Yes, Maryland is a UBE state. It adopted the Uniform Bar Examination effective March 2019 and gave its first UBE in July of that year.1Maryland Courts. Admission by Uniform Bar Examination – Test in Maryland That status matters for two groups of people: those planning to sit for the exam in Maryland, and those who already passed the UBE elsewhere and want to practice here without taking a second bar. Both paths work, but Maryland layers its own requirements on top of the UBE score.
What UBE Status Means in Maryland
The UBE is a standardized exam developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners that tests general legal knowledge and lawyering skills rather than any single state’s law. Scores are portable across UBE jurisdictions, so passing in one state can qualify you for admission in another.2National Conference of Bar Examiners. Understanding the Uniform Bar Examination
Starting with the July 2026 administration, Maryland switched from the legacy UBE to the NextGen UBE.3Maryland Courts. About the NextGen UBE in Maryland The passing score depends on which version you took:
- 266 on the legacy UBE
- 616 on the NextGen UBE4Maryland Courts. Admission by Uniform Bar Exam – Transfer of Qualifying UBE Score
The 616 is the NCBE’s recommended equivalent of the legacy 266.5National Conference of Bar Examiners. NextGen UBE Minimum Passing Scores Either threshold applies whether you test in Maryland or transfer a score in from another jurisdiction. Maryland’s cutoff sits in the middle of the pack among UBE states, which means a passing score here will often satisfy other UBE jurisdictions as well.
Transferring a UBE Score to Maryland
If you already passed the UBE in another state with at least a 266 (legacy) or 616 (NextGen), you can transfer that score to Maryland without sitting for the exam again. The score must have been earned within three years before you file your Notice of Intent to Transfer. The three-year clock starts on August 1 after a July exam or March 1 after a February exam.4Maryland Courts. Admission by Uniform Bar Exam – Transfer of Qualifying UBE Score
The transfer workflow runs through the Board’s online portal, eBar:
- Open an eBar account. You’ll need a U.S. Social Security number and an NCBE number.
- Have NCBE’s Score Services send your official UBE score directly to the Maryland Board before you file your Notice of Intent.
- Request official transcripts from your undergraduate institution and your ABA-approved law school, each showing degree conferral.
- Submit the Character Questionnaire through eBar with supporting documents, including a certified driving history from each state where you held a license in the past three years and a credit report issued within three months of filing.
- File the Notice of Intent to Transfer through eBar, either with or after the Character Questionnaire.4Maryland Courts. Admission by Uniform Bar Exam – Transfer of Qualifying UBE Score
Transfer applicants also need a JD from an ABA-approved law school, an MPRE score of at least 85, completion of the Maryland Law Component, and a passing character and fitness review. The ABA law school requirement may be waived if you are already admitted in another U.S. jurisdiction, or if you earned a foreign law degree followed by an LLM at an ABA-approved school.4Maryland Courts. Admission by Uniform Bar Exam – Transfer of Qualifying UBE Score
Requirements Beyond the UBE Score
A passing UBE score is a necessary piece, not the whole admission. Maryland adds four more boxes you have to check, and they apply whether you take the UBE here or transfer a score in.
The Maryland Law Component
Every applicant must pass the Maryland Law Component before admission.6Maryland Courts. Maryland Law Component The MLC exists because the UBE tests national doctrine rather than Maryland law, and the state wants to confirm new attorneys know where local rules diverge.
It’s an online, open-book, 50-question multiple-choice test. You need at least 40 correct answers in a single 90-minute sitting, and you must complete it within two years of receiving your passing UBE score notification. Covered topics include civil procedure, family law, criminal law and procedure, evidence, estates and trusts, torts, state court structure, and professional responsibility.7Maryland Courts. Maryland Law Component Subject Matter Outlines The Board publishes official study outlines focused on where Maryland diverges from other jurisdictions and from federal practice. Because the test is open-book, preparation is largely about knowing where to find answers in the outlines.
MPRE
You need an MPRE score of 85 or higher. The MPRE is a separate ethics exam administered by the NCBE three times a year. There is no rule requiring you to pass it before sitting for the UBE, but you must have it done before admission.8National Conference of Bar Examiners. Maryland
Character and Fitness
Maryland runs a three-step character and fitness evaluation on every applicant. A Character Committee member investigates your disclosures, contacts your references, employers, and schools, and schedules a mandatory in-person interview. The interview is required for everyone, not just applicants with disclosure issues.9Maryland Courts. Character and Fitness Process for General Bar Admission
If the committee member or chair sees grounds to recommend against admission, a formal hearing is held before at least three members with a court reporter present. The committee then returns the application to the Board of Law Examiners, which may conduct additional proceedings before making its own recommendation to the Supreme Court of Maryland. The court makes the final call.9Maryland Courts. Character and Fitness Process for General Bar Admission
This stage often sets the actual timeline. You bear the burden of making sure your references respond promptly, so give them a heads-up well before you file.
Law School Credential
Admission under Rules 19-201 through 19-214 requires a JD from an ABA-approved law school.1Maryland Courts. Admission by Uniform Bar Examination – Test in Maryland The waiver options for transfer applicants mentioned above are narrow.
Deadlines and Fees
Filing deadlines are hard “received by” dates. The deadline for the July exam is May 1; for the February exam, December 1.1Maryland Courts. Admission by Uniform Bar Examination – Test in Maryland Maryland does not offer a routine late window with an extra fee. Miss the date, and you have to petition for good cause relief. One exception: packages sent via guaranteed delivery services like next-day or express shipping will be accepted after the deadline without a good cause showing, but standard mail, including USPS Priority Mail, may not be.10Maryland Courts. February 2026 Uniform Bar Exam in Maryland
Current Board fees:11Maryland Courts. Bar Exam Fees
- Character Questionnaire: $350
- Notice of Intent to take the UBE in Maryland: $400
- Notice of Intent to transfer a qualifying UBE score: $400
- Retake petition: $250
A first-time applicant taking the exam in Maryland is looking at a minimum of $750 to the Board for the Character Questionnaire and Notice of Intent, before NCBE fees or any study materials.
If You Don’t Pass
Maryland sets no cap on the number of times you can retake the bar exam. You file a Retake Petition through eBar and pay the $250 fee by the applicable filing deadline. The eBar system generates either a Retake Petition or a Retake Order based on your record, and you submit the signed hard copy with payment to the Board’s office.12Maryland Courts. Notice to Unsuccessful Candidates