This section provides information about what to expect following the exam and outlines the remaining requirements for admission to the Bar after passing the exam.
Bar Exam Results and Statistics
Due to the number of persons taking the examination and the great care given to the grading process, examination results will not be known until 10-12 weeks after the bar examination. Generally, results for the Summer examination are released in the beginning of October, and for the Winter examination in the beginning of May. Results of the examination will be posted to your online admissions account (a Friday). Approximately 24 hours after the results are posted to individual accounts, the pass list will be posted on the WSBA website (a Saturday). Approximately 48 hours after that, the results will be released to the press and posted in the Bar office (a Monday).
If You Failed
Copies of Failed Bar Examination
An applicant may obtain a copy of the applicant's own failed examination by written request by including name, address, and signature sent to WSBA, Admissions Department, 1325 4th Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539.
Applicants may also obtain a copy of the applicant's own failed exam in person at the WSBA offices:
1325 4th Ave., Ste. 600
Seattle, WA 98101
Those who pass the bar examination are not allowed to see or receive a copy of their examination or learn their score.
Appeal of Bar Examination Results
Applicants whose scores fall within a set range can appeal. There is no appeal for those failing below this range. If an applicant qualifies for and files an appeal within the deadline, the applicant can request that up to six answers be reviewed for each portion (substantive and professional responsibility). The original score is not shown to the Appeals Committee examiners, and a grade may go up, down, or remain the same.
If You Passed
Listed below are the requirements for admission to the practice of law. Applicants must complete all of the requirements through the online admissions site. See the New Admittee Process Instructions.
Preadmission Education Program (PREP) Requirement
All applicants who pass the exam must complete a mandatory, free, four-hour Preadmission education program prior to admission. The program is available on the WSBA website. Reciprocity applicants who are not required to take the Washington Bar examination must also complete the program before admission. To complete the online course you will need your applicant ID #. If you do not have your applicant ID #, please call the WSBA Admissions Office at 206-727-8209.
New Admittee License Fee and Forms
Applicants passing the exam will complete requirements for admission, including the license fee, on the online admissions site.
The WSBA understands that the first few years of practice can be financially challenging for new attorneys. Because of this, if you are not admitted to practice elsewhere and you take and pass the Washington Bar exam and are admitted in the first six months of the calendar year in which you took the exam, you pay only 50% of the full active fee to be admitted to practice. If you are not admitted elsewhere, and take and pass the Washington Bar exam and are admitted in the second six months of the calendar year in which you took the exam, you pay only 25% of the full active fee to be admitted to practice.
For license fee information after becoming admitted see our License Fees page.
Oath of Attorney
APR 5(d):Oath of Attorney. The Oath of Attorney must be taken before an elected or appointed judge, excluding judges pro tempore, sitting in open court in the state of Washington. In the event a successful applicant is outside the state of Washington and the Chief Justice is satisfied that it is impossible or impractical for the applicant to take the oath before an elected or appointed judge in this state, the Chief Justice may, upon proper application setting forth all the circumstances, designate a person authorized by law to administer oaths, before whom the applicant may appear and take said oath.
Taking the Oath of Attorney in Washington State
Formal County Ceremony
Formal swearing in ceremonies are being conducted by local county bar associations. If you would like to attend a formal ceremony, or if you seek information regarding a formal ceremony, please contact your local county bar association. If your local county Bar association is not listed but you want to participate in a formal ceremony, you may want to consider contacting a neighboring county bar association to see if you can attend their swearing in ceremony. The Oath of Attorney form will be provided for you and signed by both you and the judge administering the oath; your signed form will then be sent directly to the WSBA Admissions Department by the organization sponsoring the ceremony. For information regarding details (time, locations, etc.) on formal ceremonies please contact the specific county who is hosting the event.
Send the completed New Admittee Licensing Form, Agent of Service Certification Form, Swearing in Selection Form and license fee payment to the WSBA Admissions Department.
Independent Ceremony
Print the Oath of Attorney and take it with you to the swearing in. It is the applicant’s responsibility to arrange for a judge to administer the oath. The judge must be:
- elected or appointed;
- sitting in open court; and,
- in Washington state.
Pro tempore judges, retired judges and administrative law judges are not qualified to administer the Oath of Attorney. The oath must be administered in open court. If you do not know a judge, contact your local County Superior Court Clerk’s Office to schedule an oath of attorney with a judge.
Send the completed and executed Oath to the WSBA Admissions Department.
Taking the Oath of Attorney outside the State of Washington
An order from the Supreme Court of Washington conferring jurisdiction on an out-of-state judge to perform the ceremony is required for an out-of-state administration of the oath. It must be impossible or impractical for you to travel to Washington.
Complete your request online with the required out of state information. We will forward your request to the Supreme Court. The Court will issue an order conferring jurisdiction on the judge you have chosen. Upon receipt of the order, the WSBA Admissions Department will send you an Oath of Attorney form and your copy of the order to be used at the swearing in ceremony. Return the original Oath of Attorney, signed by you and the judge, to the WSBA Admissions Department.
Resident Agent
Out-of-state residents must designate a Resident Agent within Washington state who will accept service of any legal pleadings on behalf of the lawyer in Washington state. This Resident Agent is not required to be a lawyer but someone, in the State of Washington, you can trust to receive service of process.
Admission as a Lawyer and Member of the WSBA
After an applicant has met all the requirements and the WSBA has received the oath and payment, the Board of Governors will recommend to the Supreme Court the admission of the applicant to the practice of law in Washington. Applicants are not admitted until the Supreme Court signs an order of admission. Upon receipt of the admission order, the WSBA will assign the new admittee a bar number and mail a membership card and a certificate of membership.
Certificate of Admission
You may purchase a wall certificate suitable for framing, approximately 16 1/2" x 13 1/2", by writing to:
Supreme Court of Washington
Temple of Justice
P.O. Box 40929
Olympia, WA 98504-0929
The cost is $25. Please enclose a copy of your WSBA bar card. It may take up to six months for the wall certificate to be completed.
Copies of Applications after Admission
If you require a copy of your application after being admitted as a member, you will need to contact the Supreme Court Clerk's office as the files are maintained with the Court after admission. The contact information is:
Supreme Court of Washington
Temple of Justice
P.O. Box 40929
Olympia, WA 98504-0929
supremes@courts.wa.gov