NYLE Exam Dates, Registration, Format, and Passing Score

The New York Law Exam is given three times in 2026: Thursday, April 16; Thursday, September 24; and Thursday, December 17. Each sitting begins at 12:00 PM Eastern Time and runs online through ExamSoft’s Examplify software. Registration closes roughly 30 days before each date, and late registrations are not accepted.1New York State Board of Law Examiners. Dates of Exams and Deadlines

2026 NYLE Dates and Registration Deadlines

  • April 16, 2026 — register by March 17, 2026, 11:59 PM ET.
  • September 24, 2026 — register by August 25, 2026, 11:59 PM ET.
  • December 17, 2026 — register by November 17, 2026, 11:59 PM ET.

Miss a deadline and you wait for the next cycle.1New York State Board of Law Examiners. Dates of Exams and Deadlines Testing accommodations have their own filing deadlines, listed on the Board’s Exam Dates and Deadlines page, and those dates are earlier than the standard registration cutoffs.2New York State Board of Law Examiners. Test Accommodations for the New York Bar Exam and the New York Law Exam

Finish the New York Law Course Before You Register

You cannot register for any NYLE date until you have completed the New York Law Course in full.3New York Law Course. Welcome to the New York Law Course The NYLC is about 17 hours of on-demand video across twelve subjects, including civil practice and procedure, criminal law, evidence, real property, and professional responsibility. Questions embedded in the videos must be answered correctly before the next segment unlocks, so you cannot leave the lectures playing in the background.

The Board also publishes separate Course Materials that every NYLE question is drawn from. They are distributed in a non-searchable format because the Board’s rules bar electronic searching during the exam. Candidates who print and tab the materials in advance move faster on test day.4New York State Board of Law Examiners. NYLC and NYLE Course Materials and Sample Questions

Timing relative to the Uniform Bar Exam is flexible. You may complete the NYLC up to one year before you first sit for the UBE, or anytime after.5Legal Information Institute. New York Compilation of Codes, Rules, and Regulations Title 22 Section 520.9 – Additional Requirements for Applicants for Admission Upon Examination Finishing the NYLC and NYLE in law school or shortly after the UBE avoids a stall: passing the UBE without a passing NYLE and MPRE on file produces a “Passed Not Certified” notice rather than the certification that starts character and fitness.

How to Register

  1. Log in to the Applicant Services Portal on the Board’s website.
  2. Open the NYLE registration section and pick a date.
  3. Pay the $29 non-refundable fee, which covers the ExamSoft software license.
  4. Review and electronically sign the Security Policy for remote testing.

The portal then issues a confirmation notice that locks in your seat.6ExamSoft. New York State Online New York Law Exam

Software Setup and the Mandatory Mock Exam

The NYLE runs on Examplify, which you must install on the computer you plan to use. Your machine needs a working webcam, either built-in or an external USB camera; virtual cameras are not supported. You must select a microphone in your device settings even though the mic is not used during testing, and you need an internet connection to launch the exam.

After installing Examplify, you have to complete a mandatory mock exam to confirm the software works on your machine. On the Monday before your test date, reopen Examplify and download the exam file. Skip either step and you will be locked out on exam day. A re-download of the software, if you need one, carries a $50 administrative fee from ExamSoft.6ExamSoft. New York State Online New York Law Exam

Format and Passing Score

The NYLE is a two-hour, open-book exam of 50 multiple-choice questions on New York law.7New York State Board of Law Examiners. Rules of the State Board of Law Examiners Open book means you can keep the Course Materials at hand, but the digital copy is not searchable, so flipping through hundreds of pages under time pressure is slow. The Board’s own guidance says time will not permit you to research every question.4New York State Board of Law Examiners. NYLC and NYLE Course Materials and Sample Questions

You need 30 correct answers out of 50 to pass, a 60 percent threshold.8New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 22 CRR-NY 6000.3 – Examinations and Other Requirements

Results, Retakes, and How Long a Pass Lasts

Results usually post to your Board account within about two weeks. Scores from the December 2025 sitting were posted on December 31, 2025, thirteen days after the exam.9New York State Board of Law Examiners. New York State Board of Law Examiners If you do not pass, you can register for the next available date and pay the $29 fee again. There is no cap on retakes.

A passing NYLE score is valid for three years from the date you received it. If that window closes before the Board certifies you to the Appellate Division, you have to retake both the NYLC and the NYLE, not just the exam.7New York State Board of Law Examiners. Rules of the State Board of Law Examiners That is a strong reason not to leave long gaps between passing the NYLE and finishing the rest of your admission requirements.