Examination Information

Examination Information
*Please contact Gwen Arcangelo at garcangelo@nbtalawyers.org for information on how to sign up to take our examination remotely. Please click here to review Frequently asked questions about the online examination.

Please review General and Subject-specific exam information
GENERAL EXAM INFORMATION 

-Civil Trial Law Exam Information Packet

-Civil Practice Advocacy Exam Information Packet

-Complex Litigation Exam Information Packet

-Criminal Trial Law Exam Information Packet

-Family Trial Law Exam Information Packet

-Patent Litigation Exam Information Packet

-Social Security Disability Law Exam Information Packet

-Truck Accident Law Exam Information Packet

          -Truck Accident Law Exam Information Packet (Texas Attorneys ONLY)
     

Examination Waivers

One important requirement of the NBTA certification process is passing a written examination in the area of certification. The purpose of the examination is to test your proficiency, knowledge, and experience in trial law.

However, there may be some situations in which you qualify for an exam waiver. If your state/applicable organization tests those same attributes, NBTA may recognize the examinations in lieu of taking its examination. See below for those states/organizations that qualify.

• AAML Fellows
• Arizona – Civil & Criminal Applicants
• Florida – Civil, Criminal and Family Applicants
• Minnesota – Civil Applicants
• New Jersey – Civil, Criminal and Family Applicants
• New Mexico – Civil Applicants 
• North Carolina – Criminal*, Family* and SSD* Applicants
• Texas – Civil** & Criminal Applicants
  *In addition to taking North Carolina’s Examination, NBTA’s NC Criminal and Family applicants must also take the Evidence and Ethics sections of the NBTA Examination and NBTA’s NC SSD applicants must also take the Ethics section of the NBTA Examination.
  **NBTA currently recognizes ONLY the TBLS Civil Trial Law Examination toward its civil certification.

To obtain a waiver from the NBTA examination requirement, please contact the executive director from the state agency or organization by which you are certified and acquire a letter on official stationery that confirms the following:

1. You have taken and passed the state or organization certification examination
2. You are currently certified, have continuously maintained your certification, and are in good standing with that agency

Please send to:

Gwen Arcangelo
Director of Examinations and State Accreditations
National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA)
850 Franklin Street, Suite 8
Wrentham, Massachusetts 02093

*Florida applicants: If you are contemplating applying for NBTA board certification in civil trial law, criminal trial law or family trial law please DO NOT APPLY unless you are already board certified by the Florida Bar in a similar specialty area. If you are interested in applying for certification with the Florida Bar, please contact them at 850-561-5850.
*Texas applicants: If you are contemplating applying for NBTA board certification in civil trial law, criminal trial law or family trial law please DO NOT APPLY unless you are already board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the same specialty area.  If you are contemplating applying for NBTA board certification in truck accident law, please DO NOT APPLY unless you are already board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law. If you are interested in applying for certification with the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, please contact them at 833-413-0253.