When Does Virginia 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
Virginia specifics: Own 2-day exam now; adds essay-based VA-law component with NextGen.
Virginia 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 Virginia 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.
Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia Board of Bar Examiners — always confirm deadlines with them directly.
Virginia deadlines, fees and requirements
Taken from NCBE’s Virginia 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 Virginia; the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners publishes them on its own site.
February 2027 Virginia bar exam: essay portion February 23, 2027 and MBE February 24, 2027; filing deadline December 15, 2026. The statutory filing deadlines are May 10 for the July exam and December 15 for the February exam. Source (checked September 9, 2026)
Fees: original bar exam application $575; re-application $575; Character & Fitness Questionnaire $575; Character & Fitness update form $300. All fees are non-refundable and must be paid by money order, cashier's check or certified check. Source (checked September 9, 2026)
The Board's announcement: the first NextGen administration in Virginia is July 2028; the Virginia law component, 3 hours or less, is expected on the afternoon of day two, and candidates transferring NextGen scores from other jurisdictions will also sit the Virginia-specific component. Source (checked September 9, 2026)
Fees
NCBE’s UBE fee chart does not cover Virginia; the Virginia 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 2028, minimum TBA.
- Transferred legacy UBE scores: No.
Virginia will accept transferred NextGen UBE scores beginning in 2028 from any administration when NextGen was administered at a passing standard yet to be announced.
State requirement, MPRE and the board
Jurisdiction-specific requirement for NextGen admission: Yes. The Virginia state law requirement will be an essay exam.
MPRE: required, minimum score 85.
Virginia Board of Bar Examiners. 2201 W. Broad St., #101 Richmond, VA 23220-2022 Phone: (804) 367-0412 Fax: (804) 367-0416
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.
Virginia FAQs
Quick answers
When does Virginia 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 Virginia Board of Bar Examiners, so confirm deadlines with them directly.
What is the NextGen bar exam passing score in Virginia?
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 Virginia publishes its score.
Do I need the MPRE for admission in Virginia?
Yes — Virginia requires the MPRE.
What do I take if I sit the bar in Virginia before July 2028?
Virginia's current bar exam. Own 2-day exam now; adds essay-based VA-law component with NextGen.
Does Virginia accept transferred NextGen UBE scores?
Yes, from July 2028, at a minimum transferred score of TBA. Virginia will accept transferred NextGen UBE scores beginning in 2028 from any administration when NextGen was administered at a passing standard yet to be announced.
What is the Virginia-specific requirement for NextGen admission?
The Virginia state law requirement will be an essay exam.
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