Iowa Bar Reciprocity

Iowa’s Admission on Motion: Years of Practice and Qualifying Practice

Requirement	Iowa
Admission on Motion	Yes
Practice Requirement	5 of the past 7 years
Admission on Motion Fee	$900 + C&F fee
Is the MPRE required?	No, for admission on motion

Note: Admission requirements vary by state. Review each state’s page for additional eligibility requirements and conditions.

What Work May Qualify as Practice in Iowa?

Law teaching
Government agency
Military
In-house corporate
Judicial court of record

I’m Licensed in Iowa: Where Can I Apply for Admission on Motion?

Attorneys licensed in Iowa may qualify to apply for admission on motion in:

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

Can Attorneys From Other States Apply for Admission on Motion in Iowa?

Yes. Attorneys licensed in any U.S. state may apply for Iowa admission on motion. It is not limited to attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions.

Other Iowa Admission on Motion Requirements

Must I have graduated from an ABA-approved law school? No
Is Iowa admission on motion based on reciprocity? No
Are attorneys admitted by diploma privilege eligible? Yes
Must I hold a current law license? Yes
Is character and fitness review required? Yes
Can I have recently failed the Iowa bar examination? No, applicants who failed the Iowa bar examination within the past 5 years are not eligible.

Iowa UBE Score Transfer Requirements

Iowa accepts qualifying Legacy UBE and NextGen UBE scores earned in other jurisdictions. This pathway is separate from the 5-of-7-year admission-on-motion pathway.

Requirement	Iowa
UBE Score Transfer	Yes
Minimum Legacy UBE Score	260 for exams after July 1, 2026; 266 for earlier exams
Maximum UBE Score Age	2 years; up to 5 years for qualifying attorney applicants
NextGen UBE	First accepted for transfer in July 2026; Iowa first administers the NextGen UBE in July 2027
Minimum NextGen Score	610

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my UBE score to Iowa?

Yes. Iowa accepts Legacy UBE scores of at least 260 from exams administered after July 1, 2026, while earlier Legacy UBE scores must be at least 266. Iowa also accepts NextGen UBE scores of at least 610.

Can I waive into the Iowa Bar?

Yes. Qualified attorneys may be admitted to the Iowa Bar without taking the bar examination if they have practiced law for at least 5 of the past 7 years and meet Iowa’s other admission requirements.

Does Iowa require reciprocity for admission on motion?

No. Iowa does not limit admission on motion to attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions.