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United States · Licensing exam

What happens if you fail the bar exam?

You can take it again at the next sitting, usually six months later. Most states have no limit on attempts, including California, Florida and New York. Some do: Iowa allows 2 tries, Montana 3, and Texas and Virginia 5. Repeaters pass less often than first-timers, so it pays to change how you study before you sit again.

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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Limits on attempts

LimitJurisdictions
2Iowa
3Montana, South Dakota
4Arizona, District of Columbia, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming
5Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia
6Idaho, Utah, Puerto Rico
No limitMost others, including California, Florida, Georgia and New York

From NCBE’s Comprehensive Guide, as of October 2026. Past the limit, some states let you ask for permission to sit again.

Extra rules in some states

  • New York: after four or more failed tries, you can only retake in February.
  • Maryland: after three failed tries, the board may require extra study first.
  • South Carolina: after a third failure, you wait a year.
  • Tennessee: after five or more failures, you have to petition the board.
  • Mississippi: after three failures, you need 12 more semester hours of law school courses for each extra try.

A UBE score can still be useful

A UBE score that falls short in one state might meet the passing score of another UBE jurisdiction, since they range from 260 to 270. If you meet that state’s other rules, you can transfer the score there. You have to take all three parts in one sitting in one jurisdiction to get a portable score.

Before you sit again

Look at your score report and find where you lost points. Was it the MBE or the written part? Then change how you study, not just how much. Check your state’s deadlines too. The next exam may be on NextGen if your state is switching, and that needs different practice.

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Everything else, in one place

OverviewThe US bar examFormat and pass ratesHow many questions are on the bar exam, and what’s the pass rate?ScoringHow the bar exam is scoredExam datesBar exam dates and how to registerCostHow much does the bar exam cost?Online examCan you take the bar exam online?Study guideBar exam study guide: the official materialsPractice testFree bar exam practice questionsWhere to learnWhere to study for the bar exam
Sources: NCBE Comprehensive Guide, Chart 5, NCBE Comprehensive Guide, Chart 9, NCBE and 1 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.