Ohio Bar Reciprocity

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

Requirement	Ohio
Admission on Motion	Yes
Practice Requirement	5 of the past 7 years
Admission on Motion Fee	$1,500 + 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 Ohio?

Law teaching
Government agency
Military
In-house corporate
Judicial court of record
Ohio generally requires at least 1,000 hours of active legal practice per year for each year counted toward the 5-of-7-year requirement.

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

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

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

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

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

Other Ohio Admission on Motion Requirements

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

Ohio UBE Score Transfer Requirements

Ohio accepts qualifying Legacy UBE scores and will begin accepting qualifying NextGen UBE scores. This pathway is separate from the 5-of-7-year admission-on-motion pathway.

Requirement	Ohio
UBE Score Transfer	Yes
Minimum Legacy UBE Score	270
Maximum UBE Score Age	5 years
NextGen UBE	First accepted for transfer in November 2026; Ohio 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 Ohio?

Yes. Ohio accepts qualifying Legacy UBE scores of at least 270 earned within the past 5 years. Ohio will begin accepting transferred NextGen UBE scores of at least 620 in November 2026.

Can I waive into the Ohio Bar?

Yes. Qualified attorneys may seek admission without examination after practicing law for at least 5 of the past 7 years and meeting Ohio’s other admission requirements.

Does Ohio require reciprocity for admission on motion?

No. Ohio does not limit admission on motion to attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions. Attorneys licensed in any U.S. state may apply if they meet Ohio’s other requirements.