UBE Transfer Information

The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) is an assessment of competency to practice law that is coordinated by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and is composed of the Multistate Essay Examination, two Multistate Performance Test tasks, and the Multistate Bar Examination. It may be administered by any participating jurisdiction over two days. More information on the UBE can be found at www.ncbex.org/exams/ube/. Participating jurisdictions accept transferred UBE scores from other jurisdictions that meet passing score requirements for the receiving jurisdiction.

• We began accepting applications to transfer UBE scores from other jurisdictions on December 1, 2019.
• We administered the first UBE in Texas in February 2021.
• The minimum passing score in Texas is 270.
• UBE transfer applicants must successfully complete the Texas Law Component before they can be licensed in Texas.

The Texas Law Component is a series of video presentations on Texas law from experienced Texas attorneys. Each segment will be followed by questions that applicants must answer correctly in order to proceed to the next segment. The total length of the presentations will be between 10 and 12 hours.

Applicants may access the TLC on-line and on-demand, for no additional fee. Applicants may complete the TLC up to one year before taking a bar exam and up to two years after passing a bar exam in Texas.

We will accept qualifying UBE scores that were earned within five years immediately preceding the date an applicant submits a transfer application to us.

• Submit a UBE Transfer Application to transfer a qualifying UBE score to Texas. A qualifying UBE score is a score that is 270 or higher and that was earned within 5 years immediately preceding the date that you submit your UBE Transfer Application
• A UBE score is “earned” on the last day of the exam administration.
• Scores that were earned more than five years ago cannot be transferred.
• Once you submit your UBE Transfer Application, we will conduct a character and fitness investigation. This investigation can take up to nine months.
• In addition to submitting a UBE Transfer Application to transfer a qualifying UBE score, you will need to satisfy all other licensing requirements set out in Rule 2, including requirements to:
  • Have a J.D. from an ABA-approved law school, or satisfy each element of an exception in Rule 13.
  • Complete the Texas Law Component.
  • Document a score of 85 or higher on the MPRE.

• If you will receive your J.D. from a Texas law school, be sure that you have filed your Declaration of Intention to Study Law with us before you try to transfer your UBE score. (If you will receive your J.D. from a law school outside of Texas, you do not need to file a Declaration of Intention with us.)
• Once you have applied for the UBE in another state, you can then submit a UBE Transfer Application to us, with the required filing fee. You do not need to wait to receive your UBE score--you can submit your transfer application to us once you have applied to take the UBE in another state. If you do not score a 270 or higher on that UBE, your UBE Transfer application will be terminated--if you want to transfer a future UBE score to us, you would need to submit a new UBE Transfer Application, with the appropriate filing fee.
• Alternatively, you can wait to submit a UBE Transfer Application and filing fee to us until after you receive a qualifying UBE score of at least 270.
• Once you submit your UBE Transfer Application, we will conduct a character and fitness investigation. This investigation can take up to nine months.
• In addition to submitting a UBE Transfer Application to transfer a qualifying UBE score, you will need to satisfy all other licensing requirements set out in Rule 2, including requirements to:
  • Have a J.D. from an ABA-approved law school, or satisfy each element of an exception in Rule 13.
  • Complete the Texas Law Component.
  • Document a score of 85 or higher on the MPRE.