NextGen UBE Score Portability 2027: How Transfers Work Across Jurisdictions

NextGen UBE scores are designed to be portable

NCBE designed official NextGen UBE scores for transfer between participating jurisdictions. That portability can allow an examinee to seek admission in a different jurisdiction without retaking the bar exam, but only if the destination jurisdiction accepts the score and the applicant meets its other requirements.

A portable score is not automatic admission

The destination jurisdiction controls its own minimum accepted score, maximum score age, character-and-fitness process and local admission requirements. A score that passed where you tested may be too low for a different jurisdiction, while a score that failed locally may sometimes still meet another jurisdiction's lower transfer threshold.

NextGen uses a 500-750 scale

Official NextGen UBE scores are reported as a single number from 500 to 750. Each jurisdiction sets its own minimum. Do not compare this number directly with a legacy UBE score without using the appropriate official mapping or jurisdiction rule.

What to verify before paying for a transfer

1. Does the destination jurisdiction accept NextGen scores from your administration date?
2. What minimum transferred score does it require?
3. How old may the score be?
4. Are there MPRE, local-law, educational or character-and-fitness requirements?
5. What filing fees and deadlines apply?

Legacy and NextGen overlap during transition

During the transition period, many jurisdictions may accept qualifying scores from both the legacy UBE and NextGen UBE. The details vary, so the phrase "UBE state" alone is not enough to determine portability in 2027.

FAQ

If I fail in my testing jurisdiction, can I still transfer?

Potentially, if another jurisdiction accepts your score and it meets that jurisdiction's threshold and other rules.

Does every jurisdiction use the same passing score?

No. Jurisdictions choose their own passing and transfer thresholds.

Where do I confirm a transfer rule?

Use NCBE Score Services and the destination jurisdiction's official bar admissions agency.

For announced thresholds, see the passing-score guide.

Transfer timing can affect job planning

If you expect to practice in a second jurisdiction soon after graduation, research portability before choosing where to sit. Compare not only score thresholds but also processing times, character-and-fitness procedures, local requirements and whether the destination accepts scores from your exact administration date.

Score age matters

Jurisdictions can limit how old a transferred score may be. Those limits vary, and transition rules can distinguish legacy and NextGen scores. A score that is portable today may not remain transferable indefinitely, so candidates considering relocation should check the maximum-age rule early.

Keep records from the testing administration

Save your NCBE account information, official score record, admission correspondence and proof of any completed local requirements. When transferring later, having accurate dates and identifiers reduces delays and helps you answer destination-jurisdiction questions consistently.