California Bar Exam Fingerprinting: The Complete Live Scan Guide for Law Students (2026)

If you are preparing to take the California bar exam, Live Scan fingerprinting is one of the most time-sensitive administrative steps in your bar admission process — and one of the most commonly mishandled. Miss the 90-day window, use the wrong form, or forget to upload your signed copy to the Applicant Portal, and your Moral Character application may be deemed abandoned with no refund of fees.

This guide covers everything law students and bar exam candidates need to know about the California State Bar fingerprinting process — when to get fingerprinted, how the process works, the specific details most people get wrong, upcoming exam dates through 2027, and the current exam format.

California Bar Exam Dates — 2026 and 2027

The California bar exam is administered twice per year in February and July. Here are the current and upcoming exam dates:

Dates sourced from the State Bar of California website as of March 2026. Always confirm current dates and deadlines directly at calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/Dates-and-Deadlines before filing — deadlines are strictly enforced.

Current California Bar Exam Format

Understanding the current exam format is essential for study planning. Here is the current structure as of 2026:

The California bar exam passing score is 1390 out of 2000 — one of the highest thresholds in the United States. The exam is administered entirely in person at designated testing sites. Remote administration is no longer available.

Why Live Scan Fingerprinting Is Required for Bar Admission

The California State Bar requires all applicants for admission to the California bar to be fingerprinted as part of the Moral Character determination process. Under California Business and Professions Code Section 6060, no person may be admitted to practice law in California without a positive determination of moral character — and fingerprinting is a mandatory component of that determination.

Your fingerprints are submitted to the California DOJ and FBI for a criminal history background check. The State Bar uses the results to verify your identity and assess your criminal record as part of the moral character investigation, which typically takes 8–10 months to complete.

Step-by-Step: How to Complete Live Scan for the California Bar

The 90-Day Rule — The Most Commonly Missed Deadline

The State Bar’s fingerprinting requirement has a strict 90-day rule that catches many applicants off guard:

• You must complete your Live Scan fingerprinting within 90 days of submitting your Application for Determination of Moral Character
• If you do not complete Live Scan within 90 days, your moral character application may be deemed abandoned
• An abandoned application means no refund of your filing fees
• If your application is abandoned, you must refile — paying the fees again from scratch

The most common mistake is submitting the Moral Character application early and then delaying the fingerprinting step. Do not treat fingerprinting as a low-priority administrative task — schedule your Live Scan appointment within the first two weeks of submitting your application to preserve the maximum buffer.

I Am Outside California — What Are My Options?

If you are applying for California bar admission from outside California and cannot complete Live Scan in person, the State Bar provides an alternative:

• Out-of-state applicants must submit two completed FBI FD-258 ink fingerprint cards instead of a Live Scan submission
• FD-258 cards can be obtained from a local law enforcement agency, your law school, or through the State Bar by submitting a General Request in the Applicant Portal
• Completed cards must include all required identifying information — leave the ORI, Employer, Reason Fingerprinted, and Class-Ref fields blank
• Cards must be mailed to the State Bar along with your Moral Character application — track your mailing and keep the tracking number
• Important: You will not receive automatic confirmation of receipt for mailed FD-258 cards — post your tracking information to your moral character case in the Applicant Portal

If you are visiting California before your application deadline, completing Live Scan in person is strongly recommended over mailed FD-258 cards — electronic transmission is faster and eliminates mail delays and loss risk.

What Happens at the Bar Exam Itself

In addition to the fingerprinting required for your Moral Character application, be aware that the State Bar may require fingerprints on exam day itself for identity verification purposes. Per the State Bar’s Admittance Ticket Bulletin:

How MR Fingerprints Serves California Bar Exam Candidates

MR Fingerprints provides California-approved Live Scan fingerprinting for bar exam candidates in the Los Angeles area, with same-day and same-week appointments available.

• ✅ California DOJ-approved Live Scan provider — accepted by the State Bar
• ✅ Same-day appointments — no weeks-long wait
• ✅ Correct State Bar ORI number and form processing — results routed to the right place
• ✅ ATI number confirmation provided at every appointment
• ✅ Re-print services if your submission is rejected or lost
• ✅ FD-258 ink fingerprint card services for out-of-state applicants visiting Los Angeles
• ✅ Bilingual staff — Spanish-speaking technicians available

📍  Book your bar exam Live Scan appointment → Book Now

📞  Questions? Contact us → 213.761.5883  |  info@mrfingerprints.com

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I get fingerprinted for the California bar exam?

Fingerprinting is required for the Moral Character application — not the bar exam application itself. The State Bar strongly recommends filing your Moral Character application during your second year of law school, at least 8–10 months before you expect to be sworn in. Once you submit your Moral Character application, you have 90 days to complete Live Scan fingerprinting. Schedule your appointment within the first two weeks of filing to preserve maximum buffer.

Do I get my Live Scan form before or after submitting my Moral Character application?

After. The State Bar emails you the Live Scan Form only after your Moral Character application has been submitted in the Applicant Portal. You cannot obtain the form before submitting the application. Once you receive the form, schedule your Live Scan appointment immediately — the 90-day window starts from your application submission date, not from when you receive the form.

What is the ATI number and why does it matter?

The ATI (Automated Transaction Identifier) number is printed on the second copy of your signed Live Scan Form, which you keep after your appointment. It is your proof that the fingerprint submission was electronically transmitted to the DOJ and FBI. If the State Bar does not receive your results, the ATI number is the reference used to investigate the submission. Keep your second copy and ATI number in a safe place until your bar admission is fully complete.

Can I use a different Live Scan form or a generic form for the bar exam?

No. You must use the Live Scan Form issued by the State Bar through the Applicant Portal after you submit your Moral Character application. The form contains your pre-populated ORI number and routing information specific to the State Bar. Using a generic form, a different agency’s form, or a form with an incorrect ORI number will result in your fingerprints being routed to the wrong agency, which means the State Bar will not receive your results.

What happens if my fingerprints are rejected?

If the California DOJ or FBI cannot process your fingerprints due to poor print quality, your submission will need to be resubmitted. This does not affect your application status, but it does consume days from your 90-day window. Contact the State Bar through the Applicant Portal if you receive a rejection notice. MR Fingerprints provides re-print services — we can capture a new Live Scan submission at no additional charge if your original submission is rejected due to a quality issue at our location.

I passed the bar exam. Why haven’t I been sworn in yet?

A positive moral character determination is a prerequisite for admission to the California bar — even after passing the exam. If your Moral Character determination is still pending when your bar results are released, you cannot be sworn in until it is approved. This is the most common reason otherwise-qualified bar passers experience delays to admission. The investigation takes 8–10 months — sometimes longer. File as early in law school as possible to avoid this situation.