Updated November 2026. Rules checked against LSAC for the 2026-2027 testing year.
Quick answer: there are very few requirements to take the LSAT. You do not need a college degree, a certain GPA or a certain major. To take the test you need an LSAC account, the $253 fee (or an approved fee waiver), and a valid photo ID whose name matches your LSAC account exactly. Since August 2026, most people must also take the test at a test center. Law schools have their own, stricter requirements, such as a bachelor’s degree before you start.
Key facts about LSAT requirements
- No degree, GPA or major is needed to register for the LSAT.
- LSAC does not list a minimum age in its LSAT FAQ or its 2026-2027 candidate agreement.
- The LSAT costs $253 for 2026-2027, including LSAT Argumentative Writing. Fee waivers are available.
- You need a physical, valid passport or a government photo ID from the U.S., a U.S. territory or Canada.
- Your ID name must match the legal first and last name on your LSAC account.
- Since August 2026, most test takers must test at a test center. Remote testing is only for approved exceptions.
- You can take the LSAT up to 5 times in the current reportable period and 7 times in your life.
Who Can Take the LSAT?
Almost anyone who wants to apply to law school can take the LSAT. LSAC, the group that runs the test, does not ask for:
- A college degree. You can take the LSAT while you are still in college, or years after you graduate.
- A minimum GPA. Your grades matter for law school admission, not for signing up for the test.
- A certain major. There is no pre-law major requirement. Students from every major take the LSAT.
- U.S. citizenship. International test takers can register too, using a valid passport.
LSAC does not list a minimum age in its LSAT FAQ or in its 2026-2027 candidate agreement. Most people take the LSAT in their third or fourth year of college or after they graduate. If you are under 18 and want to test, contact LSAC before you register so you know what it needs from you.
When You Might Not Be Eligible
LSAC lists a few cases where you must tell it before you register. You must notify LSAC first if, within 24 months of your test, you have:
- Supervised or remotely proctored the LSAT
- Worked for a company that delivers the LSAT for LSAC
- Worked for LSAC on anything related to the LSAT
- Been a relative of, or worked for, someone employed by LSAC
These rules protect test security. For most test takers they do not apply. See the LSAC LSAT FAQ for the full wording.
What You Need to Register for the LSAT
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| LSAC account | Free account on LSAC.org. You use it to register, schedule and get your score. See LSAC account and CAS explained. |
| Legal name | Your first and last name must match your photo ID exactly. |
| Fee | $253 for 2026-2027, or an approved LSAC fee waiver. |
| Payment | Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover, charged in U.S. dollars. |
| Test date | Pick a test before its registration deadline. See LSAT test dates. |
| Accommodations (if needed) | Ask by the registration deadline. See LSAT accommodations. |
For the full steps, see LSAT registration deadlines and how to register.
LSAT Fee Requirements
The LSAT costs $253 for the August 2026 to June 2027 testing year. That price includes LSAT Argumentative Writing. It is the same for first time and repeat test takers.
Most people also pay for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) when they apply to law school. CAS is $219, plus $45 for each law school report. You do not need CAS to take the LSAT, only to apply. See the full LSAT cost guide.
If money is tight, you may qualify for an LSAC fee waiver. Apply for the waiver before you register and pay.
LSAT ID Requirements
ID problems are one of the most common reasons people get turned away on test day. LSAC says you must bring a physical, valid ID. It must be either an international passport or a government photo ID issued by the United States, a U.S. territory or Canada.
Your ID must:
- Be current, or have expired no more than 3 months before your test date
- Show a recent photo that looks like you
- Show your first name, last name and date of birth
- Have a first and last name that exactly match your LSAC account
| Accepted IDs (examples) | Not accepted |
|---|---|
| Passport book | Student ID |
| Driver’s license | Employee ID, even a government one |
| State or province ID card | Social Security card or birth certificate |
| U.S. Green Card or Canadian Permanent Resident Card | Credit card, even with a photo |
| Temporary paper license, only with your old expired card | Photocopies or photos of an ID |
U.S. military IDs cannot be photographed by law, so they cannot be used for online testing. If you are not sure your ID works, call LSAC at least 14 days before your test. Source: LSAC ID rules. Also see what to bring to the LSAT.
Where You Must Take the LSAT
Since August 2026, almost everyone takes the multiple choice LSAT in person at a test center. LSAC ended regular at-home testing because of security problems.
You can ask for a remote exception if you:
- Live more than 180 miles, or about 3 hours of driving, from an available test center
- Have certain approved disability accommodations
- Are on active military duty abroad
- Had your test center close without warning
Exceptions must be approved ahead of time, and approved remote testers can only schedule on the Friday of the test window. LSAT Argumentative Writing is still taken online at home. See remote LSAT vs test center and LSAC’s remote testing exceptions.
How Many Times Can You Take the LSAT?
There are limits, so plan your attempts:
- 5 times in the current reportable score period
- 7 times in your lifetime
- No retakes after a perfect 180 in the current reportable period
The old rule of 3 tests in one testing year no longer applies. Canceled scores count toward the limits. Absences and withdrawals do not. See how many times you can take the LSAT.
Requirements for International Test Takers
If you live outside the U.S. and Canada, the main requirements are the same: an LSAC account, the fee and a valid ID. For most international test takers that ID is a passport. Fees are charged in U.S. dollars, so your bank’s exchange rate and local taxes may change the final cost.
There are fewer international test dates. For 2026-2027 they are in October, January, April and June. See the international table on our LSAT test dates page.
LSAT Requirements vs Law School Requirements
Taking the LSAT and getting into law school are two different steps. The LSAT has almost no requirements. Law school has more.
| To take the LSAT | To apply to an ABA law school | |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | Not needed | Needed before you start, with rare exceptions such as 3+3 programs |
| GPA | Not needed | Sent to schools through CAS |
| Test score | Not needed | An LSAT score at most schools. Some also accept the GRE or JD-Next. |
| Personal statement | Not needed | Needed |
| Letters of recommendation | Not needed | Usually 2 or 3 |
| CAS | Not needed | Needed at almost every ABA school ($219 plus $45 per school) |
Read more about other tests in the LSAT vs the GRE for law school and JD-Next vs the LSAT. Plan your full timeline with the law school application timeline.
What LSAT Score Do You Need?
There is no passing score. The LSAT is scored from 120 to 180, and each law school decides what scores it wants. Most schools report the middle range of scores of the students they admit. A 160 beats about 71% of test takers and is competitive at many schools. Top schools usually want 170 or higher.
See what is a good LSAT score, is there a passing LSAT score, and try the law school admissions chances calculator.
LSAT Requirements Checklist
- Create your free LSAC account and enter your legal name exactly as it is on your ID.
- If you need it, apply for a fee waiver before you register.
- If you need accommodations, request them by the registration deadline.
- Pick a test date and register by its deadline. Pay $253.
- Check your ID: physical, current (or expired less than 3 months), with photo, name and birth date.
- Schedule your test center time as soon as scheduling opens. Ask for a remote exception early if you live far from a center.
- Finish LSAT Argumentative Writing online. Your score is not released until you do.
Then use our LSAT test day checklist.
LSAT Requirements FAQ
Do you need a degree to take the LSAT?
No. You can take the LSAT before you finish college. You will need a bachelor’s degree before you start at almost every ABA law school.
Is there an age requirement for the LSAT?
LSAC does not list a minimum age in its LSAT FAQ or its 2026-2027 candidate agreement. If you are under 18, contact LSAC before you register.
Is there a GPA requirement to take the LSAT?
No. GPA matters when you apply to law school, not when you register for the test.
Can international students take the LSAT?
Yes. International test takers register the same way and usually use a passport as ID. There are fewer international test dates each year.
What ID do I need for the LSAT?
A physical, valid passport or a government photo ID from the U.S., a U.S. territory or Canada. It must show your photo, name and date of birth, and the name must match your LSAC account.
Can I take the LSAT at home?
Usually not anymore. Since August 2026, most people take the LSAT at a test center. Remote testing is only for approved exceptions, such as living more than 180 miles from a center. LSAT Writing is still online.
How much does it cost to take the LSAT?
$253 for 2026-2027, which includes LSAT Argumentative Writing. Fee waivers are available if you qualify.
Can I take the LSAT 3 times in one year?
Yes. LSAC dropped the old yearly limit. The limits now are 5 tests in the current reportable period and 7 in your lifetime.
Do all law schools require the LSAT?
Most do, but many ABA schools also accept the GRE, and some accept JD-Next. Check each school’s rules.
Official Sources
- LSAC: Frequently Asked Questions about the LSAT
- LSAC: Identification Accepted for LSAT Admission
- LSAC: LSAT and CAS Fees
- LSAC: Remote Testing and Distance Exceptions
- LSAC: 2026-2027 Candidate Agreement