The published fees
| What | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing process application | $160 | Non-refundable. Must be paid before you can register for an examination. |
| Barrister examination | $865 | Per sitting. Charged again for a rewrite. |
| Solicitor examination | $865 | Per sitting. Charged again for a rewrite. |
| Barrister study materials | $100 | Non-refundable once digital access has been given. |
| Solicitor study materials | $100 | Non-refundable once digital access has been given. |
| Experiential training | $2,800 | Articling, the Law Practice Program or the Integrated Practice Curriculum. |
| Administrative licensure | $165 | Charged at the licensing stage. |
| Call to the bar ceremony | $250 | The ceremony itself. |
| Monthly payment plan | $25 | Administrative fee per examination, $50 for experiential training. Non-refundable. |
All fees are subject to applicable taxes and the Law Society may change them. The exam fee is separate from the application fee, and both must be paid before you can register for a sitting.
The two exams alone
If you are only asking what the examinations cost, the answer is $865 each, or $1,730 for both, plus $100 of study materials per exam. A failed exam costs the full $865 again at the next sitting, which is the real argument for rehearsing under time before exam day rather than after.
Where candidates lose money
Three ways, all avoidable. Registering and not attending, which forfeits the fee unless a medical absence is approved. Deferring into a new licensing year, which forces a second purchase of study materials. And leaving the licensing application until after its deadline, which pushes you to a later sitting and, if your exam date mattered for an articling start, can cost far more than any fee.
What preparation costs, if you choose to buy any
Ontario Bar Academy charges $69 for a full-length 160-question practice exam, or $130 for a Barrister and Solicitor set, with 90 days of access, three timed attempts and three untimed Learning Mode sessions on each. Two free 15-question samples come with every account, so you can judge the questions before paying anything.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does the Ontario bar exam cost?
- Each licensing examination costs $865 per sitting, so sitting both the Barrister and the Solicitor exam is $1,730. The study materials are a further $100 for each exam, and the licensing process application is $160. Fees are subject to applicable taxes and to change.
- Is the exam fee included in the licensing process fee?
- No. The Law Society charges them separately, and does not publish a single all-in figure. Your total is the sum of the application fee, each examination fee, the study materials, experiential training, administrative licensure and the call to the bar.
- What does it cost to rewrite the Ontario bar exam?
- The full examination fee of $865 again for that sitting. If the rewrite falls in a new licensing year, you also need that year's study materials at $100.
- Can I get a refund if I do not sit the exam?
- The examination fee is not refunded if you do not attend, unless the Law Society approves an excused absence in writing. Cancelling before the deferral deadline, which is the same date as the registration deadline, is the way to avoid losing the fee.
- Do I have to buy practice exams as well?
- No. The Law Society says its own study materials are all you need, and that it does not review, regulate, accredit or endorse third-party providers. Practice questions are optional, and their value is rehearsal under time rather than new content.
Fees published by the Law Society of Ontario for the 2026-2027 licensing year and checked on October 20, 2026. Confirm current figures on lso.ca before relying on them. Ontario Bar Academy is independent. It is not reviewed, regulated, accredited or endorsed by the Law Society of Ontario.