July 2026 Washington NextGen UBE Makeup Exam Information

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.

Following the July administration, NCBE provided jurisdictions with expanded network-readiness requirements and recommendations based on lessons learned. The guidance emphasizes contingency options that do not depend on a venue’s primary network, along with measures such as using multiple testing rooms and staggering start times.

Each jurisdiction, in coordination with its venue, assesses venue infrastructure and implementation of these measures.

The Washington Supreme Court and the WSBA have established several paths forward for affected applicants, including a make-up examination held on September 1–2, 2026 in Tacoma, Washington. 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.

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.

Your options are outlined below.

Additional information regarding the timing and process for refunds will be communicated 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 used an examination with psychometric properties equivalent to those of the examination administered in July and was conducted under the same conditions. Accordingly, a score earned on the September administration is an official, portable NextGen UBE score rather than a jurisdiction-specific score.

No. The September administration used 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.

The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) has announced that scores from the September administration will be released in early October, on the same timeline as scores from the July 2026 administration. NCBE and WSBA are working together to support that timeline.

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

No. NextGen UBE scores are not curved based on the performance of a group of examinees who test together. The 171 examinees who tested in Tacoma in September are not being compared with one another to determine their scores.

The NextGen UBE uses a statistical process called equating to ensure scores are comparable across different versions of the exam, known as exam forms (the specific set of questions and tasks administered), and across different administrations. This process accounts for small differences in difficulty between exam forms so that the same scaled score represents the same level of performance, regardless of which form an examinee receives.

For the September administration, the exam form’s relationship to the NextGen UBE scoring scale was established before examinees took the exam. It is not based on the performance of the 171 examinees who tested in Tacoma.

This means your score is based on your performance on the exam and the established NextGen UBE scoring scale, not on the performance of the other examinees who tested in September.

No. The September Washington make-up administration used a different test form and is treated as a separate administration. Accordingly, examinees who tested in September are not included in the National Percent Below metrics reported for the July administration.

The September Washington make-up exam was a separate administration using a different test form, and there is therefore no national examinee sample from that administration against which to calculate a National Percent Below.

Jurisdiction Percent Below can provide context about performance relative to other examinees in the same jurisdiction and administration. The absence of National Percent Below does not affect your official NextGen UBE score.

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 received instructions for accessing and completing the following pre-exam steps in their NCBE account: 

• 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 all required steps were completed, your NCBE account should have shown an “NCBE Requirements Met” status.

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

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

Yes. Candidates affected by the July 2026 cancellation at the Yakima Convention Center who did 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.

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. 

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 and other resources.

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

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.