Updated October 4, 2026 · Source-qualified admissions review
Bar Admission on Motion: State Requirements to Review
Reviewed October 4, 2026. This guide covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is a research aid, not an admission decision. Dated state rules and orders control over general summaries. Some fields remain unpublished, conflicting or corroborated only at summary level; follow the linked sources and confirm the exact route before applying.
What admission on motion does, and does not, mean
Admission on motion generally refers to an application route for an already admitted attorney without taking the receiving jurisdiction’s general bar examination. Each jurisdiction defines qualifying experience. Active practice, admission duration, practice location, hours, recent examination history, education and good standing can be separate conditions.
Some jurisdictions require reciprocity; others permit applications without that relationship. A state’s use of the word “motion” is not proof of reciprocity with any particular state. The table is a route comparison, not a verified bilateral-recognition list.
Motion comparison
| Jurisdiction | Practice and route qualifications | Fee qualifications | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 of past 6; Five of six primarily active practice; reciprocal source; no Alabama exam failure within10years; residency OR intent primary Alabama practice and office, plus all other RuleIII conditions. | Base ASB fees; add $250 law-student nonregistration if not previously registered/paid, and applicable NCBE investigation charges. Motion/transfer amounts separately verified on their fee pages. | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Alaska | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility.; 750 qualifying hours/year | Exam figure is February/July 2027 advertised $876 including transaction fee; motion $1545 and transfer $1030 include 3% fee effective Jan15 2026. Exam laptop additional $129. | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Arizona | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 3 of past 5; Active license three of five years, qualifying active practice three of five; admission by exam in reciprocal jurisdiction OR exam admission elsewhere plus admission/practice in reciprocal jurisdiction. Review full Rule34(e). | AO2024-78 Attachment A, effective through Dec31 2026. Exam $680 excludes $400 character report and $185 administration plus laptop. Exam base rises to $890 Jan1 2027; motion/transfer unchanged in Attachment B. | Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 |
| Arkansas | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 3 of past 5; Three of five active practice; qualifying reciprocal principal-place-of-business condition; full RuleXVI and exam-failure restriction apply. | Nonrefundable exam base; NCBE C&F applicable for standard applicants. Motion/transfer $1500 reported by NCBE/state forms; no total-cost promise. | Source 1 Source 2 |
| California | No general motion route shown | No general motion fee shown; check any specific limited route | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Colorado | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility. | Current portal-linked fee instructions: exam $710; late fee $200; motion $1800; transfer $810. Nonrefundable. Recheck specific exam instructions; no all-in cost claim. | Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 |
| Connecticut | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 of past 10; Practice principal means of livelihood five of ten; reciprocal admission generally required; qualifying full-time Connecticut law-school faculty/clinical-fellow exception requires direct rule review. | Exam $900 timely/$1000 late per schedule; July2026 special application rules separately governed. Motion $1800; transfer $850 per route pages; filing fees nonrefundable. | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Delaware | No general motion route shown | No general motion fee shown; check any specific limited route | Source 1 Source 2 |
| District of Columbia | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5 years active practice; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility. | Additional NCBE investigation charge. Bank-card transaction 2.5%; e-check $1. Exam fee $405 per board fee notice effective Apr1 2024; software charge additional. | Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 |
| Florida | No general motion route shown | No general motion fee shown; check any specific limited route | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Georgia | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 of past 7; Admission by examination in reciprocal jurisdiction; five of seven practice; reciprocal jurisdiction’s stricter conditions can govern; prior Georgia exam-failure and fitness-denial restrictions. | Motion petition $1300 PLUS $1200 fitness application. Exam amount is not total; separate fitness and NCBE examination-product charges apply. Confirm applicant category for exam pricing. | Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 |
| Hawaii | No general motion route shown | No general motion fee shown; check any specific limited route | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Idaho | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility. | Score-transfer fee $600 if never admitted elsewhere; $800 if already admitted. Exam/motion fees require route schedule. Do not show $600 transfer as universal. | Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 |
| Illinois | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility. | Effective Jan1 2026: first exam filing $1200/$1475/$1875 by deadline; prior Illinois registrants have $650/$1125 schedule. Motion $150+$1350. Card service fee additional. | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Indiana | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility. | Timely exam $250; late $500. Motion $875 on board application instructions; transfer $500 under Rule 17.1 section 6. Not all ancillary costs. | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Iowa | No reciprocity condition shown; 5 of past 7; Five full practice years while licensed withinseven; cannot have failed Iowa exam withinfiveyears or any bar exam five+times; education/C&F still apply. | Exam $800 for every applicant under July1 2026 amendments. Motion and transfer $900; separate NCBE investigative fees apply. | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Kansas | No reciprocity condition shown; 5 of past 7; Admission by examination; active license; qualifying five of seven practice; no professional suspension/disbarment/loss of license; other Rule719 conditions. | February2027 $700 timely deadline Oct1 2026 has passed; $900 late filing by Oct31 2026 on current notice. Motion/transfer $1250 per route instructions. | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Kentucky | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 of past 7; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility. | SCR2.022/2.090/2.110: exam nonattorney $875 timely ($1125/$1375 late); attorneys $1200 timely ($1450/$1700 late). Transfer $875 only if score reported within 12 months; otherwise $1200. Motion $1500. | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Louisiana | No general motion route shown | No general motion fee shown; check any specific limited route | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Maine | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility. | Effective March15 2025: exam $800 never admitted/admitted under1year, otherwise $900 plus NCBE. Transfer $900 not admitted for1year, otherwise $1000 plus NCBE. Motion $1000 plus NCBE. | Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 |
| Maryland | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5 or 10 total; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility. | Exam/transfer $350 character questionnaire + $400 notice; motion $700 plus NCBE. Sept11 2026 amendment effective Oct26 changes answer-review fee, not these figures. | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Massachusetts | No reciprocity condition shown; 5 of past 7; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility. | Court filing fees; e-filing/vendor and motion NCBE investigation charges may be separate. | Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 |
| Michigan | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility. | Rule6 base fees; separate State Bar character/fitness investigation and other charges applicable. Do not quote a fixed C&F charge without its current schedule. | Source 1 Source 2 |
| Minnesota | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility.; 1000 qualifying hours/year | Rule7 motion/transfer $1250 effective Sep1 2026. February2027 exam retains old $600 nonattorney/$1050 prior-admitted schedule. From July2027 exam $800/$1150 timely, $300 late; NCBE NextGen technology fee separate. | Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 |
| Mississippi | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 years; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility. | NCBE current reported base figures; state court admissions page returned500. Exam $525 with law-student registration or $825 otherwise; motion $1500 plus NCBE. Exact current state schedule remains a source-access gap. | Source 1 |
| Missouri | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 of past 10; Qualifying authorized active practice, required education, character and fitness, license standing and disciplinary conditions must also be met. Years alone never establish eligibility. | $1045 timely first exam applicant with no prior law-student C&F registration; $560 only pre-registered/qualifying repeater, plus deadline tiers. Motion/transfer $1500. Nonrefundable. | Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 |
| Montana | No reciprocity condition shown; 5 of past 7 | Exam student $620 and attorney $875; laptop $125 and NCBE C&F separate. Transfer student $310/attorney $565 including seminar. Motion fee conflict:$2, 475 in 2026 schedule versus $2, 500 in posted rule; request current invoice. Card processing 3%. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| Nebraska | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5 | Exam $515 with passing MPRE or $615 without; motion/transfer $950. These amounts include $25 processing. Laptop $100 separate. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| Nevada | No general motion route shown | No general motion fee shown; check any specific limited route | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| New Hampshire | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 of past 7 (3 for ME/VT) | NCBE corroborates exam/transfer $995 and motion $2, 500. Current state fee schedule was not independently retrieved; treat amounts as estimates requiring confirmation. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| New Jersey | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 of past 7 | Timely exam and score-transfer fee $675; motion $1, 500. Late exam and laptop fees may apply; amounts are not total licensure costs. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| New Mexico | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 of past 7 | Current Board exam FAQ lists $750 plus $500 late fee; transfer $1, 700 and reciprocity $2, 500. Other required expenses may apply; no guaranteed completion period. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| New York | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 of past 7 | Exam/transfer $250 under qualifying domestic education/law-office routes or $750 under foreign-law route; motion $400. Separate biennial registration and other costs apply. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| North Carolina | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 4 of past 6 | Current exam $850 if never licensed, $1, 650 if ever licensed; transfer $1, 275 unlicensed/$1, 500 licensed; motion $2, 000. Exam fees change for July 2028; late and laptop charges may apply. | Source 1 Summary/qualification review required |
| North Dakota | No reciprocity condition shown; 4 of past 5; separate 5-year admission requirement | Exam base $200; certain current/recent students without prior registration/application owe additional $400 late law-student registration. Motion/test-score route $400. NCBE investigation and applicable late fees separate. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| Ohio | No reciprocity condition shown; 5 of past 7; 1000 qualifying hours/year | Exam application $462 plus separate $75 candidate registration(or $275 late); transfer $750; motion $1, 500. NCBE, laptop and other applicable charges separate. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| Oklahoma | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 3 of past 5 | Registered law-student exam $650; attorney exam $1, 250; transfer $1, 250; motion $2, 000. Required law-student registration and NCBE/late charges may be additional. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| Oregon | No reciprocity condition shown; 2 of past 4; separate 2-year admission requirement | Exam base $1, 000, comity $1, 750, transfer $1, 350. Investigation charges may apply:$600(or $300 for qualifying recent repeat application). Exam technology $149 separate. Verify route-specific total. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| Pennsylvania | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 of past 7 | Timely exam $800, late $1, 125, final $1, 450; transfer $800; reciprocity $1, 325. Computer charges and 2.75% online convenience fee are separate. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| Rhode Island | No general motion route shown | No general motion fee shown; check any specific limited route | Source 1 Summary/qualification review required |
| South Carolina | No general motion route shown | No general motion fee shown; check any specific limited route | Source 1 Summary/qualification review required |
| South Dakota | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 3 of past 5 | Exam $450 and motion $650 plus NCBE and other applicable fees. No legacy UBE transfer route. NextGen transfer fee not independently confirmed. | Source 1 Summary/qualification review required |
| Tennessee | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5 | Exam $725; transfer $675; comity $1, 400 under published schedule. Tennessee Law Course $15 and licensing $150, NCBE and card charges are additional. October 2 rule changes govern substantive requirements. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| Texas | No reciprocity condition shown; 5 of past 7 | Exam $450 Texas students, $640 out-of-state students, $1, 190 licensed domestic attorneys, $1, 290 foreign-trained. Transfer $300 Texas students, $490 out-of-state students, $1, 040 attorneys, $1, 140 foreign-trained. AWOX $1, 040. | Source 1 Summary/qualification review required |
| Utah | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 3 of past 5 | Exam/transfer student $550; attorney exam $850; motion $850. NCBE investigation and $200 exam laptop fee separate. Scores required within 9 months of transfer application. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| Vermont | No reciprocity condition shown; 5 of past 10; reduced 3-year routes may apply | Exam $300; transfer $525; motion $800. NCBE, laptop and licensing fees separate; fees verified through court admissions materials. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| Virginia | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 3 of past 5 (5 yrs admission req.); separate 5-year admission requirement | Initial exam $575 plus $575 C&F=$1, 150; motion $2, 500 includes C&F. Reciprocity course and other expenses may be additional. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 of past 7 | Exam and each score-transfer route $1, 000 application+$100 clerk=$1, 100. Motion $2, 000 application+$500 clerk=$2, 500. NCBE C&F and exam technology separate. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| Washington | No reciprocity condition shown; 1 of past 3 | General exam $595 WSBA fee plus $145 NCBE exam fee and applicable tax; attorney WSBA fee $645 plus NCBE exam fee/C&F. Technology separate. Transfer $595 general/$645 attorney; motion $970 plus C&F. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| West Virginia | Reciprocity required; relationship unconfirmed; 5 of past 7 | Exam $500 if never admitted or admitted under 1 year; $800 if admitted 1 year or more; transfer $750; motion $2, 000. NCBE, laptop and late fees separate. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
| Wisconsin | No reciprocity condition shown; 3 of past 5 | Exam/transfer $450 ordinary filing; foreign-education exam route may have higher fee; proof-of-practice $850. Other filing/laptop/licensing charges may apply. Confirm current applicant-category fee. | Source 1 Summary/qualification review required |
| Wyoming | No reciprocity condition shown; 5 of past 7; 300 qualifying hours/year | Application filing fee $750 effectiveOctober 2, 2026 for all routes, plus separately applicable NCBE/investigation costs. | Source 1 Source 2 Summary/qualification review required |
Build a practice-history record
List each admission date and current standing, where you worked, the legal services performed, dates and hours, and the license or other authority that permitted that work. Check whether judicial service, teaching, government work, house counsel or other experience counts under the destination’s definition. Total career years are not a substitute for its lookback period.
Local conditions and completion deadlines
Motion may still require a local law course, professional-responsibility prerequisite, investigation, oath, registration and fees. For example, the current Indiana rule requires its Law Course within six months after admission, while other jurisdictions require their specified course before admission. Use the destination’s actual sequence rather than one national checklist.
Recent changes worth checking
The reviewed entries incorporate the October 2, 2026 Tennessee motion rule and the August 12, 2026 Wyoming reciprocity change. Those dated rules take priority over older national summaries. Tennessee Board · Wyoming admissions
Before you apply
Confirm the rule in force for your examination administration and application date, all education and practice requirements, character-and-fitness review, the MPRE, local components and the full amount due. A potential route does not authorize practice. This site does not provide legal advice.
Organize your admission research
Use the calculator to identify potential routes and the questions you still need to resolve.
Explore admission routes →Source-review status is field-specific. Rechecked or revised October 4, 2026 using the directory’s October 3–4 source review. Individual eligibility and unpublished future requirements remain unresolved.