# 18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-20: 18VAC35-10-20. Academic requirements

> Virginia · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_20

## Section

- **Citation:** 18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-20
- **Heading:** 18VAC35-10-20. Academic requirements
- **Jurisdiction:** Virginia
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Virginia Administrative Code / Title 18 Professional And Occupational Licensing / Agency 35 Board of Bar Examiners / Chapter 10 / 18VAC35-10-20

## Text

A. An applicant for a Virginia bar examination shall:
1. Have received a degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association, or the board; or
2. Be enrolled and in good standing in any such approved law school and, in the course of regular study, complete all degree requirements prior to the time such examination is given; or
3. Have been approved by the board and thereafter completed the required period of law study as set forth in the Law Reader Program Rule and Regulations of the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners.
B. An applicant who has received a portion of his legal training in a foreign law school is also required to have received a degree from an American Bar Association approved law school, and if such degree is other than the LL.B or J.D., the applicant shall furnish a certificate from the dean, assistant dean or acting dean of an American Bar Association approved law school in Virginia that his foreign legal education, together with his approved law school degree, is the equivalent of that required for an LL.B or a J.D. degree in such dean's law school. In addition, such applicant must furnish to the board evidence of his foreign legal degree and of his degree from the American Bar Association approved law school.
C. No applicant will be issued a license to practice law in this state until he has received a degree from an approved law school, or has successfully completed the required period of law study referred to above, and has furnished evidence of the same to the board.
D. Study by correspondence or in a nonapproved law school does not meet the foregoing requirements.

## Nearby sections

- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-10 18VAC35-10-10. Examinations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_10.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-20 18VAC35-10-20. Academic requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_20.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-30 18VAC35-10-30. Character requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_30.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-40 18VAC35-10-40. Applicant eligibility](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_40.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-50 18VAC35-10-50. Procedure for completing and filing application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_50.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-60 18VAC35-10-60. Fees](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_60.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-70 18VAC35-10-70. Filing deadline](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_70.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-80 18VAC35-10-80. Form required](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_80.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-90 18VAC35-10-90. Educational certificates](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_90.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-100 18VAC35-10-100. Character and fitness investigation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_100.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-110 18VAC35-10-110. Fingerprints](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_110.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-120 18VAC35-10-120. Photographs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_120.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-130 18VAC35-10-130. Certificates of good standing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_130.md)
- [18 Va. Admin. Code § 35-10-140 18VAC35-10-140. Applicants with foreign legal training](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_140.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_ADC_18_35_10_20. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.