Anyone who wants to sit the First State Examination in 2027 first looks for dates. There is no single calendar for all of Germany, because the state examination offices set the dates for their own state. This guide explains how such date systems are built, which deadlines depend on them and where to find binding information. It deliberately does not list concrete dates for 2027.
Short answer: For the First State Examination there is no nationwide examination calendar. In Bavaria, dates carry identifiers such as 2026/1 for March and 2026/2 for September. From date 2026/2 onwards, the registration deadline ends four months before the examination begins. The information of the competent state examination office is binding. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Each state examination office sets the dates for its own state.
- In Bavaria, the identifier consists of the year and a running number, for example 2026/1 for March.
- From date 2026/2 onwards, the registration deadline ends four months before the examination begins.
- A registration applies only to the next date.
- Binding dates for 2027 appear on the website of the competent examination office.
How are the examination dates structured?
In Bavaria, the identifier of a date consists of the year and a running number. The Bavarian information sheet names two dates for 2026: 2026/1 in March and 2026/2 in September. Anyone who knows this logic can place later dates more quickly. The assignment of identifiers to months applies only to Bavaria, because other states may name their dates differently.
| Identifier (Bavaria) | Month per information sheet | Registration deadline per information sheet |
|---|---|---|
| 2026/1 | March | The document does not state an explicit four-month deadline for this date |
| 2026/2 | September | Four months before the examination begins |
The table shows why the rule for the current date has to be checked each time. From date 2026/2, the four-month deadline is stated explicitly. For earlier dates, the document gives no information. If you plan for 2027, take the statement for the current date from the source.
Which deadlines depend on a date?
Several deadlines hang on each date: the registration deadline, the deadline for the free attempt, the deadline for a repetition and the deadline for a grade improvement. For the grade improvement, the Bavarian information sheet names the same four-month deadline as for regular registration, plus a fee of 350 euros. For the free attempt, registration takes place at the latest in the eighth semester, with generally uninterrupted study.
A registration applies only to the next date. If you aim for a later date in 2027, you must register again. This rule matters because it prevents an earlier registration from quietly carrying over to later dates.
Why the dates differ so much between states
The states organise the compulsory subject examination independently. This leads to differences in dates, deadlines and registration procedures. A comparison between states is therefore possible only with caution. If you study in Bavaria but want to take the examination in another state, you need to know the rules of both states.
The university examination is organised by the law faculties, while the state examination is run by the state examination office. Both run in parallel but follow their own schedules. Keep this separation in mind when you match your study plan with the examination dates.
Where can you find binding dates?
The publications of the competent state examination office are binding. They contain dates, deadlines and registration forms, sometimes with a status date and a date of last change. General overviews online can be out of date, so check the date of every source. For Bavaria, the state examination office is the central body, while for other states the authority named there is responsible.
A useful checklist helps when you compare:
- Which identifier does the date carry, and which year is meant?
- From when does the registration deadline apply, and is it stated clearly?
- Does the registration apply only to the next date?
- When was the page last updated?
Frequently asked questions
Is there a nationwide date for the First State Examination?
No. The state examination offices set the dates. The Bavarian information sheet names its own identifiers for Bavaria, and other states work with their own systems.
Which dates apply in 2027?
This guide does not list concrete dates for 2027. Ask the competent state examination office or check its website, and look at the date of the last change.
How long before the examination must I register?
In Bavaria, from date 2026/2 onwards, the registration deadline ends four months before the examination begins. For other states, the respective rule applies, which you should read there.
Can I withdraw from a date?
According to the information sheet, withdrawal is possible only under sections 9 and 10 JAPO. Whether a move to a later date is possible is decided by the examination office in each case. Ask before you act, so you do not miss a deadline.
What to do now
- Identify the competent state examination office and its page with the current dates.
- Note the identifier, month and registration deadline of every date that is relevant to you.
- Count back four months from the start of the examination, where that rule applies to your date.
- Register only for the next date and register again for later dates.
- Save the date of the source, so you can later show which status applied.
Common mistakes in date planning
The most frequent mistake is to read an identifier as a calendar date. The entry 2026/2 is not a date, but a number within the procedure. Anyone who derives the month from the identifier without reading the information sheet can plan wrongly if a date shifts.
The second mistake concerns the registration deadline. Many people register too late, hoping that the university examination will be finished in time. A deadline that has passed cannot be recovered, so a safety margin of several weeks before the cut-off is worthwhile.
The third mistake concerns the free attempt and the repetition. If the free attempt fails, registration for the next regular date follows its own deadlines. The deadlines therefore run one after another, not in parallel. Keeping both routes in mind helps you avoid gaps in your plan.
Planning dates over several years
If you plan your studies and preparation over two years, record the dates for both years at the same time. A simple table is enough. Update the entries as soon as the examination office publishes new dates, and always note the date of the source.
| Identifier | Month per source | Registration deadline per source | Status of source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2 | September | Four months before the examination begins | Enter the publication date |
| Next date | Take the month from the source | Take the deadline from the source | Enter the retrieval date |
Assumption: you want to sit the examination in September, and the four-month rule applies to your date. Then the registration deadline ends roughly in May, four months before the examination begins. Whether the exact start day is fixed only becomes clear from the summons or the examination office’s publication. Plan therefore with the month and a buffer, not with a single day.
Planning becomes easier when you link the registration deadline to other milestones, such as completing the university examination or the deadline for the certificate. Then you see at a glance which step comes first and which date limits it.
Related guides
- Staatsexamen und Referendariat: Reformen, Fristen und Regeln im Überblick (in German)
- Zulassung zum Staatsexamen: Fristen, Unterlagen und Anmeldung (in German)
- Freiversuch im Staatsexamen: Was zählt und welche Fristen gelten (in German)
- Staatsexamen wiederholen: Wie viele Versuche du hast (in German)
Sources: Information on the First Legal State Examination, Bavarian state examination office (German), undated, with dates 2026/1 and 2026/2, retrieved November 2026.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
