MPRE

Overview

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is a US test of legal ethics, written and run by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). It is computer-based and taken at Pearson testing centers. NCBE states that it is required for admission to the bar in every US jurisdiction except Wisconsin and Puerto Rico. Connecticut and New Jersey accept law school professional responsibility coursework as an alternative.

Who can apply

NCBE's registration page sets no formal eligibility rule beyond holding an NCBE Account. Each jurisdiction decides whether and when you must pass the MPRE for admission, so check the rules of the bar you are applying to.

Exam pattern

Plan for roughly 2.5 to 3 hours in total from arrival. Arrive 30 minutes early; candidates more than 15 minutes late may not be allowed to test.

Syllabus

NCBE publishes a Subject Matter Outline that sets out the scope of the exam and the approximate share of questions in each area. It also offers a Key Words and Phrases guide. Both are free on the NCBE site.

Marking and results

Scores are reported on a scale from 50 to 150. NCBE equates scores across administrations, so a given scaled score reflects the same level of performance whatever the test date. Each jurisdiction sets its own passing score.

NCBE states that scores are typically released within five weeks of the exam, through the Score Services page of your NCBE Account.

Important dates

NCBE lists these administrations:

Registration, the Pearson appointment and payment must all be completed by 11:59 p.m. central time on the deadline. No late registrations are accepted.

Fees

The fee is $185 for all 2026 and 2027 administrations, payable by debit or credit card. Rescheduling costs$25 and is non-refundable; it must be done at least 48 hours before the first test day. A partial refund is available if you cancel at least 48 hours before the first test day. Registration cannot be moved to a different administration.

How to apply

1. Create or sign in to your NCBE Account.

2. If you need disability accommodations, request them first and wait for a decision to appear in your Document Center before registering. Accommodations cannot be added to an existing appointment.

3. Select MPRE Registration in your account.

4. You receive an Authorization to Test email from Pearson.

5. Within 48 hours, schedule your Pearson appointment and pay the fee.

6. Confirmation emails follow.

After the exam

Registration includes one score release to a jurisdiction you choose. NCBE reports your result to that jurisdiction automatically. To send scores to additional jurisdictions, or if you did not choose one, make a paid request through MPRE Score Services after the exam.

Preparation tips

NCBE provides free sample questions (PDF), the Subject Matter Outline, the Key Words and Phrases guide and a Pearson computer-based testing tutorial. It also sells paid study aids. Working through the sample questions under timed conditions shows you the question style.