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New York Notary Exam Explained (2026): Format, Fees, Requirements & 10 Practice Questions

Audio from the Open Exam Hub video of the same name; the video shows the numbers and practice questions on screen.

The New York State notary public exam and commission, explained from dos.ny.gov (NY Department of State, Division of Licensing Services) and the Notary Public License Law booklet (September 2026 edition), as of October 2026. The exam is a 1-hour, multiple-choice, in-person test; the $15 fee is paid at the exam (check, money order, Visa or Mastercard, no cash). Outside NYC exams are walk-in, first come first served; in New York City you schedule by email with the DOS exam unit. Bring a current government photo ID with signature and two #2 pencils. Results are reported only as pass or fail, by mail, and a pass is valid for 2 years. The Department does not publish a question count or passing score; the 40 questions / 70% you see on study sites is unofficial. Eligibility: 18 or older, NY resident or NY office/business, good moral character, common school education; NY attorneys and certain court clerks skip the exam. Apply online through NY Business Express with your pass slip, a notarized oath of office and the $60 fee ($40 appointment + $20 county clerk filing); DOS sends your commission, oath and signature to your county clerk. A commission lasts 4 years and is valid statewide; renewal is $60 (apply within 90 days before expiration); name/address change $10; report changes within 5 days. Notary fees: $2 per oath, $2 per person for an acknowledgment or proof, $2 for swearing a witness, 75 cents per protest. Since January 2023 every notary keeps records of each act for at least 10 years. Electronic notaries (Executive Law 135-c, registration $60) must be physically in New York, keep the audio-video recording 10 years, and may charge up to $25 per electronic act. What notaries can't do: practice law, give legal advice, draft wills or deeds, split fees with lawyers, use terms like abogado, notarize where they have a financial interest, perform marriages, or issue certified copies. Then 10 original practice questions with answers, each checked against the License Law and 19 NYCRR Part 182. For 50 more general notary questions, watch our notary exam practice test. Study plan is our own suggestion. Independent guide, not affiliated with the New York Department of State.

Full guide
Notary exam practice test: 50 questions (video)
Free New York notary practice questions
Notary public study plan
Notary public cheat sheet
Free practice questions, study guides and cheat sheets, no signup

Chapters
0:00 The Short Answer
1:00 What a NY Notary Does
1:36 Who Can Apply
2:18 Exam Day
3:15 Scoring and Results
3:39 Fees and Applying
4:38 Fees, ID and the Journal
5:48 Electronic Notarization
6:32 What Notaries Can't Do
7:39 How to Study
8:25 Practice Questions, Part One
10:09 Practice Questions, Part Two
12:02 Recap

Exam facts are from the official New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services pages as of 2026-10-23. Fees and rules can change, so confirm on the official site before you enroll. Open Exam Hub is an independent study resource, not affiliated with the New York Department of State. Practice questions are not from a real exam. Narration is an AI-generated voice.

Music
"Friday Morning" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

"Fresh Air" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

"Reminiscing" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

"Carefree" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Sound effects: Kenney (kenney.nl), CC0.

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