Attorney Exam & Application Fees by State (2026)
12 of 51 states publish fee data. The cheapest exam-and-application total is $250 (New York); the most expensive is $1778 (California).
Represents clients in legal matters. Requires a JD, passing the bar exam (NCBE) in the licensing state, and character and fitness review. Totals combine the exam fee and application fee only — education, fingerprinting and license fees add more.
| State | Exam fee | Application fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New YorkLowest | — | $250 | $250 |
| Michigan | — | $400 | $400 |
| Texas | — | $450 | $450 |
| Ohio | — | $452 | $452 |
| Washington | — | $595 | $595 |
| Georgia | $96 | $550 | $646 |
| Arizona | — | $680 | $680 |
| Pennsylvania | — | $750 | $750 |
| North Carolina | — | $850 | $850 |
| Florida | — | $1000 | $1000 |
| Illinois | — | $1200 | $1200 |
| CaliforniaHighest | $878 | $900 | $1778 |
| Alabama | fee schedule not published | ||
| Alaska | fee schedule not published | ||
| Arkansas | fee schedule not published | ||
| Colorado | fee schedule not published | ||
| Connecticut | fee schedule not published | ||
| Delaware | fee schedule not published | ||
| District of Columbia | fee schedule not published | ||
| Hawaii | fee schedule not published | ||
| Idaho | fee schedule not published | ||
| Indiana | fee schedule not published | ||
| Iowa | fee schedule not published | ||
| Kansas | fee schedule not published | ||
| Kentucky | fee schedule not published | ||
| Louisiana | fee schedule not published | ||
| Maine | fee schedule not published | ||
| Maryland | fee schedule not published | ||
| Massachusetts | fee schedule not published | ||
| Minnesota | fee schedule not published | ||
| Mississippi | fee schedule not published | ||
| Missouri | fee schedule not published | ||
| Montana | fee schedule not published | ||
| Nebraska | fee schedule not published | ||
| Nevada | fee schedule not published | ||
| New Hampshire | fee schedule not published | ||
| New Jersey | fee schedule not published | ||
| New Mexico | fee schedule not published | ||
| North Dakota | fee schedule not published | ||
| Oklahoma | fee schedule not published | ||
| Oregon | fee schedule not published | ||
| Rhode Island | fee schedule not published | ||
| South Carolina | fee schedule not published | ||
| South Dakota | fee schedule not published | ||
| Tennessee | fee schedule not published | ||
| Utah | fee schedule not published | ||
| Vermont | fee schedule not published | ||
| Virginia | fee schedule not published | ||
| West Virginia | fee schedule not published | ||
| Wisconsin | fee schedule not published | ||
| Wyoming | fee schedule not published | ||
Note: totals do not include the license fee, fingerprinting or education costs — see each state's long-tail guide for full fee schedules where published.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Attorney license cost?
Among the 12 states with published fee data, the lowest exam-and-application total is $250 in New York and the highest is $1778 in California. Education, fingerprinting and license fees add more.
Does the exam fee include the license fee?
No. The exam fee covers sitting for the exam; the application fee covers your license application; a separate license fee and background-check fee usually apply. Always total every line item from the state board before budgeting.
Why are some states missing fee data?
State fee schedules are not uniformly published in machine-readable form. When a state does not publish its fees in our verified sources, the row shows "fee schedule not published" — we do not estimate.
Which state is cheapest for a Attorney license?
Based on published exam and application fees, New York has the lowest total at $250.
Plan your Attorney budget
Fee figures are as published by state boards and exam vendors (retrieved 2026-08-20). “Fee schedule not published” means the state has not released an official figure in our verified sources. Fees change — confirm with the board before paying.