NextGen Bar Exam 2026: Which States Are Adopting It?

The NextGen UBE launches in July 2026 with a completely new format and scoring scale. Here's which states are administering it first, which are waiting, and what it means for score portability during the transition.

What's Changing

The NextGen UBE replaces the current UBE (MBE + MEE + MPT) with a redesigned exam that tests legal knowledge and skills differently. The key changes:

New scoring scale: 500–750 (replacing the current 200–400). The NCBE recommends a passing score in the 610–620 range, but each state sets its own minimum.

New format: The exam is fully digital and includes new question types beyond traditional multiple choice and essays. The MBE, MEE, and MPT are replaced with integrated assessments.

Same portability principle: NextGen UBE scores are portable and transferable, just like legacy UBE scores. But during the transition period, a NextGen score can only be transferred to states that have adopted NextGen.

Adoption Timeline

Jul 2026 First Administration

These states will administer the NextGen UBE beginning July 2026:

2027 Second Wave

2028 Third Wave and Later

No Announcement

These states have not announced NextGen adoption plans:

Arkansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada

Louisiana is a civil law jurisdiction with its own exam and may not adopt the NextGen UBE. Nevada currently does not use the UBE at all. Arkansas and Montana use the current UBE but haven't announced transition plans.

Score Portability During the Transition

The transition creates a temporary portability gap. If you take the NextGen UBE in July 2026, you can only transfer that score to other states that have adopted NextGen. States still using the legacy UBE won't accept NextGen scores, and vice versa.

This means the July 2026 cohort will have more limited transfer options initially — just the 8 states administering NextGen in that first window. As more states adopt in 2027 and 2028, portability expands.

Legacy scores during transition: If you have an existing legacy UBE score, it should still be transferable to states using the legacy exam, subject to normal score age limits. Some states have indicated they'll continue accepting legacy transfers even after switching to NextGen, but this varies by jurisdiction.

What This Means for You

If you're taking the bar exam in July 2026 and want maximum portability, consider which version you're taking. If you're in a state administering the legacy UBE, your score transfers to the ~34 states still using legacy. If you're in a NextGen state, your score initially transfers to only ~8 states but will expand as adoption grows.

If you're a licensed attorney looking to transfer, your existing legacy score still works in states using the legacy exam. The NextGen transition doesn't invalidate your current score — it just means you'll need a NextGen score to transfer to states that have fully switched over.

If you're planning ahead, the transition will be largely complete by 2028. By then, most UBE jurisdictions will have adopted NextGen and portability should be similar to the current system.

NextGen adoption dates and minimum scores from NCBE Chart 17 and individual state bar announcements (March 2026). Dates and scores are subject to change. Always verify with the jurisdiction's bar admissions authority. This is not legal advice.
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