Registering with Your Jurisdiction

Although the exam is developed and delivered by NCBE, your official registration begins with the jurisdiction in which you plan to sit for the bar.

Each jurisdiction sets its own deadlines, requirements, and policies for admission. Once you apply, your jurisdiction will verify your eligibility and—if approved—will submit your name to NCBE on an official roster of examinees authorized to test.

If you’re considering multiple jurisdictions, be aware that you can appear on only one official exam roster per administration. If you’re listed on more than one, you’ll be required to choose a single jurisdiction before you’re allowed to move forward with the exam. NCBE will not process further exam steps until this is resolved, and both jurisdictions will be notified of your selection.

Requesting Test Accommodations

NCBE is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to examinees with documented disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. NCBE will assist jurisdictions in making reasonable modifications to testing procedures that might otherwise prevent individuals with disabilities from taking the bar exam in an accessible place and manner, provided such modifications do not result in a fundamental alteration to the examination, impose an undue burden, or jeopardize examination security.

All test accommodations applications are made to, and decisions are made by, the individual testing jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction has its own accommodations forms, deadlines, and process; examinees seeking test accommodations should look to their jurisdictions for guidance. Please review the Exam Software section of this Guide for information that may help to inform your request for test accommodations.

To ensure a smooth process, begin preparing your accommodations request early and communicate directly with your jurisdiction if you have questions.

Mandatory Pre-Exam Requirements

All examinees are required to complete a series of technology and policy readiness steps before exam day. These steps ensure that your laptop is properly configured, that you’re familiar with the digital testing environment, and that all technical issues are resolved well in advance of exam day. NCBE will notify you when it’s time to take each step. Each step must be completed no later than 72 hours before exam day. If you fail to complete any of the steps on time, you will not be permitted to sit for the exam.

You must complete the following:

1. Candidate Agreement: You’ll be required to read and accept all relevant policies related to exam-day conduct, security, technology use, and examinee responsibilities. These policies are nonnegotiable and must be reviewed before access to the testing platform is granted.
2. Technology Fee Payment: The $149 technology fee supports the cost of exam delivery and technical support. Payment is made through your NCBE Account. This fee is separate from any jurisdictional application fees.
3. Secure Testing Browser Installation: The secure testing browser must be installed on the same laptop you plan to bring to the exam. If you need to switch laptops prior to exam day, you may do so by downloading the secure testing browser and then completing the system compatibility check on your new laptop. There is no fee to switch laptops.
4. Exam Tutorial and System Compatibility Check: The interactive exam tutorial introduces the secure testing browser and its features. You’ll see how questions are presented, how to navigate between them, and how to use tools like highlighting, notetaking, and screen splitting. Completing this tutorial ensures you’re comfortable with the platform before exam day. The system compatibility check, which runs at the same time as the exam tutorial, confirms that your laptop’s hardware, operating system, and internet configuration meet the requirements for the secure testing browser.