The DC bar exam results for February testers post in April or May, and results for July testers post in late October or early November. The February 2026 results went live on April 17, 2026, ahead of the Committee on Admissions’ general May target.1District of Columbia Court of Appeals. DC Bar Admissions Latest News July results typically arrive in late October or early November.2District of Columbia Court of Appeals. DC Bar Admissions Frequently Asked Questions You check them two ways: a public list of successful candidates on the DC Court of Appeals admissions website, and a detailed individual score report inside your applicant account.
When Results Are Released
The Committee on Admissions does not commit to a fixed calendar date. It posts a deadline on its news page guaranteeing scores will be available no later than a specific day and time, and in practice results often land earlier than that guidance suggests. February 2026 is a recent example: the FAQ had historically pointed to May, but scores posted on April 17.1District of Columbia Court of Appeals. DC Bar Admissions Latest News
The Committee sends an email once scores are ready, prompting you to log in for the details. In the weeks before the expected release, the most reliable way to track the exact timing for your cycle is to refresh the news page at admissions.dcappeals.gov.
How to Check Your Score
Two places, two different things.
The public pass list appears on the DC Court of Appeals admissions website and shows only the names of applicants who passed. For February 2026, that list identified 161 successful applicants.1District of Columbia Court of Appeals. DC Bar Admissions Latest News If your name is on it, you passed.
For your actual score, log in to your account on the Committee on Admissions portal at admissions.dcappeals.gov. The report shows how you performed across each component of the Uniform Bar Examination. If your name is not on the public list, that same report tells you where you fell short so you can plan a retake.
What Counts as a Passing Score
DC uses the Uniform Bar Examination and sets the passing scaled score at 266.3District of Columbia Court of Appeals. DC Bar Admissions – Application Information That total is a weighted combination of three components:
- The Multistate Bar Examination, 200 multiple-choice questions across seven subjects, 50% of the total.
- The Multistate Essay Examination, six essay questions, 30%.
- The Multistate Performance Test, two practical tasks using a case file, 20%.
These weights are set by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and apply across every UBE jurisdiction.4NCBE. UBE Bar Exam Scores A 266 earned in DC carries the same weight as a 266 earned in any other UBE state.
Recent Pass Rates
Pass rates swing sharply between the two administrations. The February exam draws a smaller pool that includes many repeat takers. February 2026 came in at 40.8% overall, with 161 of 395 applicants passing.1District of Columbia Court of Appeals. DC Bar Admissions Latest News
July draws the bulk of first-time takers straight out of law school and posts much higher numbers. July 2025 saw an 80% overall pass rate among 2,212 examinees.5NCBE. Bar Exam Results by Jurisdiction The exam content is identical in both cycles; the gap in pass rates reflects who is sitting for it.
If You Passed: What Comes Next
Clearing 266 opens the door, but several credentials still need to be in place before you can practice in DC. The full process runs under DC Court of Appeals Rule 46.
- A character and fitness investigation. You submit detailed employment history, personal references, and residential records, and the Committee together with the NCBE conducts a background review. Straightforward applications generally take several months after results are released; cases involving substantial international experience can stretch to twelve months or longer.2District of Columbia Court of Appeals. DC Bar Admissions Frequently Asked Questions
- An MPRE scaled score of at least 75. Most candidates take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination during law school, but your passing score must be on file before the Committee will certify you.3District of Columbia Court of Appeals. DC Bar Admissions – Application Information
- The DC Law Component, an educational module on local rules and DC-specific procedures, completed while the background investigation is in progress.
Once every requirement is satisfied, the Committee schedules you for a swearing-in ceremony. As of 2026, ceremonies are held virtually. After you are sworn in, you are a member of the DC Bar and can begin practicing.
Your UBE score is also portable to other UBE jurisdictions if you meet their minimums, provided you apply within five years of the exam administration where you earned it and you took all three UBE components in DC during the same sitting.6NCBE. Transferring Your UBE Scores
If You Didn’t Pass: Retaking the Exam
You can sit for the next available cycle. DC caps candidates at four total attempts. Beyond the fourth, you must demonstrate extraordinary circumstances to the Committee to sit again.
Registration for each cycle opens and closes within a narrow window, with no late filing period. For the July 2026 exam, registration opened March 2 and closed March 31.7District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Bar Exam Fees and Deadlines Seating capacity is limited, and the window can close early if spots fill. The February cycle follows a similar one-month window; the exact dates are posted to the Committee’s website.
The exam fee is $405 for both first-time applicants and retakers. First-time applicants also pay a separate NCBE investigation fee for the background check, and if you choose to type your essay responses, the laptop software fee is $150.7District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Bar Exam Fees and Deadlines All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, so hold off on registering until you’re sure you can sit that cycle.
Heads Up on the NextGen Exam
Starting with the February 2028 administration, DC will replace the UBE with the NextGen Bar Exam.8District of Columbia Court of Appeals. DC Court of Appeals Adoption of the NextGen Bar Exam The passing score under the new format will be 616.3District of Columbia Court of Appeals. DC Bar Admissions – Application Information If you’re testing in 2026 or 2027, the 266 UBE threshold still applies. If your timeline runs into 2028 or later, watch the Committee’s announcements for how existing UBE scores will be treated during the transition.