VIRGINIA

Carefully read the Rules of the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners (Rules) before starting your Application.

Bar Exam Options: All applicants are required to take the Virginia Essay portion of the Virginia Bar Exam and must elect an Option as required in the Rules. Click here for a list of Bar Exam Options.

Thoroughly read and follow these instructions, as failure to do so will delay the processing of your Application and could reflect negatively on your character and fitness to practice law.

1. Create an Account

• Register online using the link at the top right of the website’s homepage.
• After registration, check your email (including spam) for an activation message from noreply@barexam.virginia.gov.

2. Complete the Online Application

• Complete all forms online. The online Application consists of the Application for Bar Examination and Character & Fitness Questionnaire. In lieu of a report from the National Conference of Bar Examiners, the Board currently conducts its own character and fitness investigation.
• You will not be able to submit your Application until every required answer is complete.
• A red exclamation mark (!) signals a missing answer. Click it to review which sections are missing answers.

3. Upload Required Documents

• Upload all required documents (see Required Documents for more information).
• Once you are certain that your Application is complete and you have uploaded the required documents, press "Submit" to finalize your Application.

4. Mail Completed Application Forms, Fee, and Required Documents

• Once successfully submitted, click the View/Print Form button to print a copy of your submitted online Application.
• Mail your signed and notarized Application, with fee and all required documents in to the Board’s office:

  Office of the Secretary
  Virginia Board of Bar Examiners
  2201 W. Broad Street Suite 101,
  Richmond, VA 23220

Due to confidentiality limitations, the Board will not confirm receipt of an Application over the phone. To ensure we have received your Application, send it using a delivery method that you can track or include with your Application forms a self-addressed stamped envelope or postcard which we will return to you date-stamped with the date we received your Application.

Certain items are required to be submitted with your Application. Before you begin completing the Application, request the documents you are required to submit. Requesting the items in advance will ensure you can submit a complete Application.

Required for ALL bar exam applicants:

• Government-issued Photo ID
• Passport Photos
• NCBE Number Confirmation
• MPRE Score Report (if taken and not previously submitted)
• Driving Record(s)
• Credit Report

Required for all FIRST-TIME Virginia bar exam applicants:

• Fingerprint Card
• Educational Verification Documents (electronically generated forms accepted)
• Birth Certificate, Naturalization, or Immigration documentation

Required depending upon your response to certain questions:

• Petition for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations, with all attachments (part of the online forms)
• Certificates of Good Standing - for all jurisdictions in which you are/have ever been licensed to practice law (electronically generated forms accepted)
• Certificates of Discipline - for all jurisdictions where you are/have ever been licensed to practice law (electronically generated forms accepted)
• Option 2B - Transferred MBE Score
• Option 3 - Verification of Bar Passage Form (electronically generated forms accepted)
• Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree, or Name Change Order for verification of current legal name
• Military Service Records
• Non-U.S. Citizen - Immigration Documents (previous applicants must provide current status)
• Court Records for all felony charges
• Court Orders in regard to creditors, tax liens, and judgments
• Bankruptcy Petitions
• Defaulted student loan documentation
• Character & Fitness Healthcare Form, completed by a Licensed Healthcare Professional

To Amend/Update your Application, click here.