West Virginia
Admission Process
- Admitting Entity
- West Virginia Judiciary
- Entity Managing Admissions Process
The West Virginia Board of Law Examiners (WVBLE)
- Phone Number
- 304-558-7815
- Email Address
Bar Admissions Administrator: ashton.bias@courtswv.gov
- Admission by Exam
- Yes
- Admission by Score Transfer
- Yes
- Admission by Motion
- Yes
- Diploma Privilege
No
Education Requirements
- Application Materials
- Prelegal Education Requirements
Yes, must have a degree of A.B, or B.S., or higher degree, from an accredited college or university, or its equivalent.
- Legal Education Requirements
Must have a L.L.B. or J.D., or their equivalents, from a law school accredited by the ABA, or its equivalent or, if having graduated from a non-ABA accredited law school, must have passed the bar exam in another jurisdiction and been admitted to practice in such jurisdiction; likewise, there is an exception for individuals that attended a non-ABA accredited law school of such statute that its graduates are eligible to take the bar examination in a another state and the applicant completed three years of law office study and work in West Virginia and if two attorneys admitted in West Virginia vouch for the applicant; graduates of reputable non-ABA law schools that are determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent may be deemed eligible to sit (with special application requirements and timelines). See Rule 3.0.
- Mandatory Law Student Bar Card Registration in Jurisdiction
- No
- Mandatory Student Registration Requirements (if applicable)
N/A
- Mandatory Student Registration Fee (if applicable)
- N/A
Bar Exam
- Universal Bar Exam
- Yes. West Virginia intends to administer the NextGen bar exam in July 2027.
- Jurisdiction-Specific Component
- No
- Multistate Bar Exam
- Yes
- Multistate Essay Exam
- Yes
- Jurisdiction-Drafted Exam
- No
- Multistate Performance Test
- Yes
- Attempt Limit on Bar Exam
- 4, unless special permission is granted
- Minimum Passing Bar Exam Score
- 270
- Fee(s)
$500 application fee for students and law school graduates not admitted in any jurisdiction or attorneys admitted less than one year; $800 for attorneys admitted one year or more
- Laptops Allowed/Required
- Permitted for day one of the exam
- Laptop Fee
- Yes
- Courtesy Seating Availability
- No
Transfer Score
- Transferred Scores Accepted
- Yes
- UBE Score Required for Transfer
- No - UBE, MBE, MPRE transfer options available
- Score Transfer Time Limit
- 3 years
- Score Transfer Fee
- $750
Mpre
- Passing MPRE Score Required
- Yes
- Minimum Passing MPRE Score
- 80
- Time Limit on MPRE Score
- Within 25 months of the date of the successful West Virginia bar examination test date
- MPRE Fee
- $160
- MPRE Application Name and Gender Identification Requirements
The MPRE application requires the first and last name to match exactly as listed on valid government-issued photo identification. If the applicant indicates they have been known by a different name, they must list the first name and last name or surname and does not have the option to explain the reason for the name change. The demographic information section asks, “[w]which of the following questions best represents your gender identity?” and provides the following options: “man,” “woman,” “non-binary,” “gender not listed here (please specify),” and “I prefer not to have my response used for research purposes.”
- MPRE Testing Day Procedures
An applicant testing at a Pearson VUE testing center must present a government-issued primary ID and a secondary ID. The primary ID must include a first and last name, recent recognizable photo, and signature. The secondary ID must include at least a first and last name and signature or first and last name and recent recognizable photo. The first and last name used to register must match exactly both IDs presented on test day. Any name corrections must be submitted through the NCBE Account Dashboard at least 48 hours before the first day of the test administration. Before entering the test room, Pearson VUE will collect a digital photograph and digital signature to verify identity. The applicant must consent to the NCBE Candidate Rules Agreement, which in part requires that if the applicant uses the restroom during testing, they must use “the restroom that is closest to the testing room” and pat themselves down (arms, legs, waistline) when leaving and re-entering the testing room. Applicants must also pat themselves down before entering the test room for the first time.
Testing Day Procedures
- Bar Exam Testing Day Procedures
Details and exam location, permitted items, etc. are confirmed by email, approximately two months before exam date with all those deemed eligible to sit. Applicants are instructed to reach out to the WVBLE office with any questions after receiving such information.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Restroom Rules
West Virginia exam locations vary by administration and are extremely limited. Administrative staff indicated on 8.26.2025 that amenities (such as gender-neutral or single-occupancy restrooms) depend on the venue. If a candidate has restroom-access concerns, the applicant should email the West Virginia bar team in advance so we can work with the facility to identify the closest appropriate option.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Security Measures
Details and exam location, permitted items, etc. are confirmed by email, approximately two months before exam date with all those deemed eligible to sit. Applicants are instructed to reach out to the WVBLE office with any questions after receiving such information.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Identification Documents
Administrative staff indicated on 8.26.2025 that candidates must present a current government-issued photo ID on exam day and that the name must match the application records.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Seating Assignment
Administrative staff indicated on 8.26.2025 that assigned seating is used and required by NCBE. Candidates receive a seat number at check-in. Seats are identified by number only—not by posting names or other identifying information.