Virginia Bar Reciprocity

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

Requirement	Virginia
Admission on Motion	Yes
Practice Requirement	3 of the past 5 years
Admission on Motion Fee	$2,500
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 Virginia?

Private practice
Government agency
Active-duty judge advocate
In-house corporate
Judicial court of record
State or federal law clerk

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

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

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, 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, WA, WV, WI, WY

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

Yes. Virginia currently recognizes these jurisdictions as reciprocal:

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, 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, WA, WV, WI, WY

Other Virginia Admission on Motion Requirements

Must I have graduated from an ABA-approved law school? No
Is Virginia 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

Virginia UBE Score Transfer Requirements

Virginia does not accept transferred Legacy UBE scores. Virginia has adopted the NextGen UBE and will begin accepting transferred NextGen UBE scores when it first administers the exam in July 2028.

Requirement	Virginia
UBE Score Transfer	NextGen UBE only
Minimum Legacy UBE Score	Not accepted
Maximum UBE Score Age	TBA for NextGen transfers
NextGen UBE	First accepted for transfer in July 2028; Virginia first administers the NextGen UBE in July 2028
Minimum NextGen Score	TBA

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my UBE score to Virginia?

Virginia does not accept transferred Legacy UBE scores. Virginia will begin accepting NextGen UBE score transfers in July 2028, with the minimum qualifying score still to be announced.

Can I waive into the Virginia Bar?

Yes. Qualified attorneys may seek admission without examination after practicing law full-time for at least 3 of the past 5 years, provided they have been admitted for at least 5 years and meet Virginia’s reciprocity and other requirements.

Does Virginia require reciprocity for admission on motion?

Yes. Virginia’s admission-without-examination pathway is based on reciprocity. Applicants must be admitted in a jurisdiction that allows Virginia attorneys to obtain admission without taking a bar examination.