- The exam has 50 multiple-choice questions plus two ethics essays and two consumer-subspecialty essays.
- You need at least 30 of 50 correct (60%) on the multiple-choice portion - a section threshold, not the overall pass mark.
- Application fee is $495, exam fee is $175, and in-office proctoring adds $200.
- Recertification is due June 30 of the expiration year; a late window (July 1-31) adds a $250 fee.
Quick Facts Snapshot
This cheat sheet condenses everything a candidate preparing for the ABC Consumer Bankruptcy Law examination needs to keep in working memory during the final stretch of study. It is not a substitute for full preparation - for that, work through the Consumer Bankruptcy Law Study Guide 2026 - but it is the page to keep open while you review.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Administering body | American Board of Certification (ABC) |
| Prep resource provider | American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) |
| Multiple-choice section | 50 questions, 2 hours |
| Ethics essays | 2 answered of 3 prompts, 1 hour |
| Consumer subspecialty essays | 2 answered of 3 prompts, 3 hours |
| MC passing threshold | 30/50 correct (60%) |
| Application fee | $495 |
| Examination fee | $175 |
| In-office proctoring add-on | $200 |
| Annual fee | $350 |
| Recertification fee | $350 |
The Three Exam Components
ABC's published examination structure is organized around three components - referred to on the official materials as "Domain" lines. These are the published components of the exam itself, not weighted subject-matter domains, so don't treat them as a percentage breakdown of content emphasis. A full breakdown of what each one actually tests lives in the Exam Domains 2026 guide, but here is the condensed version.
Domain 1: General Bankruptcy Multiple Choice
Fifty questions answered in two hours. This is the section with an explicit numeric passing threshold, so it deserves disciplined, timed practice rather than open-ended reading.
- Requires at least 30 correct answers (60%) to clear this section
- Broad coverage of bankruptcy code and procedure rather than a single narrow topic
- Best rehearsed with timed question sets, not passive review
Domain 2: General Bankruptcy Ethics Essay
Candidates select and answer two of three ethics prompts in one hour. Essay answers need to be structured and complete within a tight time budget - outline first, write second.
- Choice of 2 from 3 prompts means you can skip your weakest fact pattern
- One hour total means roughly 30 minutes per essay if split evenly
- Precision on professional-responsibility rules matters more than length
Domain 3: Consumer Subspecialty Essay
Candidates select and answer two of three consumer-subspecialty prompts, with three hours allotted - the longest single block of the exam day.
- This section is where deep consumer-practice knowledge is demonstrated
- Three hours allows for more developed analysis than the ethics section
- ABI also provides additional review time beyond the core section clocks
Fee Schedule at a Glance
ABC's published fee schedule (headed January 2024) lists distinct line items for each stage of the process. A full walkthrough with context is available in the Certification Cost breakdown, but the raw numbers are:
- Application fee: $495
- Examination fee: $175
- In-office proctoring: additional $200
- Annual fee: $350
- Recertification fee: $350
Budget for these separately - the application and examination fees are not bundled, and proctoring is an add-on rather than a default inclusion.
Eligibility Checklist
Before you can sit for the exam, ABC requires evidence of a genuine consumer bankruptcy practice. The detailed rules are covered in the Requirements guide, but the checklist form is:
- Substantial specialty involvement in consumer bankruptcy matters
- 60 hours of bankruptcy-related CLE completed in the preceding 36 months
- Nine lawyer references supporting the application
Key Takeaway
Start collecting your nine lawyer references early - this is often the slowest-moving eligibility item, not the CLE hours.
Scoring & Passing Standard
The only published numeric threshold applies to the multiple-choice section: candidates need at least 30 of 50 correct answers, or 60%, to clear that portion. This is explicitly a section-level requirement, not a stated overall examination passing percentage. The essay sections are graded separately, and ABC's FAQ reports an organization-wide pass-rate range of 75%-80% - a figure describing the organization's overall results, not a Consumer Bankruptcy-specific or 2026 cohort statistic. For a deeper discussion of what these numbers do and don't tell you, see the Pass Rate data page and the Passing Score breakdown.
Recertification Timeline
Recertification follows a fixed calendar rather than an exam retake. According to ABC's linked fee schedule, initial recertification comes after four years, with five-year intervals following that. Applications are due June 30 of the expiration year, and a late submission window of July 1-31 adds a $250 late fee on top of the standard $350 recertification fee. Recertification does not require sitting for another examination.
- First cycle: four years after initial certification
- Subsequent cycles: every five years
- Deadline: June 30 of the expiration year
- Late window: July 1-31, plus $250 late fee
- Exam requirement: none for recertification
For exact dates and how they interact with the initial exam calendar, check the Exam Dates guide.
A Compressed Final-Week Plan
In the final stretch before test day, allocate remaining hours by section rather than trying to touch everything equally. This isn't a generic study calendar - it's built around the actual time budgets of Domain 1, 2, and 3.
Multiple-Choice Drilling
- Run timed 50-question sets to build stamina for the two-hour block
- Track your score against the 30/50 threshold, not just overall accuracy
Ethics Essay Reps
- Practice answering two of three prompts inside a one-hour window
- Focus on rule identification speed since time per essay is short
Consumer Subspecialty Essays
- Use the fuller three-hour block to practice deeper issue-spotting
- Compare your answers against the official exam index and sample exams
Full Simulation
- Sit a complete mock exam in one sitting: 2 hours MC, 1 hour ethics, 3 hours consumer essays
- Review weak spots against current Bankruptcy Code and Rules
Use spaced review sessions for the multiple-choice content bank throughout, since that section rewards recall speed the most. For a fuller methodology tied to each domain, the Study Guide goes further than a one-page summary can.
Who Values This Credential
Consumer bankruptcy attorneys pursue ABC certification to signal depth in a specific, high-volume area of practice - representing individual debtors and creditors in consumer bankruptcy filings. It's commonly relevant for solo and small-firm practitioners building a consumer-focused caseload, as well as attorneys at firms that want a recognized, board-level distinction to present to referral sources and clients. For a broader look at how the credential fits into a legal career, see Consumer Bankruptcy Law Jobs and Is It Worth It?. If you're still confirming what the credential actually covers before committing time and fees, start with What Is Consumer Bankruptcy Law? or the plain-language Consumer Bankruptcy Law Meaning explainer.
Before diving into full-length practice, it helps to run a few sets on the main practice test site to calibrate your baseline against the 60% multiple-choice threshold. Returning to the practice platform periodically as you move through each study week keeps your section-specific timing honest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Four total: two ethics essays chosen from three prompts, and two consumer-subspecialty essays chosen from three prompts.
No. The 60% (30 of 50 correct) threshold applies specifically to the multiple-choice section. It is not described as an overall examination passing percentage.
No. Recertification does not require an examination, though it does require submitting the recertification application by the June 30 deadline and paying the associated fee.
A submission window from July 1-31 remains available, but it adds a $250 late fee on top of the standard $350 recertification fee.
An additional $200 beyond the $175 examination fee and $495 application fee, per ABC's published fee schedule.