Iowa recently made an announcement declaring its decision to employ the NextGen bar exam, thereby joining ranks with five other jurisdictions, namely, Connecticut, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon, and Wyoming, that have chosen a similar path. This precedent-setting move makes Iowa the sixth jurisdiction to adopt the NextGen bar exam, which is a significant step forward in legal education.
Developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, the NextGen bar exam will be introduced in July 2026. Interestingly, the current version of the bar exam will not immediately be phased out post the introduction of the NextGen version. As per plans, both versions of the bar exam will be administered simultaneously until the February 2028 administration.
Commenting on this development, Director of Admissions for the Office of Professional Regulation of the Iowa Supreme Court, Dan Saar, was optimistic about the transition to the new exam format. He underscored that their office would prioritise administering the exam in a manner that remains fair to all candidates. Assuring the smooth rollout of the new exam, he emphasized that the same exacting standards would be maintained during the administration of the exam.
For more in-depth insight into this decision, you may want to check the original report which provides a detailed account of this decision.