July 2026 Washington NextGen UBE Makeup Exam Information

The Washington Supreme Court and the WSBA have established several paths forward for affected applicants. Applicants should consult the Washington Supreme Court's order and the WSBA's website for the most current information regarding available options and eligibility requirements.

Your options are outlined below.

Additional information regarding the timing and process for refunds will be communicated directly to affected applicants.

Yes.

NCBE will provide affected applicants with complimentary access to designated study materials to support continued preparation. Additional information will be provided directly to affected applicants.

Eligibility requirements for the September 2026 make-up administration have been established by the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) and the Washington Supreme Court. Please consult the WSBA for the most current information regarding eligibility requirements and applicant categories.

Yes. The September administration in Washington will use an examination with psychometric properties equivalent to those of the examination administered in July and will be conducted under the same conditions. Accordingly, a score earned on the September administration will be an official, portable NextGen UBE score rather than a jurisdiction-specific score.

No. The September administration will use different examination content from that used during the July administration. As with all administrations, NCBE remains committed to maintaining the security, integrity, and fairness of the examination process.

As with all administrations, the timing of score release for the September administration will be determined by the Washington State Bar Association. NCBE and the Washington State Bar Association are working together to support a score release timeline that is as close as possible to the release of scores from the July 2026 administration. 

Examinees with questions about the timing of score release should contact the Washington State Bar Association directly.

No. According to the WSBA, eligible applicants who elect to participate in the September 2026 administration will not be required to pay additional application or examination fees.

NCBE will honor the technology fee paid for the July 2026 administration, and applicants will not be required to pay an additional technology fee.

If you were unable to test in Washington due to the cancellation of the July administration and did not register for the September make-up examination, your July administration will now appear as “Canceled” in your NCBE account. No action is required.

Beginning August 17, candidates participating in the September administration will receive instructions for accessing and completing the required pre-exam steps in their NCBE account. For individual questions or concerns, you can reach NCBE here.

Before the exam, you must complete the following steps on the device you plan to use:

• Uninstall the NCBE Secure Browser currently installed on your device.
• Log in to your NCBE account.
• Download and install the latest version of the NCBE Secure Browser.
• Complete the Exam Tutorial.

Once you have completed all required steps, your NCBE account should show an “NCBE Requirements Met” status.

All pre-exam requirements must be completed by 4:00 p.m. PT on Friday, August 28.

Yes. Candidates affected by the July 2026 cancellation at the Yakima Convention Center who do not register for the September make-up exam will automatically receive a refund of the technology fee. You do not need to contact NCBE or take any additional action to request or initiate the refund.

Decisions regarding alternative pathways to admission, including diploma privilege, are matters for the Washington Supreme Court and the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA). Please see the latest information issued by the Washington Supreme Court and the WSBA for the most current information regarding eligibility and admissions policies.

The WSBA has announced that free and confidential counseling resources will be made available to affected applicants. Additional information is available directly from the WSBA.

Applicants should consult the WSBA directly for additional information regarding the availability of these resources.

Washington State Bar Association (WSBA)

Questions regarding examination administration, transfers, withdrawals, admissions requirements, scheduling, and licensing matters should be directed to:

admissions@wsba.org

National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)

Questions regarding technology fees and study materials will be addressed directly through communications to affected applicants.

For individual questions or concerns, you can reach NCBE here.

NCBE is working closely with the Washington State Bar Association, testing-site personnel, local technical teams, and technology partners to understand exactly what happened at the Yakima Convention Center and identify opportunities to strengthen future administrations. This work includes reviewing technical and operational data, evaluating contingency procedures, strengthening site-readiness assessments, and incorporating lessons learned into future administrations.

We are committed to working with the Washington State Bar Association to apply the lessons learned from this review to strengthen future administrations and reduce the likelihood of similar disruptions.

The WSBA and NCBE will continue communicating directly with affected applicants as additional information becomes available.