North Carolina Bar Reciprocity

North Carolina’s Admission on Motion: Years of Practice and Qualifying Practice

Requirement	North Carolina
Admission on Motion	Yes
Practice Requirement	4 of the past 6 years
Admission on Motion Fee	$2,000
Is the MPRE required?	Yes, minimum score of 80

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

What Work May Qualify as Practice in North Carolina?

Law teaching
Government agency
Military
In-house corporate
Judicial court of record
North Carolina requires applicants to have been actively and substantially engaged in the practice of law as their principal means of livelihood for at least 48 months during the 6 years immediately before applying.

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

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

AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, 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 North Carolina?

Yes. North Carolina currently recognizes these jurisdictions as reciprocal:

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

Other North Carolina Admission on Motion Requirements

Must I have graduated from an ABA-approved law school? No
Is North Carolina admission on motion based on reciprocity? Yes
Are attorneys admitted by diploma privilege eligible? Yes
Must I be in good standing? Yes
Is character and fitness review required? Yes

North Carolina UBE Score Transfer Requirements

North Carolina accepts qualifying Legacy UBE and NextGen UBE scores earned in other jurisdictions. This pathway is separate from the 4-of-6-year admission-on-motion pathway.

Requirement	North Carolina
UBE Score Transfer	Yes
Minimum Legacy UBE Score	270
Maximum UBE Score Age	3 years
NextGen UBE	First accepted for transfer in July 2026; North Carolina first administers the NextGen UBE in July 2028
Minimum NextGen Score	620

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my UBE score to North Carolina?

Yes. North Carolina accepts qualifying Legacy UBE scores of at least 270 and NextGen UBE scores of at least 620. A transferred score cannot be more than 3 years old.

Can I waive into the North Carolina Bar?

Yes. Qualified attorneys may seek admission by comity after practicing law for at least 4 of the past 6 years in a reciprocal jurisdiction and meeting North Carolina’s other admission requirements.

Does North Carolina require reciprocity for admission on motion?

Yes. North Carolina’s admission-on-motion pathway is based on comity. Applicants must be licensed in a jurisdiction that provides comparable admission without examination to North Carolina attorneys.