The State Bar of California
  • Log in
  • News
  • Forms
  • Contact
Admissions:
  • Requirements
  • |
  • Examinations
  • |
  • Moral Character
  • |
  • Special Admissions
  • |
  • Law School Regulation
  • Public
    • Need Legal Help
      • Look Up a Lawyer
      • Certified Lawyer Referral Services Directory
        • Why Use a Certified Lawyer Referral Service
      • Free Legal Help
    • Complaints & Claims
      • How to File a Complaint
        • Before You File
        • Why File a Complaint
        • Attorney Complaint
        • After You File
        • Después de presentar una queja
        • Nonattorney Complaint
        • Discipline Referral
      • Unauthorized Practice of Law Complaint
        • After You File
        • Después de presentar una queja por práctica no autorizada
      • Fee Disputes
        • FAQ
      • Client Security Fund
        • What Happens After You Apply
        • Application Instructions and Checklist
      • Complaint Review Process
      • Lawyer Referral Service Complaints
        • Certified Lawyer Referral Service Complaints
        • Uncertified Lawyer Referral Service Complaints
      • Whistleblower Complaints
      • FAQ
    • Free Legal Information
      • Before Selecting an Attorney
        • Finding the Right Lawyer
        • What a Certified Lawyer Referral Service Can Do for You
        • Your Initial Consultation
      • Working with an Attorney
        • What to Expect from Your Attorney
        • How to Work with Your Lawyer
        • What to Expect Regarding Fees and Billing
        • How to Avoid Problems
      • Resolving Problems
        • Problem with a Lawyer
        • Lawyer Fee Dispute
          • Lawyer Fee Dispute FAQ
        • Client Security Fund
      • Unauthorized Practice of Law
        • Avoiding Fraud by Immigration Consultants
        • Práctica no autorizada de la abogacía
        • Evite el fraude por parte de los consultores de inmigración
      • For Immigrants
        • Buscando ayuda con asuntos de inmigración
        • Immigration Legal Services Providers
        • Proveedores de servicios legales de inmigración
      • Legal Help After a Disaster
      • For Veterans & Service Members
      • Legal Services Fraud Alert for Homeowners
        • Alerta a Propietarios Referente al Fraude de Servicios Legales
      • Legal Services Fraud Alert for Renters
        • Alerta a Arrendatarios Referente al Fraude de Servicios Legales
      • Legal Guide Pamphlets
      • FAQ
    • Discipline
      • Attorney Discipline
      • Nonattorney Actions
      • Discipline Statistics
      • Look Up a Lawyer
    • Public Trust Liaison
      • Intermediario de Confianza Pública
    • En español
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
      • Protecting the Public
        • Regulation and Discipline Overview
        • Transparency & Accountability
        • Public Comment
          • Public Comment Guidelines
          • Public Comment Archives
            • 2023 Public Comment
            • 2022 Public Comment
            • 2021 Public Comment
            • 2020 Public Comment
            • 2019 Public Comment
            • 2018 Public Comment
            • 2017 Public Comment
              • 2017-12
            • 2016 Public Comment
            • 2015 Public Comment
            • 2014 Public Comment
            • 2013 Public Comment
            • 2012 Public Comment
            • 2011 Public Comment
            • 2010 Public Comment
        • Reports
        • Public Records
      • Promoting Justice in California
      • Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
        • DEI Leadership Seal Program
          • DEI Leadership Seal Recipients
          • DEI Leadership Seal Committed Participants
          • State Bar DEI Leadership Seal Progress
    • Who We Are
      • Board of Trustees
        • Roster
          • Brandon Stallings
          • José Cisneros
          • Raymond A. Buenaventura
          • Hailyn J. Chen
          • Sarah A. Good
          • Mary Huser
          • Melanie M. Shelby
          • Arnold Sowell Jr.
          • Mark W. Toney, PhD
          • Genaro Trejo
        • Meetings
        • Audit Committee
          • Roster
        • Executive Committee
          • Roster
        • Finance Committee
          • Roster
        • Regulation and Discipline Committee
          • Roster
        • Public Comment Guidelines
        • Remote Participation Tips
        • Supreme Court Appointments
        • Board Task Forces
      • Committees
        • Meetings
        • Committee Appointment Opportunities
          • Review Committee-Commission Judicial Nominees Evaluation
            • Roster
        • California Board of Legal Specialization
          • Privacy Law Group
        • Client Security Fund Commission
          • Roster
        • Committee of Bar Examiners
          • Committee of State Bar Accredited and Registered Schools
            • Roster
          • Law School Council
            • Roster
        • Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct
        • Council on Access and Fairness
          • Roster
        • Judicial Nominees Evaluation
          • Review Committee of the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation
          • Roster
          • FAQ
          • JNE Demographics Reports
        • Lawyer Assistance Program Oversight Committee
          • Roster
        • Legal Services Trust Fund Commission
          • Roster
      • Archived Committees
        • Ad Hoc Commission on the Discipline System
        • Blue Ribbon Commission
          • Resources
          • Roster
        • California Access to Justice Commission
          • Commission Roster
        • California Attorney Practice Analysis Working Group
        • California Paraprofessional Program Working Group
        • Closing the Justice Gap Working Group
        • Committee on Special Discipline Case Audit
        • Governance in the Public Interest Task Force
        • Limited License Working Group
        • Malpractice Insurance Working Group
        • Moral Character Working Group
        • Rules Commission 2017
        • Task Force on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services
      • Staff
      • State Bar Holidays
    • News
      • Fact Sheets
      • Reports
      • Multimedia
      • California Bar Journal Archive
    • Careers
      • Make a Difference
      • Develop and Grow
      • Benefits
      • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • View All Job Listings
      • Salary
    • Business Opportunities
      • Previous Opportunities
  • Attorneys
    • For Attorneys
      • About Your State Bar Profile
        • Fees & Payment
          • Agency Billing
          • Annual Fees FAQs
          • Voluntary Contributions
          • Fees and Charges
        • Status Changes
        • Address Change
        • Reporting Requirements
        • Certificates of Standing
      • Fingerprinting Rule Requirements
        • For In-State Attorneys
        • For Out-of-State Attorneys
        • For Out-of-Country Attorneys
        • FAQ
        • Limited Accommodations
        • Glossary
      • Lawyer Assistance Program
        • LAP Support Services for Attorneys
          • LAP Resources for Attorneys
        • LAP Support Services for Law Students and Applicants
          • LAP Resources for Students
        • Monitored LAP
        • LAP FAQ
      • Mandatory Fee Arbitration
        • Approved Programs
        • Forms & Resources
        • Arbitration Advisories
        • Training Course
      • Opening and Managing Law Office
        • Insurance Programs
        • Limited Liability Partnerships
          • Forms
          • Rules
        • Law Corporations Program
          • Forms
          • Rules
        • Revoking Law Corporation
      • For Judges
      • FAQ
    • MCLE & CLE
      • Requirements
        • Types of MCLE Credit
        • Proportional Requirement
        • MCLE Recordkeeping
        • Attorney Exemptions
        • Attorney Exemptions FAQ
        • Approved Jurisdictions
        • Education Approval
          • Evaluate Credit
          • MCLE Credit Request
        • New Admittees
        • Inactive or Not Eligible Status
        • Out-of-State Residents
        • Good Cause Modification
      • Compliance
        • Who Must Report Compliance
        • Compliance Groups
        • Audit FAQ
      • New Attorney Training Program
      • E-Learning Portal
      • MCLE Providers
        • Single Activity Providers
        • Multiple Activity Providers
        • Provider Responsibilities
        • MCLE Activity Approval
        • Provider Search
        • ADA
      • MCLE Self-Study
        • MCLE Self-Study FAQs
      • CLE
        • CLE Self-Study
      • Rules
        • Rules Specific MCLE Credits
      • FAQ
    • Conduct & Discipline
      • Lawyer Regulation
      • Self-Reporting FAQ
      • State Bar Court
      • Client Trust Accounting & IOLTA
        • Client Trust Accounting Handbook
        • Client Trust Accounting Resources
        • Client Trust Account Protection Program
        • Client Trust Accounts and Bank Stability Concerns
        • CTAPP FAQ
        • CTAPP Training
        • Client Trust Account and IOLTA Registration
        • IOLTA Guidelines for Attorneys
        • IOLTA FAQ
        • IOLTA-Eligible Banks
        • Interest Rates
      • Rules
        • Rules of the State Bar
          • Title 1 Global Provisions
          • Title 2 Rights and Responsibilities of Licensees
          • Title 3 Programs and Services
          • Title 4 Admissions and Educational Standards
          • Title 5 Discipline
          • Title 6 Governance
          • Title 7 JNE and Miscellaneous
          • Appendixes
          • New and Amended Rules
        • Rules of Professional Conduct
          • Current Rules
            • Chapter 1. Lawyer-Client Relationship
            • Chapter 2. Counselor
            • Chapter 3. Advocate
            • Chapter 4. Transactions with Persons Other than Clients
            • Chapter 5. Law Firms and Associations
            • Chapter 6. Public Service
            • Chapter 7. Information About Legal Services
            • Chapter 8. Maintaining the Integrity of the Profession
          • Previous Rules
        • Selected Legal Authority
          • Constitution Excerpts
          • The State Bar Act
          • California Rules of Court
          • Statutes
      • Ethics
        • Hotline
        • Rule 8.3 Required Reporting
        • Opinions
          • 2009-176 to Present
          • 1998-152 to 2008-175
          • 1992-126 to 1997-151
          • 1988-96 to 1991-125
          • 1984-76 to 1987-95
          • 1979-48 to 1983-75
          • 1971-24 to 1977-47
          • 1965-1 to 1970-23
        • Rules Spotlight Videos
        • Ethics Schools
          • Class Schedule
          • Ethics School FAQ
        • Ethics & Technology Resources
          • Ethics Opinions Related to Technology
          • Ethics Articles on Technology
          • Online Participatory MCLE Programs
          • Online Communication
          • Electronic Files
          • Law Firm Websites
          • Social Media
          • Internet/Email Scams
          • Miscellaneous
        • Senior Lawyers Resources
          • Rules
          • Opinions
          • Publications
            • Wellness Guide
          • Articles
          • MCLE
          • Links
          • Closing a Law Practice
          • Contact Us
          • Attorney Surrogacy
        • ADA Claims Information
        • Judicial Ethics
        • Attorney Civility and Professionalism
        • Publications
          • Ethics News
          • Ethics News Archive
          • Hotliner Articles
            • Archives
          • Pub 250
          • Compendium on Professional Responsibility Index
        • Committees
          • COPRAC
            • Education
              • Ethics Symposium
            • Opinion Requests
            • Rules
            • Roster
          • Rules Revision
            • Rules Commission 2014
              • Action Summaries
              • Meetings
              • Roster
    • Ethics
    • Legal Specialization
      • About Certified Specialization
      • Becoming a Certified Specialist
        • Exam Information
          • Exam Preparation Information
          • Laptop Computers
          • Testing Accommodations
          • Refund of Fees Policy
      • Current Certified Specialists
      • Legal Specialty Areas
      • Specialist Search
      • MCLE Requirements for Certified Specialists
      • Education Providers
      • Governance
        • Board of Legal Specialization
          • Roster
        • Privacy Law Group
      • FAQ
      • Rules & Standards
        • Advertising
    • Volunteer
      • Special Master
        • FAQ
        • Rules
        • List
  • Admissions
    • Requirements
      • Registration
      • Education
        • Pre-Legal Education
          • College Equivalency Education
        • Legal Education
          • Fixed Facility
          • Correspondence or Distance Learning
          • Law Office or Judge's Chamber
          • Foreign Education
            • Foreign Law Degree
      • Social Security Exemption
      • Attorney Applicants
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Examinations
      • Dates and Deadlines
      • California Bar Examination
        • July 2023 California Bar Exam
        • Bar Exam Emails
          • Safelisting Tips for Email
        • Laptops for Bar Exam
        • July 2023 Bar Exam FAQs
        • Instructions for Essay Questions and Performance Test
        • July 2023 Admittance Ticket Bulletin
        • Testing Centers
        • Hotel Information
        • California Bar Examination Scope
        • Exam Results
          • Bar Exam Pass List
        • Past Exams
        • Grading
        • Scaling
        • Refund of Fees Policy
        • Virtual Oath Packet
        • Attorney's Oath
      • First-Year Law Students' Examination
        • October 2023 First-Year Exam
        • October 2023 First-Year Exam FAQs
        • Admittance Bulletin
        • Exam Results
        • First-Year Exam Grading and Scope
      • Exam Administration
        • Becoming a Grader
        • Becoming a Proctor
      • Exam Statistics
      • Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination
      • Requesting Testing Accommodations
      • Lawyer Assistance Program Support Services for Law Students and Applicants
    • Moral Character
      • Moral Character Statement
      • Governing Law
      • Process
      • Factors and Conduct
      • Further Investigation and Informal Conferences
      • Guidelines
    • Special Admissions
      • Multijurisdictional Practice (MJP) Program
        • MJP Program Requirements and Process
        • MJP Program Types
      • Pro Hac Vice
      • Out-of-State Attorney Arbitration Counsel (OSAAC)
      • Foreign Legal Consultants (FLC)
        • FAQ
        • Foreign Legal Consultants List
      • Practical Training of Law Students
      • Provisionally Licensed Lawyers
        • Search
    • Law School Regulation
      • Law Schools
      • Committee of Bar Examiners Meetings
        • Minutes
        • Minutes Archive
        • Roster
  • Access to Justice
    • Initiatives
      • California Justice Gap Study
        • Justice Gap Study Survey Data
        • California Law Student Survey Data
      • Publications
      • Leadership Banks
    • Pro Bono
      • Pro Bono Directory
        • Central Coast and Eastern Sierra
        • Central Valley Area
        • Los Angeles Area
        • Sacramento and Northern California
        • San Diego and Imperial Valley
        • San Francisco Area
        • Statewide
      • Pro Bono Practice Program
      • Volunteer After a Disaster
      • Volunteer Opportunities to Assist Veterans and Service Members
      • FAQ
    • Grants
      • Legal Aid Funding
      • Justice Gap Fund
      • 2023 Grant Recipients
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Lawyer Referral Services
    • Financial Institutions
      • IOLTA-Eligible Financial Institutions
  • Examinations
    • Dates and Deadlines
    • California Bar Examination
    • First-Year Law Students' Examination
    • Exam Administration
    • Exam Statistics
    • Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination
    • Requesting Testing Accommodations
    • Lawyer Assistance Program Support Services for Law Students and Applicants
Seal of The State Bar of California The State Bar of California

Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Share with Email

To practice law in California, applicants must not only pass the California Bar Examination, they must also pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).

Developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), the MPRE is a 60-item (50 scored questions and 10 nonscored pretest questions), two-hour multiple-choice examination administered three times each year at established test centers across the country. (Title 4, Division 1, Chapter 5 of the Rules of the State Bar of California)  

More information regarding the examination, including states for administration and applying to take the examination, is on the NCBE's website.

After registering, applicants may take the MPRE anytime after completing their first year of law school. Applicants can register with the State Bar.

There are no time limits for taking the MPRE in connection with an applicant's qualification for admission to practice law in California, although the requirement must be satisfied before a motion is made to the Supreme Court of California to seek certification of eligibility to practice law in California. Applicants must achieve a minimum scaled score of 86 to be considered as having passed the MPRE. 

It is necessary for applicants to request that their scores be reported or transferred to California. Simply being a California applicant or resident will not cause this to occur.

To avoid any delays in applying to practice law if applicants are successful on the California Bar Examination, the State Bar recommends completing the following beforehand:

  1. Register before taking the MPRE
     
  2. Check to see that the correct registration number is included on the MPRE application form
     
  3. Request that the score be reported to California. This can be done in one of three ways:
    a. If the exam was taken in 1999 or after, make a request to the NCBE that scores be transferred to California.
    b. If the exam was taken before 1999, provide verification from the jurisdiction in which the applicant was admitted that they received an MPRE scaled score of 86 or better.
    c. If the exam was taken before 1999, provide a copy of the MPRE score that confirms a score of 86 or better along with a signed statement verifying under penalty of perjury that the applicant's report is accurate.
     
  4. Achieve a minimum scaled score at least three months prior to the release of results from the California Bar Examination

All questions concerning application materials, the administration, processing and/or grading of this examination should be directed to the NCBE.
 

Related Links

Register on the State Bar website

Bar Seal
Protecting the public & enhancing the administration of justice.
  • Public
  • About Us
  • Attorneys
  • Admissions
  • Access to Justice
  • News
  • Forms
  • Careers
  • Staff Log in
  • San Francisco (Main Office)
    180 Howard St.
    San Francisco, CA 94105
    415-538-2000
  • Los Angeles
    845 S. Figueroa St.
    Los Angeles, CA 90017
    213-765-1000
Copyright © 2023 The State Bar of California
  • FAQ
  • User Policies
  • Contact
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn