how often is the bar exam offered

The bar exam in the United States is usually offered twice a year , almost always in late February and late July.

Basic timing

• Most states (especially those using the Uniform Bar Exam, or UBE) give the bar exam two times per year : once in February and once in July.

• The UBE schedule is standardized: it is held on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July.

Any exceptions?

• A small number of jurisdictions have slightly different formats or schedules (for example, Louisiana has a three‑day exam but still offers it twice a year in February and July).

• Some non‑UBE states may vary in length (2, 2.5, or 3 days), but the frequency is still typically twice yearly.

Why not more often?

• Administering the bar exam is complex and expensive, so states concentrate demand into two large administrations each year.

• The schedule also aligns with typical law school graduation cycles: July for May grads and February as a retake or for December grads.

TL;DR: If you are planning when to take it, assume the bar exam is offered every February and every July , and then confirm exact dates with your specific state bar.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.