Tennessee administers the UNIFORM BAR EXAMINATION in February and July . The UBE consists of two Multistate Practice Tests (MPT), six Multistate Essay Examination questions (MEE) and the Multistate Bar Examination. Information regarding applications and deadlines can be found here. Suggestions for answering essay questions can be found at the end of this page.
No transferred MBE scores: Tennessee does not accept MBE scores transferred from previous Tennessee exams or from another jurisdiction, whether or not concurrent. All applicants sit for the entire examination and only scores earned in a single administration will be considered when seeking admission by examination score.
MPRE Scores: MPRE scores are required for applicants for admission by exam score (examination in Tennessee or transferred UBE score), unless the applicant is admitted and in good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction. The passing score of 82 or higher must be achieved within two years of the date the UBE score was earned, i.e., the grade release date. See Rule 7, § 4.07(d).
Bar Examination Schedule
February/Winter 2025 Uniform Bar Examination Dates: Tuesday, February 25, and Wednesday, February 26, 2025. Testing will be Nashville only at the Nashville Fairgrounds Exposition Center. Non-Standard Testing will be in Nashville, either at the same location or at other locations.
July/Summer 2025 Uniform Bar Examination Dates: Tuesday, July 29, and Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Testing will be conducted in:
- Knoxville at the Knoxville Convention Center
- Memphis at the Great Hall and Conference Center
- Nashville at The Fairgrounds Exposition Center.
Non-Standard Testing may be at other locations.
DEADLINES AND PROCESSES
- Please see the Checklist for a Complete Application found in exam forms and the step-by-step instructions found here for first time applicants and here for re-examination applicants.
- THE GENERAL INSTRUCTION MANUAL will be posted to the end of this page on the first business day after exam applications open. For example, the February 2025 General Instruction Manual will be posted to this page on October 1, 2024.
- All applicants, whether first-time or re-exam, MUST read the Manual, then sign and upload the Acknowledgment of Receipt of the General Instruction Manual by the FINAL DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS (Dec 20 or May 20) in order to sit for the examination.
- Applicants who fail to upload the signed Acknowledgment by the Final Deadline will not be eligible to sit for the examination.
- The General Instruction Manual is specific to each exam. Applicants must read the Manual for each exam period and upload the signed Acknowledgment form for the current exam.
- The ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM FOR THE CURRENT EXAM IN FILLABLE .PDF IS POSTED TO THE END OF THIS PAGE. You will also find it in exam forms.
Applicants are responsible for having read Tennessee Supreme Court Rules 7, 8, and 9, as well as the information on this website and Board Policies and Procedures, which are found under the Governing Authorities tab. Most questions can be answered by reading this material.
Applicants completing the bar examination will receive information for access to the Tennessee Law Course which must be completed, in addition to completion of the character and fitness investigation, in order to be eligible for admission.
Character and Fitness in-person interviews are required of applicants for admission by examination, re-examination and transferred UBE score who are not licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants for admission by exam, re-examination, transferred UBE score, comity or military spouse rules who are licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction may be required by the Board to appear for an in-person interview and will receive notice from the Board. The in-person interviews are conducted in mid-August, September and March by members of the Tennessee bar appointed by the Supreme Court.