To meet the Washington bar exam requirements, you need a qualifying legal education, a Uniform Bar Exam score of at least 270, an MPRE score of at least 85, a passing score on the Washington Law Component, and clearance from a character and fitness review. The Washington State Bar Association administers the process on behalf of the Washington Supreme Court, and several steps still stand between a passing score and the right to practice.
Who Can Sit for the Exam
Washington Supreme Court Admission and Practice Rule (APR) 3 sets four pathways to exam eligibility.1Washington Courts. Washington Court Rules – APR 3 Applicants for Admission to Practice Law The common one is a Juris Doctor from a law school approved by the WSBA Board of Governors, which in practice means an ABA-accredited school.
If your J.D. came from a non-ABA U.S. school or a foreign law school, you can still qualify by completing an approved LL.M. program that meets specific U.S.-law coursework requirements. Lawyers trained and licensed in an English common-law country can sit for the exam if they have practiced at least three of the past five years.
The Law Clerk Program
Washington is one of a small number of states that allows a path to the bar without law school. Under APR 6, the Law Clerk Program is a four-year apprenticeship of full-time paid legal work (at least 32 hours per week) combined with structured study under a qualifying supervising attorney or judge.2Washington State Bar Association. Law Clerk Program You need a bachelor’s degree to enroll, and your supervising tutor must have at least 10 of the past 12 years in active practice, including two in Washington.3Washington Courts. Washington Court Rules – APR 6 Law Clerk Program
The Exam Itself and the Score You Need
Washington uses the Uniform Bar Exam, so the test is identical to the one given in dozens of other UBE states. It has three components:4National Conference of Bar Examiners. Bar Exams
- The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), a six-hour, 200-question multiple-choice test covering constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, evidence, real property, torts, and civil procedure.
- The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), six 30-minute essays.
- The Multistate Performance Test (MPT), two 90-minute practical tasks such as drafting a memo or client letter from a case file.
You need a minimum UBE score of 270 to pass in Washington.5Washington State Bar Association. Admission by UBE Score Transfer The exam is offered twice a year, in late February and late July.
The Two Other Tests
A UBE score alone will not get you licensed. Washington also requires the MPRE and the Washington Law Component.
MPRE
The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination is a separate national multiple-choice test on legal ethics. Washington’s cutoff is a scaled score of 85. Timing is strict: your score must be earned no earlier than three years before, and no later than 40 months after, the UBE administration you passed.6Washington Courts. Washington Court Rules – APR 4 Examinations for Admission Most applicants take the MPRE during law school.
Washington Law Component
The WLC is a four-hour, 60-question open-book exam covering areas where Washington law departs from what the UBE tests. It draws on 15 subject outlines, and you need at least 80% to pass. You take it online through the WSBA admissions portal after filing your application and paying the fee.7Washington State Bar Association. Washington Law Component Open-book does not mean casual; the outlines are lengthy and the 80% threshold rewards real preparation.
Application Deadlines and Fees
Applications go through the WSBA’s online admissions portal, and deadlines depend on the exam sitting:
- For the July exam, applications open February 1. The first-tier deadline is March 5, and the late deadline is April 5. Applicants who failed the immediately preceding exam get an extended deadline of May 5.
- For the February exam, applications open September 1, with a first-tier deadline of October 5 and a late deadline of November 5.8Washington State Bar Association. Admissions Fees and Deadlines
General applicants pay $740 (a $595 WSBA application fee plus a $145 NCBE exam fee). Attorney applicants already licensed elsewhere pay $790. Filing after the first-tier deadline adds a $300 late fee.8Washington State Bar Association. Admissions Fees and Deadlines Bank card payments carry a 2.5% surcharge; electronic transfers and checks do not.
Character and Fitness Review
Every applicant, regardless of pathway, goes through a character and fitness investigation. The Washington Supreme Court’s Character and Fitness Board evaluates whether an applicant has the honesty, integrity, and reliability to practice law.9Washington State Bar Association. Character and Fitness Board
You will be asked to document your residence and employment history going back at least five years, your education, your financial history (including debts, collections, and bankruptcies), and any criminal charges or civil litigation, whether resolved or pending. The board expects imperfect histories. What it does not accept is concealment. If reviewers have concerns, they can request additional documents or an interview before making a recommendation to the Supreme Court.
Getting From Passing Score to Licensed Attorney
A passing exam score is not a license. APR 5 requires several more steps before the Supreme Court will enter an admission order:10Washington Courts. Washington Court Rules – APR 5 Preadmission Requirements and Oath
- Pass the WLC (80% minimum) if you have not already.
- Complete four hours of approved pre-admission education, which is separate from your ongoing CLE obligations.
- Pay the annual license fee. For 2026, the active-attorney fee is $468.11Washington State Bar Association. License Fee Policy
- File the required licensing forms.
- Take the Oath of Attorney in person, by phone, or by videoconference before an elected or appointed judge sitting in Washington. Judges pro tempore do not qualify.
You have 40 months from the date of the bar exam to finish everything. Miss the window and your score expires, meaning you would have to retake the exam.12Washington State Bar Association. New Lawyer Admittee Process Instructions You cannot practice until the Supreme Court formally enters your admission order.
Paths That Skip the Exam
If you are already a lawyer somewhere else, you may not need to sit for the Washington exam at all.
Admission by Motion
Lawyers licensed and in good standing in another U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia can apply for admission by motion. You need at least one year of active legal practice within the three years immediately before you file.13Washington State Bar Association. Admission by Motion The application fee is $970, plus an NCBE investigation fee paid separately.14Washington State Bar Association. Admission by Motion Application You still have to pass the WLC and clear character and fitness, and you have only 12 months from your application filing date to finish, rather than the 40 months given to exam takers.10Washington Courts. Washington Court Rules – APR 5 Preadmission Requirements and Oath
UBE Score Transfer
If you took the UBE in another jurisdiction, you can transfer a qualifying score to Washington. You need at least a 270, and the score must be no more than 40 months old measured from the exam date where it was earned.5Washington State Bar Association. Admission by UBE Score Transfer Washington accepts only full UBE transcripts, not individual component scores, and you cannot simultaneously apply to sit for the Washington exam and transfer a score. Score-transfer applicants also have 12 months from their Washington application date to complete admission.
Military Spouse Admission
Spouses of active-duty military members stationed in or relocating to Washington get a streamlined motion path. If you hold an active license in good standing elsewhere in the U.S. and your spouse is assigned to a Washington duty station, you can apply without meeting the one-year practice requirement that applies to standard motion applicants.15Washington State Bar Association. Military Spouse Admission by Motion You will submit proof of marriage and your spouse’s orders. The NCBE investigation fee is waived, but the character and fitness review still applies.
What Comes After Admission
Washington attorneys must complete 45 credits of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education every three-year reporting period, with at least 15 credits in law and legal procedure and at least 6 in ethics. The annual license fee ($468 in 2026) is due each year to keep active status.11Washington State Bar Association. License Fee Policy Falling behind on either puts your license at risk.