General Admission Information
| Mailing Address: | U.S. Postal Service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32399-1750 |
FED EX or other delivery service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32308-4537 |
| Fax Number: | (850) 414-6822 | All normal long distance charges may apply. |
| Telephone Number: | (850) 487-1292 | Telephones are answered Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. |
| Driving Directions: | The board’s office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is located in the Tippin-Moore Building at 1891 Eider Court in Tallahassee, Florida. From I-10 take Exit 203-Tallahassee/Thomasville. You will exit onto Thomasville Road (US 319). From Thomasville Road drive east on Capital Circle NE, approximately 2.5 miles. Once you cross the intersection at Centerville Road, you will turn left at the first traffic light onto Capital Medical Boulevard. You will pass Capital Regional Medical Center on your left. Eider Court will be the second street on your left after you pass the hospital’s emergency entrance. The board’s office building is on the right after you make the turn. Public parking for the board’s office is across the street from the front entrance to the building (turn left into the lot before the curve). |
| The Bar Application is available on this website. The board requires completion of the application online. Use the checklists to ensure that the application is complete and that you meet all filing requirements at the time you submit your application. Supporting Forms are available for printing on this website (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader). |
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The Florida Board of Bar Examiners now requires all applicants to be fingerprinted electronically by Integrated Biometric Technology LLC (IBT). IBT has 32 locations across the State of Florida.
You must arrange to be fingerprinted prior to submitting your Bar Application, Student Registration, or CLI Registration. Processing of the application or registration cannot begin until the board has received confirmation (either a receipt provided by you or notification directly from IBT) that your fingerprints have been taken or scanned. The fee to have your fingerprints processed by IBT is $59.25. If you live in Florida, please go to Integrated Biometric Technology. Follow the instructions found there in order to schedule an appointment to be fingerprinted and to pay the required fee. In order to take a bar examination, you must be fingerprinted by Integrated Biometric Technology on or before that examination's filing deadline. If you live outside of Florida:
IMPORTANT: You must submit your Bar Application, Student Registration, or CLI Registration within one year of being fingerprinted. Failure to do so will result in having to be re-fingerprinted at your expense. |
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In compliance with the federal Privacy Act of 1974, disclosure of your Social Security number is mandatory as authorized by provisions of rules 1-63.8, 3-14.1, 3-14.2, and 4-41 of the Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to Admission to the Bar. The board uses a Social Security number to verify the identity of an individual. Your Social Security number may be furnished to the following agencies and individuals during the processing of your Bar Application including the board's background investigation into your character and fitness for membership in The Florida Bar: credit reporting agencies, personal creditors, past and present employers, financial institutions, educational institutions, medical and health practitioners, medical and health facilities, law enforcement agencies; federal, state, and local government agencies; the National Conference of Bar Examiners, The Florida Bar, foreign bar admitting agencies, and foreign bar associations. |
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Yes, all applicants are required to document their citizenship or immigration status.
U.S. citizen:
U.S. citizen via naturalization:
Not a citizen of the United States:
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| To be considered timely filed, first-time applicants are required to file the Bar Application, and registrants are required to file the Supplement to Bar Application and the Re-Examination/Conversion Application, by the filing deadline (Florida Bar Examination Information). If you miss the timely filing deadline, you can still apply for the examination by submitting the appropriate late filing fee with your completed application(s). Though you can wait until the filing deadlines to submit your application(s), the sooner you initiate the process, the sooner the investigation can begin and the better the chance that the investigation will be complete at the time the examination results are released. Your quick response to requests for incomplete or additional information will assist in the prompt completion of the investigation. |
| Yes, first-year law students are encouraged to register with the board during their first year of law school. In addition to the early start of the investigative process, student registrants are afforded a significant savings on the application fees. Rule 2-23.1 provides for discounted registration fees if your Registrant Bar Application is postmarked or received by the deadlines outlined below: |
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Student Registrant deadlines (for discounted fees) are dates based on law school start dates, and are the same for all law schools. |
| Law School Start Date | $100 Filing Deadline | $350 Filing Deadline | ||
| August/September | the following January 15 | the following March 15 | ||
| January/February | the following June 15 | the following August 15 | ||
| May/June | the following October 15 | the following December 15 |
All student registrations postmarked after March 15, August 15, or December 15 (whichever is applicable) require the full registration fee of $400. While there is no dollar savings at this point, student registrants still gain the advantage of early investigative steps already conducted when they convert in their third year. Students registering early in law school are required to convert their registration into a regular application during their third year of law school, at which time the $600 converter fee is due.
Checks should be made payable to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. The board does not accept payment by credit card.
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Rule 11-1.3(a) of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar requires that law students register with the Florida Board of Bar Examiners and receive registrant clearance as one of the eligibility requirements for participating in the Certified Legal Internship (CLI) program for law school practice. There are two ways to obtain CLI clearance:
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| The cost of filing a Bar Application is covered by one fee that is determined by your status as set forth in rule 2-23.2 through 2-29. |
| $600 | For law students who filed an early registration and are now converting to a regular applicant and plan to take the Bar Examination |
| $1000 | For law students who did not file an early registration, for persons who have not been admitted, or for persons who have been admitted for less than one year |
| $1600 | For attorneys admitted more than 1 but less than 5 years |
| $2000 | For attorneys admitted more than 5 but less than 10 years |
| $2400 | For attorneys admitted more than 10 but less than 15 years |
| $3000 | For attorneys admitted 15 years or more |
| There is no reciprocity between Florida and any other jurisdiction. Submission to the Florida Bar Examination is required of all applicants. |
| Under rule 3-22.5(b), Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to The Bar, the board will make the determination that a Consent Agreement be entered into with an applicant in lieu of the filing of Specifications pertaining to drug, alcohol, or psychological problems. Admission to The Florida Bar under the terms of a conditional admission is confidential. |
Any applicant attempting to provide documentation of sobriety through FLA or similar program must fully comply with the program contract, including strict adherence to the random drug test procedure, no missed daily log-ins, no missed or positive tests, and compliance with the meeting and monitoring requirements as outlined in the contract.
Documentation of the period of sobriety starts upon execution of a FLA or similar contract or the last date of noncompliance with the contract; whichever is most recent.
Acceptable Documentation of Sobriety
The board requires applicants to demonstrate a reasonable period of sobriety (abstinence) prior to conditional admission. Six months is presumed to be reasonable. Documentation of sobriety is made through verification of completion of a treatment program that includes random testing through records documenting compliance with a FLA contract.
To document a period of sobriety prior to admission:
Mental Health
The Florida Board of Bar Examiners must assess effectively the mental health of each applicant. A lawyer's untreated or uncontrolled mental disorder, if severe, could result in injury to the public. The board assures each applicant that the Supreme Court, on the board's recommendation, regularly admits applicants with a history of both mental ill-health and treatment by mental health professionals. The board considers satisfactory mental health to include: (1) the current absence of an untreated, uncontrolled mental illness that impairs or limits an applicant's ability to practice law in a competent and professional manner; and (2) the unlikelihood of a relapse of such a prior mental illness. With respect to either, evidence of treatment by a mental health professional is useful. The board encourages applicants to seek the assistance of mental health professionals, if needed.
Consent Agreement
In a Consent Agreement, the board is authorized to recommend to the Supreme Court of Florida the admission of the applicant who has agreed to abide by specified terms and conditions on admission to The Florida Bar. The conditions will include:
For further information relating to conditional admission requirements, refer to the Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to The Bar.
| Florida does not accept MBE scores from other jurisdictions. See rule 4-23.1. |
| You may request that your Florida Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) score be transferred to another jurisdiction. Score transfers are not available for scores that are more than 7 years old. For information regarding the score transfer process and fees, as well as score transfer forms, visit the NCBE website. |
| Certain items relative to your Bar Application may be faxed to the board’s office. For items that require notarization, be sure to fax the page containing the notary information. The fax number is (850) 414-6822; all normal long distance charges may apply. Following are lists of items that may and may not be faxed to the board: |
| Documents Accepted by Fax | Documents NOT Accepted by Fax | |
 Amendments |  Bar Application | |
| Change of Address | Supplement to Registrant Bar Application | |
| Correspondence | Bar Re-examination/Conversion Application | |
| Affidavit of Compliance | Authorization & Release | |
| Financial Affidavit | Special Releases | |
| Form DD-214 | Photo | |
| Litigation | Checks | |
| Petitions | Certificate of Dean | |
| ADA Accommodation Forms | Certificates of Good Standing (COGS) | |
| Oath of Attorney | Transcripts | |
| Confirmation of IBT fingerprinting | Answer to Specifications | |
| Applicant’s Formal Hearing Exhibits | ||
| Consent Agreement |
Providing duplicate material by both fax and regular or overnight mail causes double handling of the same correspondence. This duplication increases costs and will delay acknowledgement of your correspondence. Increased costs will eventually increase applicant fees. Please utilize only one method of communication (fax or mail) per submission. If time is of the essence, fax your response; however, if an original document is required to be received by a deadline, faxing a copy of the document will not be considered as having met the deadline.
| File numbers are assigned based on each applicant's filing profile: student registrant or applicant. Applicant file numbers that are all numeric are permanent and will not change. File numbers that include a 'B' is the designation for a student registrant that will change when the registrant files the Supplement to Registrant Bar Application in the third year of law school. |
| The Florida Board of Bar Examiners has a long history of providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with documented disabilities, well before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. |
Bar Application Process - If you need an accommodation because of a disability to participate in the Bar Application process, please notify the Executive Director of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. The board does not assess a surcharge on a particular bar applicant with a disability or any group of bar applicants with disabilities to cover the costs of providing reasonable accommodations.
General Bar Examination Accommodations - Testing accommodations forms are available in PDF format for printing. Refer to rule 4-17 for additional information. The applicable items specified in the Petition Checklist must be completed and postmarked or received by the board on or before the filing deadline of the examination you plan to take.
Applicants with disabilities are entitled to, and have the responsibility to meet, the same deadline to apply as individuals without disabilities. As some of the forms require input from third parties, it is suggested that you request the appropriate individuals to complete the forms well in advance of the deadline for filing the petition for test accommodations, so that late filing fees are not incurred.
A timely petition requesting an accommodation for the February administration of the General Bar Examination must be postmarked or received not later than November 15 prior to the examination.
A timely petition requesting an accommodation for the July administration of the General Bar Examination must be postmarked or received not later than May 1 prior to the examination.
Applicants seeking to file an untimely petition will be permitted to do so on payment of a late fee as specified under rule 4-43. Petitions postmarked after January 15 for the February examination and after June 15 for the July examination will not be accepted due to the time required to process a petition and accompanying documentation for review by the board, to reach a determination on the petition and to make necessary arrangements at the examination site.
| Persons who have been disbarred from the practice of law or who have resigned pending disciplinary proceedings will not be eligible to apply in Florida until a period of 5 years from the date of disbarment or 3 years from the date of resignation or such longer period as is set for readmission by the jurisdictional authority and except on proof of payment of any restitution and disciplinary costs imposed by a court in its order of disbarment or resignation. See rule 2-13.1 and rule 2-13.25. |
Specific questions regarding eligibility should be sent to the board.
| U.S. Postal Service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32399-1750 |
FED EX or other delivery service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32308 |
| Persons who have been suspended for disciplinary reasons from the practice of law in a foreign jurisdiction will not be eligible to apply in Florida until expiration of the period of suspension and except on proof of payment of any restitution and disciplinary costs imposed by a court in its order of suspension. See rule 2-13.2 and rule 2-13.25. |
Specific questions regarding eligibility should be sent to the board.
| U.S. Postal Service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32399-1750 |
FED EX or other delivery service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32308 |
| Persons who have been convicted of a felony will not be eligible to apply in Florida until the person's civil rights have been restored. See rule 2-13.3. |
A person who is serving a sentence of felony probation, regardless of adjudication of guilt, will not be eligible to apply until termination of the period of probation. See rule 2-13.4.
Specific questions regarding eligibility should be sent to the board.
| U.S. Postal Service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32399-1750 |
FED EX or other delivery service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32308 |
| Applicants who have been refused a favorable recommendation through the filing of Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law that have not been reversed by the Supreme Court of Florida will not be eligible to seek admission to The Florida Bar until 2 years after the date that the board delivered its adverse findings, or such other period as may be set in the Findings. See rule 2-13.5. |
Specific questions regarding eligibility should be sent to the board.
| U.S. Postal Service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32399-1750 |
FED EX or other delivery service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32308 |
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Effective December 10, 2009
Rules 3-22.5, 3-23.6, and 5-15 - Require residence in the state of Florida for any conditional admission period. Effective July 1, 2010 Rules 1-63.5, 2-23.1, 2-23.2, 2-23.3, 2-23.4, 2-23.6, 2-28, 2-29, 2-30.1, 3-14.3, 3-30, 4-43.1, 4-43.2, 4-45, 4-47.1, 4-47.2, 4-48, and 5-13.2 - On July 1, 2010, the Supreme Court of Florida issued an order (PDF - 95k) changing fees associated with the bar admission process. Effective October 1, 2010 Rules 3-22.1, 3-22.3, 3-23.3, 3-23.5 - On July 1, 2010, the Supreme Court of Florida issued an order (PDF - 95k) changing fees associated with the investigative and formal hearing process. |
| In the case of Florida Board of Bar Examiners re G.W.L., 364 So. 2d 454 (Fla. 1978), the Supreme Court of Florida concluded that good moral character should not be restricted to acts involving moral turpitude. Such a restricted definition "would not sufficiently protect the public interest." After observing that "the unscrupulous attorney... [has] frequent opportunities to defraud the client or obstruct the judicial process," the Supreme Court of Florida held that the appropriate standard of inquiry into good moral character should emphasize "honesty, fairness, and respect for the rights of others." The Court also recognized "that the standard of conduct required of an applicant for admission to the bar must have a rational connection to the applicant's fitness to practice law." |
To further assist bar applicants and to provide guidance to the current and future members of the board, the Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to the Bar contain provisions addressing the following subjects:
To obtain information regarding specific character problems, you can review published decisions of the Supreme Court of Florida. These cases are titled "Florida Board of Bar Examiners re" followed by a bar applicant's name or initials. For example, Florida Board of Bar Examiners re R.L.W., 793 So.2d 918 (Fla. 2001); Florida Board of Bar Examiners re J.H.K., 581 So.2d 37 (Fla. 1991); Florida Board of Bar Examiners re Kwasnik, 508 So.2d 338 (Fla. 1987). These cases are easily accessed by any computerized legal research service.
| Pursuant to rule 3-11 a record manifesting a lack of honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability may constitute a basis for denial of admission. Any of the following may be considered by the board to be a basis for further inquiry before recommending admission: |
| As required by rule 3-12, the board will use the following factors in assigning weight and significance to prior conduct: |
| After completing its background investigation of a bar applicant, which may include the applicant's appearance at an investigative hearing, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners can do one of the following: |
| Applicants have an obligation to keep all responses to the Bar Application current and complete (including but not limited to new employment, change of address, arrests, or traffic citations) until execution of the Oath of Attorney. Changes should be reported to the board by notarized amendment form. An amendment is considered timely if made as soon as possible but not later than 30 days after any occurrence that changes or renders incomplete any answer to any question on the Bar Application. |
| A copy of the Bar Application is no longer available if you have been admitted for more than five years. If your application is pending, the first copy is provided at no cost on written request. If you have been admitted for less than five years, or if you are requesting additional copies, a $50 fee will be required. Submit your written request including your name, any other name(s) by which you have been known, your date of birth, and your Social Security number to: |
| U.S. Postal Service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32399-1750 |
FED EX or other delivery service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32308 |
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When the board receives your complete Bar Application, including all supporting documents, that date is assigned as your file date and processing of your background investigation begins. Your file date appears in the upper right corner of the board’s correspondence to you, along with your file number.
You will receive routine status letters that request clarification, information, or supporting documentation, and acknowledge items received from you. These letters will specify “no outstanding requests at this time” if there are none, or when you have satisfied all previous requests. Information you provide must often be confirmed with outside sources, which consumes additional time. Status advice will not be provided beyond these routine status letters during the first six months of processing. If your file date is older than six months, you may request in writing a detailed status report. Do not call the board’s office to ask the status of your file. Specific file information is confidential in nature and communicated to applicants in writing only. Files are moved along the processing track systematically based on file date. Applicants can assist in completing the investigative process by registering as a student, filing as early as possible, submitting a complete application, and responding to the board’s requests in a timely manner. While sympathetic to dire and unusual personal circumstances, the board does not make exceptions in the processing order of files.
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| No. All amendments, faxes, and documents you submit are acknowledged in writing by regular mail. The board’s goal is to communicate accurately and completely as soon as possible after receipt of materials. In acknowledging receipt of your application materials, you will also be advised of items that remain outstanding. Staff will not confirm receipt of materials by telephone as this can compromise the confidentiality of the application process. Additionally, telephone calls seeking confirmation of materials do not accelerate processing of your application and can lead to delays in responding to both receipt of the materials and receipt of a telephone inquiry. |
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Yes. Each application can be completed using a screen reader. Although most screen readers allow users to navigate directly to and between form fields, it is highly suggested that you read each form prior to and after completion.
After completion, you will be required to finalize each application. Once finalized you are required to print the final documents, have each notarized, and mail the notarized applications to the board’s office with the applicable fee. |
| The Florida Bar Examination consists of the General Bar Examination and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). |
See Florida Bar Examination Information and rule 4-14.
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Educational Requirements The Florida Bar Examination consists of the General Bar Examination (Parts A and B) and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). The educational requirements for the General Bar Examination are different from those required of the MPRE. |
Specific questions regarding eligibility should be sent to the board.
| U.S. Postal Service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32399-1750 |
FED EX or other delivery service: 1891 Eider Court Tallahassee, FL 32308 |
| Pursuant to rule 4-40 through 4-48, each applicant desiring to take the General Bar Examination for the first time must submit to the board either the complete Bar Application or, in the case of law student registrants and repeat takers, the Re-Examination/Conversion Application, the appropriate applicant filing fee, a current 2” x 2” photograph, and proof that fingerprints have been taken by, or mailed to, IBT. |
Florida Bar Examination Filing Deadlines - Bar Applications and Re-Examination/Conversion Applications not filed timely will be accepted; however, the appropriate late filing fee must be submitted with the application. The following table shows the filing deadlines and late filing fees for each examination.
| Late Fee | Determined by | February Exam | July Exam | |||
| Timely | Postmarked on or before | November 15 | May 1 | |||
| $325 | Postmarked on or before | December 15 | June 1 | |||
| $625 | Postmarked on or before | January 15 | June 15 |
Initial applications postmarked after January 15 for the February examination or after June 15 for the July examination will not be accepted. Any application filing requirements completed subsequent to those dates, regardless of the date the initial application was filed, will not be considered to have met the late filing deadline and will not be accepted.
| Examination Date | Apply With The Board By | Register And Qualify With ExamSoft | ||
| February | January 1 | November 15 through January 15 | ||
| July | June 1 | May 1 through June 15 |
| Examinees are required to have an official photo badge, which is given to you at the examination site. Black pens, pencils, and scratch paper (when permitted) will be provided at your desk position. Only a jacket, money, keys, and a picture ID are authorized to be taken into the examination room. Laptop computers are permitted only if the examinee has registered and qualified through ExamSoft® prior to the examination. |
Video surveillance and metal detectors are employed to support these restrictions. The following items are not permitted in the examination room:
| To be admitted to the examination without delay, do not bring any prohibited items to the Convention Center including cellular telephones, pagers, etc. If you do bring prohibited items to the Convention Center, you must pay the Tampa Convention Center $2 per item per day for storage in a designated area of the Tampa Convention Center. Additionally, to avoid delays we suggest that you also refrain from wearing jewelry, belts, and other items that may set off the metal detectors. Your best solution is to leave items not permitted in the examination room at home, in your hotel room safe, or locked in your car. |
| No, once you enter the examination room, you will not be permitted to leave until you complete that session of the examination and turn in your papers. Water fountains and restrooms are located inside the examination room to provide examinees easy access during the examination. |
| You should submit a Notice of Medical Alert. The document must be completed and submitted to the board's office 2 weeks in advance of the examination. If your request is approved, a letter of authorization will be provided for you to gain entry into the examination room. A new notice is required for each administration of the examination that you attend. |
| The Florida Bar Examination consists of the General Bar Examination and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). |
All applicants for admission in Florida must submit to the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. The MPRE is administered in March, August, and November at various locations around the country. You may take the MPRE in Florida or any other state and must request that the results be forwarded to Florida directly from the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).
MPRE scores are acceptable under the following conditions:
The MPRE may be taken prior to graduation from law school. For information about examination dates, deadlines, examination sites, online registration for the MPRE and MPRE score transfer, visit the NCBE website.
| Refer to our list of hotels within 10 miles of the Tampa Convention Center that have requested to be listed on this site. |
| Enroll in courses that will assist you in preparing for the examination. The bar examination covers subjects selected from the following: Florida Constitutional Law, Florida Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration (Rules 2.051, 2.060, and 2.160), Federal Constitutional Law, Chapters 4&5 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Business Entities including Corporations & Partnerships, Wills & Administration of Estates, Contracts, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Real Property, Torts, and Trusts. To the extent these courses are not required by your law school, consult this list when registering for elective credit hours. |
| Study guides are published for the Florida-prepared portion (Part A), the Multistate Bar Examination (Part B) of the General Bar Examination, and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). |
The study guide for Part A includes essay questions from two previous administrations, sample answers to the essay questions, and sample multiple-choice questions. The Study Guide is available in PDF format at no cost on this website.
An MBE (Part B) Information Booklet is available on the NCBE website.
An MPRE Information Booklet is available at no cost on the NCBE website.
| The board does not maintain or disseminate any information regarding bar review courses. |
| A Virtual Tour is available on this website to familiarize applicants with the Florida Bar Examination experience. You may review this resource for detailed information on logistics, set-up, rules, and procedures in place during the test administration. |
| When the Supreme Court of Florida releases the General Bar Examination results, the Supreme Court posts the results on the Supreme Court’s website for 30 days. |
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Yes. Pursuant to rule 4-46 and rule 4-47, you may postpone for any reason from any General Bar Examination for which you have been issued a ticket. To do so, you must complete and fax or mail the Notice of Postponement prior to the commencement of the administration of the bar examination. Your previously paid application fee will be applied to the next bar examination for which you apply; however, you will incur a postponement fee.
The fee to postpone from the General Bar Examination is determined by the date of receipt in the board’s office of your Notice of Postponement ($100 if received at least 7 days before the commencement of the administration of the examination, or $200 if received prior to but less than 7 days before the commencement of the administration of the examination). If written notification is not received prior to the commencement of the examination, or not provided at all, the fee to take a subsequent examination will be $450 pursuant to rule 4-48. Note: If you applied to take both Part A and Part B, but have decided to take one part only, do not submit the Notice of Postponement (so that you retain a seat for the part you do take). Understand that you will be required to pay the $450 re-examination fee to apply to take any part of the examination at a future date. |