California bar pass rate falls to 30.8% for February exam

The State Bar of California announced Friday that 30.8% of applicants passed the February 2026 General Bar Examination, marking a slight decline from recent years and reflecting ongoing challenges for repeat test takers.

A total of 1,211 applicants passed the two-day exam, while 272 candidates passed the one-day Attorneys' Examination, which is open to licensed attorneys from other jurisdictions. The Attorneys' Exam recorded a 57.0% pass rate. Candidates who meet all remaining requirements will be eligible for admission to practice law in California.

The February 2026 pass rate was lower than February 2024 (33.9%) and February 2023 (32.5%), but far below the unusually high 63.6% pass rate in February 2025, when scoring adjustments were implemented following widespread technical issues. This year, 60 applicants received a limited scoring adjustment tied to a prior special session, resulting in five additional passes.

Of the 3,931 test takers, 37.1% were first-time applicants, who posted a 43.9% pass rate--slightly below prior years. Repeat test takers made up 62.9% of applicants and had a 23.1% pass rate, continuing a downward trend.

The State Bar was scheduled to release the full pass list at 6 on Sunday morning.