LSAT registration is the first administrative step toward law school, and it is one of the few parts of the application process where a missed deadline costs you a full administration cycle. The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) holds the test on roughly nine fixed dates each year, sets the registration window for each date months in advance, and stops accepting new registrations about three weeks before the test. Miss the window and you wait two to three months for the next chance.
This guide walks through the LSAT registration process step by step. How to create your LSAC account, choose a test date, request accommodations, pay or apply for a fee waiver, complete the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration, and what to do if your plans change. It also covers the practical timing decisions: how far ahead to register, when to register versus when to study, and which test administration to pick if you have flexibility.
The total cost for a typical first-time applicant pencils out to roughly $450 covering the LSAT itself and the Credential Assembly Service subscription, with optional add-ons like score-preview reports and additional school score sends pushing the total higher. Fee waivers from LSAC are available throughout the year and routinely cut the total LSAT-and-CAS cost down to zero for qualifying applicants who meet documented financial need.
If you have not decided whether the LSAT is for you yet, our LSAT Practice Test hub has free questions covering all three sections. The LSAT Exam Prep guide walks through the study plan that fits the registration timeline. The LSAT Test Dates page shows the current calendar.
To register for the LSAT, create an account at LSAC.org, choose one of the nine annual test dates, pay the registration fee ($238 in 2026), and submit any required accommodation documentation. Registration windows open about 4-5 months before each test date and close roughly 3 weeks before the test. Late registration carries a $135 surcharge. Fee waivers are available based on financial need. Applicants planning to apply to law schools also need to register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) at $207, which schools use to process applications.
Most first-time LSAT registrants spend an hour or two on the process because they bounce between LSAC's interface, transcript requests, payment portals, and accommodation requests in no particular order. The smarter approach is to handle the steps in sequence so each one feeds the next. Below is the order that minimizes back-and-forth and avoids the most common mistakes.
The full registration process takes 30-45 minutes for a first-time test taker. Most of that time is filling in academic background information, demographic data, and the agreements LSAC requires. The actual payment and test-date selection take five minutes once you have your details together.
Go to LSAC.org and click Register or Create Account. You will need an email address you will use throughout your law school application process. Use a permanent personal email, not your undergraduate school email, since you may lose access when you graduate. LSAC will tie your test score, transcripts, and applications to this account for the next two to three years.
Enter your legal name exactly as it appears on the ID you will bring to the test. Mismatched names are the most common cause of admission denials at the test center. Provide your address, date of birth, gender, and citizenship status. The profile also asks for undergraduate and any graduate institution information, since LSAC will pull transcripts directly from those schools.
LSAC offers nine test administrations per year, typically in January, February, April, June, August, September, October, November, and either late December or early January depending on the cycle. Pick the date that fits your law school application timeline. If you are applying for fall 2027 admission, take the LSAT no later than October 2026 to keep your application competitive at top schools. Many applicants take it earlier in the spring or summer to have time for a retake if needed.
The LSAT registration fee in 2026 is $238 for the standard test. Payment options include credit card, debit card, or money order. If you cannot afford the fee, apply for the LSAC Fee Waiver, which covers two free LSAT administrations plus the CAS subscription and one free score report to each law school. Eligibility is based on financial need with documentation requirements.
The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is the universal application clearinghouse used by virtually every U.S. and Canadian ABA-accredited law school. CAS collects your LSAT score, official transcripts, recommendation letters, and writing sample, then assembles a single report that schools download when you apply. The CAS subscription costs $207 and is valid for five years. Most applicants register for CAS at the same time as the LSAT.
Each LSAT administration has three relevant deadlines: the standard registration deadline, the late registration deadline, and the change date deadline. Missing any of them has different consequences.
The standard registration deadline falls about five weeks before the test date. Registering on or before this date locks in your test seat at the published $238 fee with no surcharge. This is the deadline most test takers should target.
The late registration window runs from the standard deadline until about three weeks before the test. Late registration adds a $135 surcharge on top of the $238 base fee, for a total of $373. The late window also has reduced seat availability — popular test centers in major cities often fill before late registration ends, forcing applicants into less convenient locations or online testing.
If you register and then decide to push your test back, you can change your test date through your LSAC account up to the late registration deadline of your original test date. The change fee is $135. After the late deadline, the change is not available and you forfeit your registration fee unless you withdraw early.
If you miss the late registration cutoff entirely, you cannot register for that test administration. You must wait for the next one. With nine annual administrations, the next test is typically 6-8 weeks away. This is the situation most often forced by underestimated study timelines, where the test taker is not ready by the registration deadline.
Best for: Junior-year applicants planning to apply in the fall. Gives you 4-6 months to retake if needed before October application deadlines.
Trade-off: Spring overlaps with junior-year academics. Many applicants find it harder to study during a heavy spring semester.
Volume: Lower turnout than fall administrations. Test centers are easier to book.
Best for: Applicants between junior and senior year of undergrad, with summer dedicated to LSAT prep. The most popular time for first-time test takers.
Trade-off: June test dates require March-April study start. August dates require May-June study start. The summer window is tight if you also work full-time.
Volume: June is the single biggest test administration of the year. Sign up early.
Best for: Senior-year applicants who started studying in the summer. October is the latest date that still leaves time for retake before most schools' January application deadlines.
Trade-off: Cuts close to application deadlines. A low score in October means scrambling to retake in November.
Volume: High demand. Test centers fill quickly. Register at least 2 months ahead.
Best for: Applicants targeting the next admissions cycle, or applicants doing a final retake before their applications close. Some schools accept January LSAT scores for fall admission.
Trade-off: Holiday season disrupts study schedules. Late December and early January administrations are the lowest-volume of the year.
Volume: Lowest of the year. Easiest test centers to book.
Test takers with documented disabilities can request testing accommodations from LSAC. The accommodation process is separate from standard registration and has its own timeline.
The most frequently requested accommodations are extended time (50 percent or 100 percent extra time per section), extra breaks, separate testing room, screen-reader software, or alternative-format test materials. Each accommodation requires documentation from a qualified professional describing the disability and explaining why the specific accommodation is needed.
LSAC requires a current evaluation by a qualified professional (psychologist, physician, or appropriate specialist) that includes diagnosis, history of the disability, recommended accommodations with reasoning, and credentials of the evaluator. Evaluations should be no more than five years old for most learning disabilities and three years old for psychiatric conditions.
Submit accommodation requests at least 60 days before your target test date. LSAC reviews can take 3-6 weeks, and sometimes requires follow-up documentation. If approved, you receive a confirmation outlining exactly which accommodations will be in place.
If your request is denied, LSAC has a formal appeals process. Submit additional documentation, statements from your school's disability services office, or a peer-reviewed professional opinion. Many initial denials are reversed on appeal with stronger documentation.
Decide to take the LSAT. Begin preliminary research into law school plans and target schools. Take a free diagnostic LSAT to set a baseline.
Begin formal LSAT prep (Khan Academy, 7Sage, Kaplan, etc.). Create your LSAC account. Schedule transcript releases from your undergraduate institution.
Choose target test date based on application timeline. Register through your LSAC account before the standard deadline.
If you need accommodations, submit the request at least 60 days before your test date. Continue intensive study.
Confirm your test center, ID requirements, and online system check if testing remotely. Take 2-3 full timed practice tests under exam conditions.
Take the LSAT. Online testers complete it at home. In-person testers report to the test center 30 minutes early. Results arrive 2-3 weeks later.
LSAC offers a robust fee waiver program for applicants with documented financial need. The waiver is generous: two free LSAT administrations, free CAS subscription, six free score reports to law schools, and free access to LSAC online prep materials. The total value exceeds $700.
Eligibility is means-tested. LSAC evaluates household income, assets, and dependents against a federal poverty threshold. Applicants whose adjusted income falls below 200 percent of the federal poverty line typically qualify. The 2026 threshold is approximately $30,000 for a single applicant and higher for applicants with dependents.
You need to upload last year's federal tax return (1040), all W-2s and 1099s, and documentation of any other income sources. International applicants submit equivalent documentation from their home country. The application takes about 20 minutes once you have the documents ready.
LSAC processes fee waiver applications in 2-3 weeks during off-peak months and 4-6 weeks during peak season (May through September). Submit early so the waiver is approved before your target registration deadline.
An approved fee waiver is valid for two years from approval. You can use it for the next two LSAT administrations, plus a five-year CAS subscription, plus six free score reports. The waiver does not cover the $135 late registration surcharge if you register after the standard deadline.
Life happens between registration and test day. LSAC's policies for cancellations, date changes, and withdrawals depend on how close you are to the test date.
Before the late registration deadline of your original test date, you can move your registration to a later administration. The fee is $135 and the original LSAT fee carries over. After the late deadline, the change is no longer available.
If you withdraw from a test before the standard registration deadline, you receive a partial refund (the LSAT fee minus a $135 administration fee). After the standard deadline, withdrawals are no longer refundable. The withdrawal is recorded on your LSAC file but does not appear on law school score reports.
If you simply do not show up for the test, no refund is issued. The no-show is recorded as an absence on your LSAC file. Repeated no-shows can affect future registration eligibility.
After the test, you have six calendar days to cancel your score. Canceled scores appear on your record but the actual number is not reported to schools. Cancellations are useful if you know the test went poorly, but many applicants regret cancellation because their actual score was higher than expected. Wait for the score release before deciding to cancel.
International applicants follow the same registration process but with additional steps. LSAC requires authentication of foreign transcripts through the LSAC Document Authentication and Translation Service (DAS), which adds 6-8 weeks to the timeline. International applicants also need a valid passport for the test center and may face limited test center availability in their country.
Online LSAT testing is available in most countries with stable internet, but some countries are excluded due to LSAC content security policies. Check the LSAC country list before assuming online testing is available where you live.
Registration is not just about picking a date and paying a fee. The actual test day has logistical requirements you should think through before locking in your registration, especially for the at-home online LSAT.
Registration is not just about picking a date and paying a fee. The actual test day has logistical requirements that you should think through before locking in your registration, especially if you are planning to take the online LSAT from home or testing internationally.
The online LSAT runs through LSAC's proctoring system, which requires Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.14 or later, a working webcam and microphone, and a stable broadband connection of at least 5 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. Chromebooks, tablets, and phones are not supported. Failure to meet any of these requirements can void your test on test day with no refund, which is one of the most preventable causes of LSAT problems.
Online testers must take the LSAT in a private, quiet room with no other people present. The proctor scans the room with your webcam before the test begins to confirm you have no notes, no devices, and no other people nearby. A roommate walking through the background can cause the test to be voided. Plan to lock yourself in a room or use a quiet hotel room if your living situation is unpredictable.
You will be asked to hold your government photo ID up to the webcam at the start of the test for verification. The name on the ID must match the name on your LSAC account exactly. Minor differences like a middle initial versus a middle name are usually fine, but a different first name or surname spelling can result in test cancellation. Verify the match in advance.
The LSAT includes one 10-minute break between sections. During the break you can leave the camera view, but you cannot consume food or beverages during the test itself. Plan your hydration and food before the test begins. Some test takers find a small snack during the break helpful for maintaining focus through the final two sections.
If the technology fails on your scheduled test date through no fault of your own, LSAC offers a free reschedule to the next available administration. Document the failure (screenshot of the error, photo of the disconnected webcam, screenshot of the failed loading screen) and contact LSAC support within 24 hours. The backup process is not automatic, so plan to document everything.