When Does Vermont Switch to the NextGen Bar Exam?
- Exam today
- Administers the legacy UBE today
- First NextGen administration
- July 2027
- July 27–28, 2027
- NextGen passing score
- 620
- on the 500–750 scale
- Legacy UBE cut score
- 270
- until the switch (400-point scale)
- MPRE
- Required
Vermont still administers the legacy Uniform Bar Exam with a cut score of 270 on the 400-point scale. Its first NextGen administration is July 2027 — July 27–28, 2027.
That date decides which exam you study for. Candidates sitting in Vermont 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.
Vermont has already announced its NextGen passing score: 620 on the 500–750 scale.
Adoption status sourced from NCBE’s decisions-by-jurisdiction page, NCBE’s Vermont 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 Vermont Board of Bar Examiners Office of Attorney Licensing — always confirm deadlines with them directly.
Vermont deadlines, fees and requirements
Taken from NCBE’s Vermont 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 Nov. 15; no late filing period listed.
- July 2026 exam (for reference)
- First filing deadline April 15. July 2027 deadlines usually follow the same pattern; the board publishes them.
Fees
- First-time takers
- $300 (plus C&F fee)
- Attorneys
- $300 (plus C&F fee)
- Repeaters
- $300 (plus C&F fee)
- Laptop
- $0
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.
Laptop takers are responsible for any registration/licensing fees charged by the company that facilitates the laptop process.
Score portability
- Transferred NextGen UBE scores: Yes from July 2026, minimum 620.
- Transferred legacy UBE scores: Yes (minimum 270); the legacy UBE runs in Vermont through February 2027.
- Maximum score age: 3 years/5 years.
State requirement, MPRE and the board
Jurisdiction-specific requirement for NextGen admission: No.
MPRE: required, minimum score 80.
Vermont Board of Bar Examiners Office of Attorney Licensing. Costello Courthouse 32 Cherry Street, Ste. 213 Burlington, VT 5401 Phone: (802) 951-0139 Fax: (802) 859-3003 Email: AttyLicensing@vtcourts.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.
Vermont FAQs
Quick answers
When does Vermont first offer the NextGen bar exam?
July 2027 — the administration runs July 27–28, 2027. Registration windows are set by the Vermont Board of Bar Examiners Office of Attorney Licensing, so confirm deadlines with them directly.
What is the NextGen bar exam passing score in Vermont?
620 on the 500–750 scale.
Do I need the MPRE for admission in Vermont?
Yes — Vermont requires the MPRE.
What do I take if I sit the bar in Vermont before July 2027?
The legacy UBE, where Vermont's cut score is 270 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 Vermont?
Nov. 15, per NCBE's listing for Vermont. The February 2027 sitting in Vermont is the legacy UBE. Confirm the exact date and cut-off time with the Vermont Board of Bar Examiners Office of Attorney Licensing before relying on it.
How much does the Vermont bar exam cost?
NCBE's 2026 Comprehensive Guide lists $300 (plus C&F fee) for first-time takers, $300 (plus C&F fee) for attorneys and $300 (plus C&F fee) for repeaters, plus $0 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 Vermont accept transferred NextGen UBE scores?
Yes, from July 2026, at a minimum transferred score of 620. Scores must be no older than 3 years/5 years.
Also first offering NextGen in July 2027
- Arizona
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
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