Multi-State Practice: UBE Transfer, Reciprocity, and Admission on Motion (2026)
Moving states as an attorney requires navigating a patchwork of admission rules. Three main paths exist: UBE score transfer, admission on motion (reciprocity), or retaking the bar. The right path depends on where you were admitted, how long you have been practising, and where you want to go.
Three Paths to Practise in Another State
UBE Transfer
Transfer your score from one UBE jurisdiction to another. Fastest option. 42 jurisdictions participate; each sets its own minimum score and accepts scores between 2 and 5 years old.
Admission on Motion
Reciprocity-based admission without retaking the bar. Requires 3-5 years of active law practice. Not all states participate. California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Nevada are common non-AOM states.
Retake the Bar
Sit the new state's bar examination. Always available. Required when UBE and AOM are not options (e.g., California admissions from NY without sufficient UBE score or practice years).
UBE Jurisdictions: Minimum Transfer Scores (October 2026)
Source: National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) UBE minimum scores and maximum score age lists, checked October 2026. UBE is scored on a 400-point scale; every jurisdiction on NCBE's list requires between 260 and 270. A split age such as "3 or 5 years" means the jurisdiction allows the longer limit only in defined circumstances set out in its own rule. Wisconsin first gave the UBE in July 2026 and is not yet on NCBE's score lists. Verify with the jurisdiction before applying; scores and policies change.
| Jurisdiction | Minimum Transfer Score | Maximum Score Age |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 260 | 25 months |
| Alaska | 270 | 5 years |
| Arizona | 270 | 5 years |
| Arkansas | 270 | 3 years |
| Colorado | 270 | 3 or 5 years |
| Connecticut | 266 | 5 years |
| District of Columbia | 266 | 5 years |
| Idaho | 266 | 37 months |
| Illinois | 266 | 4 years |
| Indiana | 264 | 5 years |
| Iowa | 260 | 2 or 5 years |
| Kansas | 266 | 5 years |
| Kentucky | 266 | 5 years |
| Maine | 270 | 3 years |
| Maryland | 266 | 3 years |
| Massachusetts | 270 | 3 years |
| Michigan | 268 | 3 years |
| Minnesota | 260 | 3 years |
| Missouri | 260 | 5 years |
| Montana | 266 | 3 years |
| Nebraska | 270 | 3 years |
| New Hampshire | 270 | 3 or 5 years |
| New Jersey | 266 | 3 years |
| New Mexico | 260 | 3 years |
| New York | 266 | 3 years |
| North Carolina | 270 | 3 years |
| North Dakota | 260 | 2 years |
| Ohio | 270 | 5 years |
| Oklahoma | 260 | 3 years |
| Oregon | 270 | 3 years |
| Pennsylvania | 270 | 30 months |
| Rhode Island | 270 | 2 years |
| South Carolina | 266 | 3 years |
| Tennessee | 270 | 3 or 5 years |
| Texas | 270 | 5 years |
| US Virgin Islands | 266 | 3 years |
| Utah | 260 | 3 or 5 years |
| Vermont | 270 | 3 or 5 years |
| Washington | 266 | 40 months |
| West Virginia | 270 | 3 years |
| Wyoming | 270 | 3 or 5 years |
States that have not adopted the UBE (NCBE list, October 2026): California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, South Dakota and Virginia. These states require either AOM (where available) or retaking the local bar.
Admission on Motion: Key Considerations
Admission on motion (AOM) is the process allowing a practising attorney to gain admission in a second state without retaking the bar, based on years of active practice. The typical requirements:
- Active practice requirement: typically 3-5 years of active law practice in the past 5-7 years.
- Reciprocity: many states only grant AOM to attorneys from states that would equally admit their attorneys (mutual reciprocity). Some states offer unilateral AOM.
- MPRE requirement: passing score on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam, at the target state's required level.
- CLE compliance: some states require proof of CLE compliance in current jurisdiction.
- Character and fitness: full character review, same as for bar admission.
- Fee: application fees range from $400 to $2,500+ depending on jurisdiction.
States with no AOM pathway (as of April 2026) include California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Nevada, and a few others. An attorney admitted in one of these states who wants to practise in a non-AOM-equivalent state will typically need to retake the bar unless they qualify for UBE transfer.
Practical Scenarios
Transfer your UBE score to NJ. NJ minimum is 266; you qualify. NJ accepts UBE scores up to 3 years old. Apply to NJ Board of Bar Examiners, pay the transfer fee, provide MPRE score, pass NJ character review. No need to retake the bar.
Florida is not a UBE jurisdiction, so there is no UBE score to transfer. New York admits on motion only attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions (Court of Appeals Rule 520.10, which also requires practice in 5 of the past 7 years), and Florida is not on New York's reciprocal list because Florida offers no admission on motion. A Florida attorney therefore sits the New York bar (UBE).
Transfer your UBE score to DC. DC minimum is 266; you qualify. DC accepts UBE scores up to 5 years old. DC also requires a separate DC Bar application and character review. No retake needed.
This is a real UPL risk. ABA Model Rule 5.5 creates safe harbours for temporary practice connected to a home-state matter, but remote work for a firm in another state on matters arising in that state is not clearly covered. The safest approach: seek pro hac vice admission for specific matters, or gain full admission in the second state.