Pennsylvania
Admission Process
- Admitting Entity
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court
- Entity Managing Admissions Process
- Phone Number
- 717-231-3350
- Email Address
webmaster@pabarexam.org (technical issues only)
- 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 undergraduate degree from accredited college or university or an equivalent education
- Legal Education Requirements
Must have Bachelor of Laws or JD from an accredited law school. See Rule 205 (relating to admission by bar examination for graduates with foreign law degrees) for standards applicable to graduates of foreign law schools. See Rule 203(a)(2)(ii) for standards applicable to graduation from a non-accredited law school.
- 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. Pennsylvania intends to first administer the NextGen bar exam in July 2028.
- 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
- No limit
- Minimum Passing Bar Exam Score
- 270
- Fee(s)
$650-$1,500 depending on when the application is submitted
- Laptops Allowed/Required
- Allowed
- Laptop Fee
- $115 - $165, depending on timing
- Courtesy Seating Availability
- No
Transfer Score
- Transferred Scores Accepted
- Yes
- UBE Score Required for Transfer
- Yes
- Score Transfer Time Limit
- 30 months
- Score Transfer Fee
- $650
Mpre
- Passing MPRE Score Required
- Yes
- Minimum Passing MPRE Score
- 75
- Time Limit on MPRE Score
- No
- 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
Yes
- Bar Exam Testing Day Restroom Rules
Applicants are permitted to use the restroom so long it is not within the last 10 minutes of a testing section.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Security Measures
N/A
- Bar Exam Testing Day Identification Documents
Government-issued photo identification (e.g. state driver’s license, passport or military identification)
- Bar Exam Testing Day Seating Assignment
The applicant’s seat number is the Application Examination Number on the ticket.