Idaho Bar

Idaho adopted the NextGen Bar Exam beginning with the July 2026 administration. The National Conference of Bar Examiners prepares the NextGen UBE, and Idaho has adopted NCBE's scoring and grading standards for it. NCBE publishes the list of tested topics at ncbex.org, so build your study plan from that list.

It is given twice a year, on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. The announced February 2027 sitting is February 23–24, 2027, at Boise State University's Westmark Student Union Building, 1910 University Drive, Boise. Confirm logistics with the Idaho State Bar before booking travel.

Timely deadlines are October 1 for February and March 1 for July; late deadlines are November 15 and April 15. For 2027, timely filing is October 1, 2026 for February and March 1, 2027 for July. Fees are $600 for students and $800 for attorneys, plus a $200 late fee. A laptop fee of $149 is payable to NCBE.

Idaho does not publish a pass rate or difficulty rating on its admissions pages, so treat difficulty as a function of preparation. The exam is a national uniform instrument graded under NCBE standards, meaning your competition and curve are not Idaho-specific. The realistic risk is unfamiliarity with NextGen question formats rather than obscure Idaho law.

Yes. Reexamination forms are due by the late deadline for the corresponding administration; for example, reexamination forms for applicants unsuccessful on the July 2026 exam are due November 15, 2026, and for the February 2026 exam, May 15, 2027. An Unsuccessful Form fee of $200 to $300 applies under Idaho Bar Commission Rule 218.

You must take the MPRE and receive a minimum scaled score of 85, either before the bar exam or within the next two MPRE administrations after successfully completing it. You must also satisfy Rule 202 qualifications: be at least eighteen, be lawfully admitted to this country, hold a JD or equivalent from an approved law school, and be of good moral character.

Start with the NCBE topic list and map each subject to your weakest area. Learn the highly tested foundations first, then layer in the newer integrated skills formats. Practice writing complete answers under time pressure early rather than only at the end, and reserve the final weeks for full timed simulations and review of your own error patterns.

Late applications and missed deadlines are avoidable losses; late fees are assessed on any application received after the timely deadline. Other frequent problems include neglecting the MPRE's 85 minimum, skipping timed practice on integrated question formats, and studying broad outlines instead of drilling weak subjects. Also keep your mailing and email addresses current with the State Bar.

Applicants who took the UBE in Idaho before July 2026 may request MBE scores in writing, including the exam date and a current address. Idaho does not release individual essay scores to successful applicants. Copies of previously filed applications cost $25.00 each through the State Bar's Application Copy Request form.