Pennsylvania Bar Exam Information

Dates, Cost & Location

Since its founding in 1682, Pennsylvania has led the way in making change through the legal system. Pennsylvania was the first state to abolish property requirements in voting, and its Declaration of Rights led to the creation of America’s federal Bill of Rights. If you’re a Pennsylvanian who wants to make a positive impact on the future of this nation by becoming a lawyer, we’re here to help you pass the Pennsylvania Bar Exam!

The exam is offered twice a year, in February and July. The February exam will be administered from February 24–25, 2026, while the July exam will be administered from July 28–29, 2026. The initial deadline to apply for the February exam is October 30, 2025, and the application fee is $750. However, you can still take the exam if you apply by November 30 and pay a late fee of $1,075. The final deadline is December 30, with an application fee of $1,400.

The initial deadline to apply for the July exam is March 31, 2026, and the application fee is $750. However, you can still take the exam if you apply by April 30 and pay a late fee of $1,075. The final deadline is May 15, with an application fee of $1,400.

The laptop fee for either administration of the exam is $115 for those who apply by the initial application deadline, and $165 for those who apply late.

Like 40 other jurisdictions in the United States, Pennsylvania uses the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE). The Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) are administered on the first day of the exam. The MEE has six half-hour essay questions, while the MPT has two ninety-minute essay questions. The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is administered on the second day of the exam. For the MBE, test takers will spend six hours answering 200 multiple-choice questions.

Effective July 2028, Pennsylvania will use the NextGen version of the bar exam. NextGen won’t test the following subjects: Conflict of Laws, Family Law, Secured Transactions, and Trusts & Estates. The NextGen exam will include more questions about practical legal work, such as legal writing, negotiations, and client relationships.

What subjects will you be tested on?

The MEE can test you on any of the following subjects: Business Associations (including Agency, Partnerships, and Corporations), Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts and Sales, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Real Property, Secured Transactions (including Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code), Torts, and Wills & Estates. Not all of these subjects will necessarily be tested on exam day; the MEE tends to change which subjects are tested with each administration. To make sure that you’re prepared to pass, we recommend studying all of the possible MEE subjects.

Instead of testing your knowledge of a particular area of law, the MPT will require you to show whether you can write a persuasive argument in a memorandum or legal brief in response to a fact pattern. The relevant laws that apply to the question will be given to you in the prompt.

The MBE will test you on Constitutional Law, Contracts and Sales, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Federal Civil Procedure, Real Property, and Torts.

What’s the minimum score for the MPRE?

To pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) in Pennsylvania, you must receive a scaled score of at least 75.

How is the exam scored?

The MPT, MEE, and MBE are combined into a single scaled score. The MBE is worth 50% of the total score, while the MPT is worth 20% and the MEE is worth 30%. To pass, you must achieve a combined scaled score of at least 270 out of 400.

When are the results released?

Test takers should expect to receive their results two months after the exam administration. However, there is no guarantee of when the scores will be released.

Can I transfer my MBE scores from another jurisdiction?

No.

What about reciprocity across states?

Lawyers from other jurisdictions may apply for reciprocity in Pennsylvania if they’ve passed the bar in another state, practiced law for at least five of the past seven years, have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school, are not the subject of any ongoing disciplinary or criminal cases, and have not been subject to disciplinary action within the previous sixty months.