NextGen Bar Exam: Which States Are Switching and When?

The NextGen bar exam is not replacing the UBE overnight. The NCBE is rolling it out on a state-by-state basis, with individual state supreme courts deciding when to make the transition. For a full breakdown of what the NextGen exam actually changes, see our plain-English explainer. Some states have announced specific dates. Others are still evaluating.

If you are planning to sit for the bar in the next one to two years, the first thing you need to know is whether your state has committed to a NextGen transition date and when that date is.

The General Timeline

The NCBE has indicated that the NextGen exam will be available for states to adopt beginning in 2026. Several states have already passed resolutions or issued orders committing to specific transition dates.

The important thing to understand is that states that currently use the UBE do not automatically switch to the NextGen exam. Each state has to make an affirmative decision to adopt it, which requires action by the state supreme court and often a period of public comment.

States That Have Committed to Early Adoption

A growing number of states have announced plans to adopt the NextGen exam in 2026 or 2027. These include several jurisdictions that have historically been UBE adopters and want to stay current with the NCBE's evolving standards.

If you are sitting in one of these states, you are taking the NextGen exam, not the current UBE. The prep approach is similar but not identical. Confirm the specific format your state is using by checking your state bar's official bar admission website, not third-party summaries.

States Staying with the Current UBE for Now

Many states have not yet announced NextGen transition dates. In these states, you will take the current UBE: 200 MBE questions, two MPT tasks, and six MEE essays.

This is the majority of states as of early 2026. If your state has not announced a transition, assume you are on the current UBE format unless you see an official announcement from your state bar.

States with Non-UBE Exams

California, Louisiana, and a small number of other states have their own bar exams that are not the UBE and are not the NextGen exam. If you are sitting in one of these states, neither this article nor the general UBE prep advice applies directly to you. Check your state's specific exam format and prep requirements.

How to Find Out for Sure

Do not rely on second-hand information for something this important. Go directly to:

1. Your state bar's website under "bar examination" or "bar admission"
2. The NCBE's official NextGen resources at ncbex.org
3. Your law school's bar prep office, which typically tracks state transitions

Do this before you choose a prep course or a study strategy. A prep course built for the current UBE will not adequately prepare you for the NextGen integrated problem sets, and vice versa. If you are a retaker dealing with a format change, here is how to adjust your prep.

What to Do If Your State Is Switching

If your state is transitioning to NextGen in your sitting cycle, the most important adjustments are:

Prioritize rule precision over broad coverage. The integrated format rewards knowing fewer rules thoroughly over knowing many rules loosely.

Practice with integrated scenarios. If your question bank only has isolated single-issue MBE questions, you will not be well-prepared for multi-part integrated sets. Look for practice materials that simulate the NextGen format.

Do not skip professional responsibility. The NextGen exam tests professional responsibility throughout the exam in ways the current UBE does not.

Keep checking official sources. The NextGen rollout is still in progress, and state decisions are still being made. What is accurate today may change before your sitting date.

What to Do If Your State Is Not Switching Yet

Prepare for the current UBE. Standard prep applies: MBE practice questions, MEE essay practice, MPT task completion. Do not let NextGen coverage distract you from the exam you are actually taking.

Once you have passed, if you later want to be admitted in a NextGen state, you will deal with that transfer process separately. If you are already admitted in one state and wondering whether you can waive into another instead of sitting for the exam, BarReqs can help you check your eligibility.

The most important thing is to know exactly which exam you are sitting for and to prepare for that exam specifically.