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Re-Examination – How to Apply

TENNESSEE BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS CONTACT INFORMATION

Tennessee Board of Law Examiners

AN APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION IS AN APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR OF TENNESSEE. Applications for Re-Examination are accepted only during the following periods:

Exam Schedule JULY 2024 EXAM FEBRUARY 2025 EXAM
Application Period Opens March 1, 2025 October 1, 2024
Application Deadline May 1, 2025 December 2, 2024
Final Deadline May 20, 2025 December 20, 2024
** If a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or State of Tennessee holiday, the deadline is the following Monday or business day.  For examination test dates and locations in Tennessee, click here.

Please see Rule 7, §§ 3.01 and 3.03 and Board Policies P-3.01 and P-3.03 for filing and documentation requirements necessary to meet the Application Deadline and Final Deadline.

WHEN TO USE THE RE-EXAMINATION APPLICATION: A Re-Examination Application is used by applicants seeking admission in Tennessee by examination who have taken the Uniform Bar Examination in Tennessee within the last three years. DO NOT USE THE RE-EXAMINATION APPLICATION IF YOU:

  • Are applying for admission by examination for the first time; or
  • Previously applied to the Bar of Tennessee by examination less than 2 years ago but have not taken the examination in Tennessee; or
  • Have previously take the examination in Tennessee but the application has expired pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, § 3.04(a)(8).
  • If you previously applied for the examination in Tennessee as a first-time applicant but did not sit for the examination, DO NOT SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR RE-EXAMINATION. You must submit an Application for Admission by Examination for a First Time Applicant.
  • If you last applied for examination in Tennessee more than three years ago:  An Application for Admission by Examination for a  First Time Applicant is required, as well as a new NCBE application. In the NCBE application all previous examination application dates, including prior applications in Tennessee, must be provided in response to the NCBE application question regarding “Prior Applications” and the related question in the Tennessee application. All documents from the previous application expire when the application expires. See Rule 7, Sec. 3.04 for information on application and score expiration.

CHECKLIST FOR A COMPLETE RE-EXAMINATION APPLICATION: All documents required to meet the Application Deadline and the meet the Final Deadline are found on the Checklist for a Complete Application; a link can be found in the main menu and the Checklist can be found in Forms.  

DEADLINES AND FILING REQUIREMENTS

There are two deadlines for Application for Admission by Examination:

  • The Application Deadline, which is December 1 for February exams and May 1 for July exams; and
  • The Final Deadline, which is December 20 for February exams and May 20 for July exams.

Applicants to the Bar of Tennessee are responsible for ensuring that all documents are submitted to the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners (TBLE) in a timely manner, even if the documents are coming from a third party.

TWO REQUIRED APPLICATIONS

To be eligible to sit for the examination in Tennessee, an applicant must provide two applications – the NCBE Character and Fitness Application (the “NCBE application”) found at www.ncbex.org and the Tennessee application for the current administration of the Uniform Bar Examination in Tennessee, found at synergy.tnble.com (the “Tennessee application”).

  • If an applicant’s prior NCBE application is more than 2 years old, then prior to beginning a Tennessee application, the applicant must update and finalize a new NCBE application, as explained in the step-by-step instructions below.
    • How to calculate if an NCBE application has expired: If an NCBE application was submitted for the July 2023 examination, it is valid for July 2023, February 2024, July 2024, and February 2025. For exams after February 2025, the applicant must submit a new NCBE Application. This is true whether or not the applicant took all of the examinations offered in the two-year period.
  • After completing and submitting the Tennessee application, there will be an option to pay the Tennessee application fee online by credit card. In the alternative, the fee may be paid by money order or check mailed to or delivered to the TBLE office (TBLE, 511 Union Street, Suite 525, Nashville, TN 37219). The TBLE does not accept payment without a Synergy application. Hard copies of applications are not accepted. 
  • Note that there is a separate fee for the NCBE application paid directly to the NCBE.
  • NCBE AND TENNESSEE SYNERGY APPLICATIONS – BOTH MAY BE REQUIRED: The NCBE and the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners are separate entities. The NCBE conducts background investigations for the TBLE.
    • To meet the Application Deadline, a re-exam applicant with an expired NCBE application will be required to complete the NCBE application and create a .pdf of the completed application to upload to the Tennessee application as noted in Steps 3 and 5A, below. See above for the way to calculate if an NCBE application has expired.
    • To meet the Final Deadline, a re-exam applicant who is required to submit and upload a new NCBE application must finalize the NCBE application in the NCBE portal, pay the NCBE investigation fee, and provide/upload to the NCBE any required documents, attachments, releases and/or forms in the format required in order to complete the NCBE application process; the NCBE provides a detailed Checklist in each applicant’s portal. NOTE – anything uploaded or provided to the NCBE after the Application Deadline, other than the NCBE fee and release forms, must be uploaded to the Tennessee application.
  • Submitting documents only to the TBLE or only to the NCBE will not meet the filing requirements and will not constitute a complete application.
  • An applicant will be ineligible to sit for the exam and licensing will be delayed if the applicant submits the NCBE application only to the NCBE or only uploads a copy of the NCBE application to the Tennessee application.

NOTES ON THE APPLICATION DEADLINE – RULE 7, SEC. 3.03(a)(2)

To meet the Application Deadline, re-exam applicants must upload the applicable items listed in Rule 7, Section 3.01 and Board Policy P-3.01(b), to the Tennessee application in Synergy on or before the Application Deadline. Applicants who fail to meet the Application Deadline will not be eligible to sit for the examination and the application will be withdrawn.

Applicants requesting Non-Standard Testing Accommodations must complete and submit Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations and Form 1 in Synergy prior to the Application Deadline. See Board Policy P-3.01(b). Applicants who do not complete the Request will not be considered for accommodations by the Board and the incomplete Request will be withdrawn. A Request for Non-Standard Accommodations will not be considered without a Tennessee application for examination.

The Examination Application and the Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations close at the expiration of the Application Deadline. No new applications will be accepted and those in progress will not be available to complete. Applicants who have not submitted the Tennessee Synergy Application, uploaded the completed NCBE Application, and paid the Tennessee application filing fee by the Application Deadline will not be eligible to sit for the examination.

  • Applicants who attempt to pay the fee on the last day applications can be submitted but who have an unsuccessful payment at the Application Deadline will not have completed the application and will not be eligible to sit for the examination.
  • See Board Policy P-3.03. See Board Policy P-3.03(a) regarding consequences of missing the Application Deadline.

Please note that applicants choosing to pay the Tennessee application fee by credit card will be directed to a third-party processor, outside of Synergy. It is highly recommended that applicants use a payment method that will be accepted as the Board does not receive notice of an unsuccessful transaction until the next business day following the transaction. An unsuccessful payment on the day of the Application Deadline will result in an incomplete application. See Board Policy P-3.03(a).

NOTES ON THE FINAL DEADLINE – RULE 7, SEC. 3.03(a)(2)

To meet the Final Deadline, all documents required for a complete application (Board Policy P-3.01(c)), in addition to the documents required to meet the Application Deadline (Board Policy P-3.01(a)), must be received by the TBLE in the proper format on or before the Final Deadline in order to be eligible to sit for the examination. Applicants do not have to wait until after the Application Deadline to begin submitting the required documents enumerated in Board Policy P-3.01(c) and explained in Step 5B, below, and includes how often a document must be submitted when re-applying for examination. The documents can be submitted at any time after the Tennessee application is submitted and prior to the Final Deadline.

NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY FROM THE BOARD

Applicants will not receive notice of deficiency until the Tennessee application filing fee is paid. Prior to the Application Deadline, applicants may submit documents enumerated in Board Policy P-3.01(b) and (c), but all requirements for meeting the Application Deadline must be completed timely. Applicants who meet the Application Deadline will be notified at least once prior to the Final Deadline if a required document is missing or if a document has been submitted in the incorrect format. Note that an applicant may still have a deficiency, such as submitting the incorrect application, for which the applicant will not receive notice prior to the Final Deadline, or by failing to complete the NCBE application process, as described below. See Board Policy P-3.03(d)(1) – (3).

  • Applicants who amend the NCBE application (either the existing NCBE application or a new NCBE application, if one was required) after the Application Deadline but before the Final Deadline without notice to the Board will not receive notice of missing items that would have been disclosed in answers to the questions on the NCBE application, and may be found ineligible to sit for the examination. Amendments submitted 5 business days or fewer prior to the Final Deadline may not be reviewed by the TBLE in time to provide a Notice of Deficiency.
  • The responsibility for ensuring timely completion of the application is on the applicant. The Board will find an applicant ineligible to sit for the exam if an application is missing any item or if any item is submitted in the incorrect format.
  • Applicants who are required to submit a new NCBE application are responsible for managing their NCBE dashboard as the Board does not have access to and will not provide notice regarding steps needed to complete the NCBE application process. Applicants who do not complete the NCBE application process such that the application is ready to move forward to investigation will not be eligible to sit for the exam.
  • Documents from third parties and items required to be uploaded by the Applicant that are not received by the applicable Application or Final Deadline will not be considered by the Board, regardless of when the documents were requested or uploaded by the applicant.
  • A fax or email of a document for which the original is required will not satisfy a deadline.
  • Deadlines are “received by” date. A postmark on or before the deadline does not constitute timely receipt unless actually received by the Board by the deadline.
  • Notice of a deficiency does not entitle an Applicant to an extension of time to submit the required documentation. If a required document is not received by the TBLE or uploaded to the applicant’s Tennessee application on or before the Final Deadline, the applicant will not be eligible to take the examination and the application will be withdrawn.

Applicants who do not complete the application process by submitting or causing to be submitted all of the documents required by the Final Deadline will be ineligible to take the examination. Neither the application nor the fees are transferable or refundable; a portion of the fee will be refunded if an application is not completed prior to the deadline.  See Rule 7, Section 11.03. The Board does not have authority to waive or modify the Application Deadline or the Final Deadline.  See Rule 7, Section 12.12.

THE ONLY RECOURSE FOR AN APPLICANT FOUND INELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE EXAMINATION IS TO APPLY FOR A SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION. Rule 7, Sec. 3.03(e) and Sec. 13.02(a).

Details regarding the documents required for a complete application are listed in the step-by-step instructions below. For examination test dates and locations in Tennessee, click here.

STEPS TO TAKE TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION

STEP 1: Read and familiarize yourself with Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7 and Board Policies and Procedures found under Governing Authorities. Throughout the pages of this website, reference will be made to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7 as “Rule 7” and to Board Policies and Procedures as “Policy P-[###].”

STEP 2: Determine what documents are needed for this examination by reviewing the list in Board Policy P-3.01(b) and (c) and as noted in Steps 5A and 5B, below. CALCULATION OF TWO-YEAR PERIOD for the NCBE background investigation or other items expiring after two years: The two-year time period is counted from exam date to exam date. For example, an NCBE application submitted for the July 2022 exam is good for July 2022, February 2023, July 2023, and February 2024, but must be updated for a July 2024 application.

STEP 3: If the NCBE application has is more than 2 years old, it has expired. Login to www.ncbex.org and complete the appropriate online NCBE character and fitness application for background investigation. When you have completed the NCBE application form online, save the application and any attachments you may have already uploaded to NCBE as a .pdf file, which you will need for your Tennessee application. You do not need to submit the materials and payment to the NCBE at this time but will need to do so by the Final Deadline.

  • You may submit the NCBE Character and Fitness Application at any time after February 15 prior to the time applications open for the July exam or August 15 prior to the time applications open for the February examination you plan to take. For example, if you are applying for the July 2024 examination, applications open on March 1, 2024, and you can submit your NCBE application on February 15, 2024.
  • However, you may not upload the .pdf of the NCBE application to the TBLE until the application period is open and you have a current examination application. The NCBE Application saved in .pdf format must be uploaded to the Tennessee application prior to the Application Deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR STEP 3 IF APPLICANT MUST UPDATE THE NCBE APPLICATION:

  • The NCBE application (and any attachments already uploaded to NCBE) must be completed and a .pdf saved for you to upload to your Tennessee application in Step 5, below. 
  • EXPLANATION OF THE NCBE APPLICATION AND THE NCBE APPLICATION PROCESS:
    • The complete NCBE character and fitness investigation process includes the NCBE application, payment of the investigation fee to the NCBE, and submittal of certain forms, including Authorization and Release forms.
    • To meet the Application Deadline, you must complete and save the NCBE application and any attachments as a .pdf document to upload to your Tennessee Synergy Application.
    • To meet the Final Deadline, you must finish the NCBE process which includes finalizing the application if not previously done, payment of the investigation fee to the NCBE, and submittal of forms requested by the NCBE in the form and by the process the NCBE requires as listed in your NCBE account.
    • NOTE: If you amend your NCBE application or add attachments after you upload the original NCBE application to your Tennessee application, you must amend your Tennessee application and upload the updated NCBE application amendments and/or attachments. See Rule 7, Sec. 3.02 and Policy P-3.02.
  • FOR ALL COMMUNICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE TBLE: PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE COMPLETE INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN DENIAL OF YOUR APPLICATION. A DUTY OF CANDOR APPLIES. See Rule 7, Sec. 6.04.
  • Expunged matters: A matter that has been expunged MUST be disclosed unless it is a matter that was resolved as a juvenile.

STEP 4: The Tennessee application can be accessed by clicking here for a link to Synergy. From the dashboard select “Application for Re-Examination Applicants.” You will have a chance to review your answers before you “submit and finalize” the application. Be sure to read and answer each question fully. Failure to provide complete information may result in denial of your application.

Interview Location: As part of the Tennessee application, you will be asked to select the county in which you wish to appear for your in-person interview.

  • Applicants for admission by examination who are not licensed and/or are not in good standing in another jurisdiction must appear for an in-person interview every two years which will be scheduled up to six weeks after the bar examination. 
  • Applicants who are licensed and in good standing in another jurisdiction may, in the discretion of the Board, be required to appear for an in-person interview.
  • All applicants MUST select an interview location.

Pay the application fee 

  • After the Tennessee application is submitted, applicants will be given the opportunity to pay the Tennessee application fee by credit card.
    • Applicants selecting the online payment option will be routed to a third-party provider to pay the application fee.
    • A credit card service fees, sometimes called convenience fees, is collected from the vendor in a separate credit card transaction at the same time as the filing fee is paid. 
    • Credit cards are accepted for online payments only.
  • Applicants who prefer to pay by another method can skip the online fee payment and pay by CHECK OR MONEY ORDER, payable to the TN Board of Law Examiners, and mail or deliver the payment to the Board of Law Examiners, 511 Union Street, Suite 525, Nashville, TN 37219. Please be sure the applicant’s full name and NCBE number are included on the check or money order. Please do not mail cash.
  • The fee payment must be completed and successful on or before the Application Deadline. Be sure your payment for the full amount is processed by using a payment method you know will support the payment of the filing fee and convenience fee. Please see Board Policy P-3.03(a)(2) regarding online payments that are not successful at the Application Deadline and remain unpaid.
  • For more information on fees, click here.

STEP 5: Once you have finalized the Tennessee application in Synergy, return to the Dashboard and click the “details” link next to the application (looks like a magnifying glass). From that screen, you will upload the required documents listed below in .pdf format unless otherwise noted. Step 5A lists the document to be uploaded prior the Application Deadline; Step 5B, documents required to meet the Final Deadline.

STEP 5A – ON OR BEFORE THE APPLICATION DEADLINE, click the “details” link in the Tennessee Application, select “Items;” then, click the “paper clip” next to the “NCBE Application” and follow the instructions for uploading the NCBE application .pdf document created and saved in Step 3.

To meet the Application Deadline, you must complete Steps 1 – 5A, as follows:

  1. If the NCBE application filed for prior examination has expired, complete the NCBE Application and save it as a .pdf document, described in Step 3, above.
  2. Submit the Tennessee Re-Examination Application in Synergy as directed in Step 4, above.
  3. Pay the Tennessee application fee, either online by credit card after you have finalized and submitted your Tennessee application, or paid by money order, as described in Step 4, above.
  4. Upload the saved .pdf of the NCBE application (Step 3) to the Tennessee application as explained in Step 5A.
  5. For applicants requesting non-standard testing accommodations, complete the Request for Non-Standard Testing Accommodations and NST Form 1 in Synergy on or before the Application Deadline.

To meet the Final Deadline:

  • Upload all documents required by your application in the correct form and cause to be submitted to the Board documents required from third parties on or before the Final Deadline.
  • All of the processes and documents listed in STEP 5B, including any additional documents required for those licensed in another jurisdiction, educated at a non-accredited U.S. institution, or educated in a foreign country, must be received by the Final Deadline (May 20 for July exams; December 20 for February exams, unless a weekend or holiday, then the next business day).
  • Applicants who are missing required items at the Final Deadline will not be eligible to take the exam or to correct the deficiency.
  • Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 7, Sections 3.10 and 11.02, neither the Executive Director nor the Board has the discretion to waive or extend the dates for filing applications nor may any fees be waived, transferred or refunded, except as provided by Rule.

STEP 5B – FOR THE FINAL DEADLINE, the following items are required to complete your application:

  • COMPLETION OF THE NCBE APPLICATION PROCESS: If the NCBE application filed for prior examination has expired, complete the NCBE application process for the current NCBE application (a .pdf of the application would have been uploaded with the Tennessee Application on or before the Application Deadline), pay the NCBE fees, and provide all required documents to the NCBE in the format and by the process required. (REQUIRED EVERY TWO YEARS)
    • NOTE that if you uploaded any amendments or attachments to the NCBE after you uploaded the .pdf of your application to your Synergy Application, you MUST upload a copy of the amendment and attachments to your BLE application. See Board Policy P-3.02 and P-3.03(c).
    • To see your NCBE application status and steps left to complete, you will need to check your NCBE Dashboard.
    • Applicants are responsible for managing their NCBE dashboard as the Board does not have access to and will not provide notice regarding steps needed to complete the NCBE application process prior to the Final Deadline. See also, Step 3 and “IMPORTANT NOTES FOR STEP 3,” above.
  • Applicant’s current resume in .pdf format only, uploaded to the Tennessee application in Synergy by applicant; other formats are not permitted and may result in a determination that you are not eligible to sit for the exam (REQUIRED EACH EXAM);
  • A CURRENT, COLOR PHOTO, similar to a photo submitted with a passport application, saved only in .jpg file format and uploaded to the Tennessee application in Synergy; see Policy P-3.01(c) and FAQs for more info regarding picture size and requirements (REQUIRED EACH EXAM);
  • An unexpired GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PHOTO ID, such as a driver’s license, military ID, or passport, uploaded to the Tennessee application in Synergy by the applicant in .pdf or .jpg file format (REQUIRED EACH EXAM); and
  • ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF THE GENERAL INSTRUCTION MANUAL for the current exam, available on the Board’s website, here, signed, saved in .pdf format, and uploaded to the Tennessee application in Synergy after reading the Manual. The General Instruction Manual is posted on the website here. Each applicant must read the Manual and complete the Acknowledgment Form. A new Manual is prepared for each exam and the only the Acknowledgment Form for the current exam is accepted. (REQUIRED EACH EXAM).

OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT, IF REQUIRED, MUST BE SUBMITTED ON OR BEFORE THE FINAL DEADLINE:

  • APPLICANTS SEEKING NON-STANDARD TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS, who met the Application Deadline for the Request for Non-Standard Testing or Courtesy Accommodations, must have all required NST Forms uploaded to or received by the Board on or before the Final Deadline. For complete instructions, go to the Non-Standard Testing Accomodations page. Some Requests for Accommodations require professional assessment, including administration of evaluative testing that may be subject to expiration. (REQUIRED WHENEVER REQUESTING ACCOMMODATIONS)
  • NEW: APPLICANTS WHO HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL FIVE (5) OR MORE TIME ON THE FORMER TENNESSEE BAR EXAMINATION OR THE UBE IN ANY JURISDICTION: Any applicant who has not achieved a score sufficient for admission in Tennessee after five or more attempts on the former Tennessee bar examination or on the UBE in any jurisdiction has additional requirements that must be included with the bar exam application. See Board Policy P-4.05 for the information on the petition and supporting documentation that must be provided as part of your application and prior to the Final Deadline. (REQUIRED EVERY EXAM AFTER THE 5TH UNSUCCESSFUL EXAMINATION)
  • GRADUATES OF NON-ABA ACCREDITED LAW SCHOOLS LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES OTHER THAN LAW SCHOOLS IN TENNESSEE APPROVED BY THE TBLE: The Affidavit of Past Practice. See also Rule 7, section 5.01(c) and Policy P-5.01(c). (REQUIRED EACH EXAM, IF APPLICABLE)
  • APPLICANTS WHO RECEIVED THEIR LEGAL EDUCATION OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES: If you received your legal education outside the United States and were previously permitted to take the examination in Tennessee under Rule 7, Sec. 7.01(b):
    • The completed “Foreign-Education Option Election” form;
    • An equivalency evaluation, as provided in Rule 7, section 7.01(c) and Policy P-7.01, if you have received additional foreign education and have not already been approved as having substantially equivalent education;
    • If seeking admission based on admission in another jurisdiction and time in practice under Rule 7, section 7.01(b)(1), a completed Affidavit of Practice in a Foreign Country if licensed outside the United states, or a completed Affidavit of Past Practice if licensed in the United States (REQUIRED EACH EXAM.) If applicant is licensed in both a foreign jurisdiction and a U.S. jurisdiction, applicant must provide both forms detailing applicant’s practice in each jurisdiction; time in practice in the U.S. in a jurisdiction that permits such practice without a license or registration as a Foreign Legal Consultant should be documented on an Affidavit of Past Practice and include documentation that supports the claim that the practice in that jurisdiction was permitted. 
    • If seeking admission based on foreign legal education and a U.S. LL.M., Foreign-Education: Legal Studies in the United States form, completed and signed by the law school Dean or designee, if additional education since the last application; and
    • Documents not in English: If the responses are not in English, a translation to English by a certified translator must be provided with the original document.
  • ALL APPLICANTS WHO ARE OR HAVE BEEN LICENSED IN ANOTHER U.S. JURISDICTION: An applicant who is or has been licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction must provide the following so that it is received by the Final Deadline:
    • Certification from the Disciplinary Authority of each state in which you are or were licensed and admitted attesting to your current standing and your disciplinary history (required to be uploaded to Synergy every two years, unless a change in status, in .pdf file format only).
    • The certificate must show the applicant’s current standing (disciplinary and administrative, with disciplinary history) with the bar of each state in which the applicant is licensed.
    • The required certificate(s) must be dated within the 6 months immediately preceding the application and be from the disciplinary authority certifying the current standing of your license in the jurisdiction (good, inactive, suspended, etc.) and your disciplinary history.
    • A certificate from the state bar is not sufficient unless the State Bar is the agency charged with maintaining the official admission and disciplinary records.
    • If you become licensed in another jurisdiction while your Tennessee application is pending, you must amend your application and provide certification of admission to the highest court and good standing. 
  • ALL APPLICANTS WHO ARE LICENSED IN A FOREIGN JURISDICTION: Any applicant, whether or not educated outside the United States, who is licensed to practice law in a jurisdiction other than in the United States, is required to furnish with the Tennessee application:
    • A certified copy of the record or license of the court which admitted you to practice in such country (required every two years, unless a change in status, .pdf format only); and
    • The three letters from attorneys or judges verifying applicant’s license in a foreign country and attesting to applicant’s practice in that country must relate to applicant’s work with the recommender in the practice of law and, if from a relative, the relationship must be disclosed in the letter  (MUST BE UPDATED EVERY TWO YEARS and must be uploaded by Applicant in .pdf format, with translations, if needed, to the Tennessee application in Synergy; see Rule 7, Section 7.01, Policy P-3.05, and P-7.01, all found here).
    • Letters from an Applicant’s parents, grandparents, siblings or spouse who are practicing attorneys are not permitted.
    • Documents not in English: For documents that are not in English, a translation to English by a certified translator must be provided with the original document.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED BY THE FINAL DEADLINE:

  • Completion of the Tennessee Law Course, access to which will be given approximately 2 weeks after the examination.
  • Approval of character and fitness by the Board which includes completion of the in-person interview (Rule 7, Sec. 6.01 and as explained in the General Instruction Manual) and hearings, if required.
  • MPRE Requirements: Applicants seeking admission by examination score (bar examination in Tennessee or transferred UBE score) must achieve a score of 82 or higher to be eligible for admission.
    • To be valid, the MPRE score must have been earned within two years of successful completion of the bar examination in Tennessee or the date the UBE score being transferred to Tennessee was earned.
      • For example, an MPRE score of 82 or higher from the August 2023 MPRE administration will be valid through the July 2025 bar examination administration.
      • If the score has expired, the applicant must take the MPRE again to be eligible for admission; this does not have to be completed prior to the Final Deadline.
      • EXCEPTION – Applicants who are licensed, active, and in good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction may use an otherwise expired MPRE score of 82 or higher.
    • Scores must be sent directly from the NCBE. If you did not chose Tennessee as a jurisdiction to receive your score when you sat for the MPRE please visit NCBE Score Services for instructions on transferring your score.
    • For more information on MPRE Scores, please see Rule 7, Sec. 4.07(d) and Policy P-4.07.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND REMINDERS

AMENDMENTS TO APPLICATIONS: Applicants are under a continuing obligation to notify the TBLE of any changes to any of the information provided in the Tennessee or NCBE applications, if any of the answers to any of the questions in the either application have changed in any way. An applicant who has supplemental, new, modified, or updated information to report must complete the application amendment form. Once completed, save the form as a .pdf file and attach any relevant documentation, including the amended answer provided to the NCBE if applicable. Upload the .pdf file to your Synergy application under ‘Applicant Additional Documentation’. 

SYNERGY PROFILE CHANGES: Applicants may change their personal address and phone number in Synergy by selecting “My Profile Page.” For an email address change, please email the TBLE at: BLE.administrator@tncourts.gov. Please note that if your NCBE application is still pending you are required to amend your application with the NCBE as well. Visit www.ncbex.org for amendment requirements.

Computer-Based Testing: Applicants will have the option to register for laptop testing. All test questions will be in paper format. One month to six weeks after the application deadline, an email from ExamSoft, the testing software provider, regarding the registration procedure for applicants wishing to answer the MEE and MPT items on their personal laptop. By registering and downloading the Software, applicants agree that they have read, understood and accepted the General Information, Instructions and Release of Liability in “Laptop Testing” here.

SCORE EXPIRATIONS: Examination scores are valid for admission for three years from the date of grade release. You must complete all requirements for admission, including taking the oath of admission (Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 6) within that time or your scores expire.

SUPERVISED PRACTICE AND PRACTICE PENDING ADMISSION: For information on practice prior to admission pursuant to Rule 7, Sections 10.04 or 10.07, click here. Permission granted under Rule 7, Section 10.03 expires at the latest upon graduation from Law School.

ACCESS ALL FORMS, CLICK HERE

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