Pennsylvania Bar Reciprocity

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

Requirement	Pennsylvania
Admission on Motion	Yes
Practice Requirement	5 of the past 7 years
Admission on Motion Fee	$1,325
Is the MPRE required?	Yes, minimum score of 75

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

What Work May Qualify as Practice in Pennsylvania?

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

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

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

AL, 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, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

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

Yes. Pennsylvania currently recognizes these jurisdictions as reciprocal:

AL, 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, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

Other Pennsylvania Admission on Motion Requirements

Must I have graduated from an ABA-approved law school? Yes
Is Pennsylvania 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

Pennsylvania UBE Score Transfer Requirements

Pennsylvania 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	Pennsylvania
UBE Score Transfer	Yes
Minimum Legacy UBE Score	270
Maximum UBE Score Age	30 months
NextGen UBE	First accepted July 2026 NextGen scores for transfer in September 2026; Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?

Yes. Pennsylvania accepts qualifying Legacy UBE scores of at least 270 and NextGen UBE scores of at least 620. A transferred score cannot be more than 30 months old.

Can I waive into the Pennsylvania Bar?

Yes. Qualified attorneys may seek admission by reciprocity after practicing law for at least 5 of the past 7 years and meeting Pennsylvania’s other admission requirements.

Does Pennsylvania require reciprocity for admission on motion?

Yes. Pennsylvania’s admission-on-motion pathway is based on reciprocity. Applicants must be active members of a jurisdiction that Pennsylvania recognizes as reciprocal.