How many times can you take the bar exam?
It depends on the state. As of October 2026, 31 states have no limit, including California, New York, Florida and Illinois. The other 19 states and DC cap attempts at 2 to 6 without special permission. Iowa has the lowest cap at 2, and New Hampshire and DC do not let you sit again after 4 failures.
These numbers come from the NCBE Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, which lists how many times you may take the exam without special permission. A cap is not always the end. Iowa allows more attempts at the court's discretion, Arizona lets you ask its committee for each new attempt, and Oklahoma grants a one-time waiver for a sixth try. In Mississippi, after 3 failures you need 12 more semester hours of law school before one more attempt.
Some caps count failures anywhere, not only in that state. Rhode Island, West Virginia and South Dakota all count failed exams from other jurisdictions. States without a cap can still add conditions: Maryland may require extra coursework after 3 failures, and South Carolina makes you wait a year after the third.
Rules change, so treat any list as a starting point. Vermont, for example, put a change to its limit out for public comment in 2026. Before you plan a retake, check the current rules of your state's board of bar examiners.
| State | Attempts without special permission | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 2 | More at the court's discretion |
| Montana | 3 | No extra rule listed |
| South Dakota | 3 | Counts failures in any state, then Supreme Court permission |
| Arizona | 4 | Committee permission for each later attempt |
| District of Columbia | 4 | No further attempts after 4 failures |
| Mississippi | 4 | After 3 failures, 12 more law school credit hours for one last try |
| Nebraska | 4 | No extra rule listed |
| New Hampshire | 4 | No further attempts after 4 failures |
| Vermont | 4 | Only with a strong showing |
| West Virginia | 4 | Counts failures in any state |
| Wyoming | 4 | No extra rule listed |
| Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia | 5 | No extra rule listed |
| Oklahoma | 5 | One-time waiver for a sixth attempt |
| Rhode Island | 5 | Counts failures in any state |
| Idaho, North Dakota, Utah | 6 | No extra rule listed |
| All other states | No limit | Includes California, New York, Florida, Illinois and Pennsylvania |
- 1Look up your state's limit in the NCBE guide and in the rules of your state's board of bar examiners.
- 2Get your score report and see which parts cost you the most, such as the MBE, the essays or the performance test.
- 3If you might switch states, check whether the new state counts failures from other states.
- 4Pick your next sitting and plan at least 8 to 10 weeks of focused study.
- 5Change the method, not just the hours: more timed questions and graded essays, less rereading of outlines.