Washington
Admission Process
- Admitting Entity
- Washington State Supreme Court
- Entity Managing Admissions Process
Washington State Bar Association
- Phone Number
- 206-727-8209
- Email Address
- Admission by Exam
- Yes
- Admission by Score Transfer
- Yes
- Admission by Motion
- Yes
- Diploma Privilege
No
Education Requirements
- Application Materials
- Prelegal Education Requirements
No
- Legal Education Requirements
Must be a graduate of a law school approved by the WSBA Board of Governors, which is generally ABA-approved law schools.
- 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. Washington intends to administer the NextGen bar exam in July 2026.
- Jurisdiction-Specific Component
- Yes
- 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
- 266
- Fee(s)
$595
- Laptops Allowed/Required
- Yes
- Laptop Fee
- Applicants using a laptop are required to purchase and download the ILG Exam360 software
- Courtesy Seating Availability
- No
Transfer Score
- Transferred Scores Accepted
- Yes
- UBE Score Required for Transfer
- Yes
- Score Transfer Time Limit
- 40 months
- Score Transfer Fee
- $595 plus C&F fee
Mpre
- Passing MPRE Score Required
- Yes
- Minimum Passing MPRE Score
- 85
- Time Limit on MPRE Score
- 3 years
- MPRE Fee
- $160 through NCBEX
- 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 as needed during an exam session to use the restroom. However, no additional time is granted for restroom breaks
- Bar Exam Testing Day Security Measures
See security measures published here
- Bar Exam Testing Day Identification Documents
One picture ID, no published requirement name on ID
- Bar Exam Testing Day Seating Assignment
Bar will issue a card with assigned seating.