Bar Exam Application Instructions

Current Rules of Admission to the Practice of Law in Arizona

Please read the Arizona Rules of the Supreme Court related to the Admission to Practice Law link.

Please read Administrative Order No. 2024 – 78 link.

Electronic Communications

All information and announcements are posted on our website at www.azbaradmissions.org. You are expected to regularly visit your application portal and the Arizona Supreme Court Attorney Admissions website to review notices, announcements and information posted. Arizona Supreme Court Attorney Admissions corresponds with applicants primarily via the application portal and e-mail. You should use an e-mail address that you can access even after graduation from law school. You are required to maintain a current e-mail address and mailing address on your personal Arizona Supreme Court Attorney Admissions Registration Account, and to regularly read all messages from this office, whether sent electronically or by postal service. It is your responsibility to ensure that e-mails from the Arizona Supreme Court Attorney Admissions are not filtered as spam and to add @azbaradmissions.org to your e-mail address book.

Bar Exam Application Deadlines

July Examination: Timely application period begins January 15^th and ends March 31^st. Late application period begins April 1^st and ends April 30^th.

February Examination: Timely application period begins August 15^th and ends October 31^st. Late application period begins November 1^st and ends November 30^th.

For a complete list of specific examination deadlines, dates and fees, see Admission Fees & Deadlines (Administrative Order PDF) and the Bar Exam Cycle Calendar posted on the website. You will also need to monitor your user portal, emails and the website Announcements page for additional information and any changes that might occur after you submit your application.

Application Requirements to be Certified to Sit for the Bar Exam

Gather all supporting documentation listed below prior to completing your online application. The exam application must be completed at the time of submission. An application without these requirements will result in denial of certification to sit for examination. Within the Bar Exam Application, you will be instructed to upload documents. Do so using the Upload Documents section on your user account.

1. NCBE Number - You will be asked to provide your NCBE number. If you do not have one, please request an NCBE number online at http://www.ncbex.org/ncbe-number/. Once you have a NCBE number you will use the same number regardless of where you are sitting for the UBE.
2. Declaration (must be notarized)
3. Authorization and Release (must be notarized)
4. Code of Conduct (each item must be initialed, and document must be signed and dated)
5. Non-Communication Agreement (must be signed)
6. Evidence of Graduation

   If you have a JD from an ABA approved law school, you must:

   Option 1: Upload a photocopy of your diploma clearly showing award of Juris Doctor on specific date; or,

   Option 2: Upload original verified transcript indicating date Juris Doctor conferred; or,

   Option 3: Upload a currently dated original letter from your law school attesting to date your Juris Doctor was conferred.

   If you are awaiting JD conferral from an ABA approved law school and expect to receive it before the exam administration, you will need to provide the anticipated conferral date. Once your JD is conferred, you must update your application by February 1st for the February exam or by June 15th for the July exam with one of the following:

   Option 1: Upload a photocopy of your diploma clearly showing award of Juris Doctor on specific date; or,

   Option 2: Upload original verified transcript indicating date Juris Doctor conferred; or,

   Option 3: Upload a currently dated original letter from your law school attesting to date your Juris Doctor was conferred.

   WARNING: If you do not update your application with the required documentation by the deadline shown above, you will not be eligible to sit for the exam. See Ariz. R. Sup. Ct. 34(d)(1) and Administrative Order 2024-78.

   If you do not hold a JD from an ABA approved law school, you must submit an affidavit indicating you have been actively engaged in the practice of law in some other U.S. state or states for at least three of the past five years prior to filing an application of admission by examination. Please see the Resources page on our website.

7. Photograph - Your uploaded photo must meet the following requirements:
   1. Full face view, directly facing the camera, with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
   2. Color photo.
   3. Photo must show only you in front of a plain white background.
   4. Have uniform lighting - the photo must not show shadows or shadowing of facial features.
   5. Glasses are permitted; however, glare in the photo is not acceptable (glare can be avoided with a slight downward tilt of the glasses or by turning off the flash).
   6. No hat or head covering unless worn for religious purposes.
   7. 300 x 300 square once uploaded.
   8. Photo file type must be a .png, .jpg, or .jpeg
   9. Taken within the past 6 months to reflect your current appearance. If your photo is over 12 months old or your appearance has changed, you are required to upload a new photo that reflects your current appearance. To do so, you can use the "Upload Photo" button in the UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO box on your user homepage.
8. Completed Fingerprint Card - completed fingerprint card must be mailed so that it arrives within 5 days of your application submission to ensure timely processing. Do not mail the completed fingerprint card until you have submitted and paid for the Bar Exam Application. A standard FBI blue and white fingerprint card, on heavy stock, is available from Attorney Admissions by emailing a request, along with your current mailing address to attorneyadmissions@courts.az.gov. Please put "Fingerprint Card Request" in the subject line of your email. Live-scan or ink prints must be affixed to the card. THIS IS THE ONLY DOCUMENT TO BE MAILED TO OUR OFFICE.

   Mail completed fingerprint card to:
   Arizona Supreme Court Attorney Admissions
   1501 West Washington Street,
   Suite 104
   Phoenix, AZ 85007

9. Proof of Age and Lawful Status - Government issued photo identification establishing age and lawful status in the United States.
10. If applicable, Permission to Write - Required for exam after six or more unsuccessful attempts.
11. If applicable, Notice of Intent to Test via Laptop - Required ONLY if you wish to test by laptop. This form does not register you to use your laptop. Applicants who want to type their exam answers must submit this form and then complete laptop registration at a later date. The court does not use a testing center nor provide computers to use for the bar exam.
12. If applicable, ADA Testing Accommodations - Complete request including all required forms and supporting documentation must be submitted with the exam application online and is subject to exam application filing deadlines and fees. See Ariz. R. Sup. Ct. (35(b)(5) and Administrative Order 2024- 78. View the Testing Accommodation guidelines here.
13. If applicable, Non-ADA Accommodations - For individuals without disabilities whose health condition is such that might require access to prohibited items during the bar examinations, this form is due at time of application and may require treating physician signature. Any items that are not on the list below are prohibited. Access the Non-ADA Accommodation Request Form here.

    Permitted Items:

    1. Wallet
    2. Money, credit card
    3. Government issue ID for entry
    4. Keys
    5. Non-digital (analog) wristwatch
    6. Sunglasses, eyeglasses, contact solution, eyedrops
    7. Prescription Medication(s) with prescription label
    8. Non- Prescription Medication(s) - removed from packaging
    9. Feminine hygiene products
    10. Transparent water bottle(s) - with no label or writing
    11. Laptop, power cord, wired mouse, wired keyboard - MEE and MPT test day if laptop certified

Required Application Updates

You are required to advise Attorney Admissions of all changes to your Exam and/or Character and Fitness Application occurring from the time of filing your application until the date of admission.

Required Prior to Admission to the Practice of Law

Valid MPRE Score – Evidence of acceptable minimum scaled score of 85, taken within 8 years of the successful bar examination or within the time frame for taking the oath of admission. See Ariz. R. Sup.Ct. 35(b)(8). To request NCBE to send a score report or to register to take the next scheduled MPRE click here.

Completion of Arizona Law Course – For registration information on how to fulfill this requirement, please go to the following link, where you will find information allowing you to view video modules, from your computer in any location. Your completion of all online modules triggers an internal notice to our staff. You are not required to upload or submit a certificate of completion. Click here to register.

Character and Fitness Application – Not required to be filed with your exam application. Applicant can be certified to sit for the bar examination without having filed the Character and Fitness Application.

Certificate of Standing – If previously admitted to practice law in any jurisdiction, foreign or domestic, the certificate of the appropriate court agency(ies) or the mandatory bar association, whichever has custody of the roll of attorneys in such jurisdiction, indicating the date of admission and that the applicant is presently in good standing, or that the applicant resigned in good standing or is capable of achieving good standing status in that jurisdiction;

• Must be dated no earlier than 60 days prior to application.
• Must indicate date of admission and reflect current standing.
• May not be printed off website or internet.