score portability
- Transferred NextGen UBE scores: Yes from July 2026, minimum 620.
- Transferred legacy UBE scores: No.
South Dakota will accept minimum NextGen UBE scores of 620 starting in July 2026. It has not yet set its own passing score.
State requirement, MPRE and the board
Jurisdiction-specific requirement for NextGen admission: TBA.
MPRE: required, minimum score 85.
South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners. 500 E. Capitol Ave. Pierre, SD 57501 Phone: (605) 773-4898 Fax: (605) 773-8479
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.
South Dakota FAQs
Quick answers
When does South Dakota first offer the NextGen bar exam?
July 2027 — the administration runs July 27–28, 2027. Registration windows are set by the South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners, so confirm deadlines with them directly.
What is the NextGen bar exam passing score in South Dakota?
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 South Dakota publishes its score.
Do I need the MPRE for admission in South Dakota?
Yes — South Dakota requires the MPRE.
What do I take if I sit the bar in South Dakota before July 2027?
South Dakota's current bar exam. Own exam now (incl. Indian Law essay); accepts 620+ NextGen transfers from Jul 2026.
Does South Dakota accept transferred NextGen UBE scores?
Yes, from July 2026, at a minimum transferred score of 620. South Dakota will accept minimum NextGen UBE scores of 620 starting in July 2026. It has not yet set its own passing score.
Also first offering NextGen in July 2027
- Arizona
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
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