California Notary Exam Explained (2026): Requirements, Fees & 10 Practice Questions
Chapters
- The Short Answer
- What a California Notary Does
- Who Can Apply
- The Seven Steps
- The Exam
- Exam Day and Results
- Costs and Time
- The Seal, Journal and I D
- What Notaries Can't Do
- How to Study
- Practice Questions, Part One
- Practice Questions, Part Two
- Recap
Audio from the Open Exam Hub video of the same name; the video shows the numbers and practice questions on screen.
The California notary public exam and commission, explained from the California Secretary of State (sos.ca.gov/notary) and the 2026 Notary Public Handbook, as of October 2026. To qualify you must be 18 or older, a legal California resident, complete a Secretary of State approved six-hour course (a three-hour refresher if you are a current notary applying before your commission expires), pass the written exam and pass a fingerprint background check; all convictions, even dismissed ones, must be disclosed. The exam is administered by CPS HR Consulting: 45 multiple-choice questions (40 scored, 5 unscored), 1 hour, closed book, and a scaled score of at least 70 on a 0-100 scale, which is not the same as 70 percent correct. CPS HR publishes the spread of the 40 scored questions: misconduct and fees 15, notarial acts and documentation 12, administrative procedures 5, identification and subscribing witnesses 4, immigration and foreign language 4. The exam and application processing fee is $40 ($20 for a retake), paid by check or money order to the Secretary of State (no cash). You may test once per calendar month; results are mailed about 15 business days later and are valid for one year. After you pass: Live Scan fingerprints (the Secretary of State does not quote the fee; check with the Live Scan site), a $15,000 surety bond, and an oath filed with your county clerk within 30 calendar days of the start of your commission or the commission is void. A commission lasts four years and is valid statewide. Maximum notary fees: $15 per signature for an acknowledgment and $15 for a jurat. California does not currently allow remote online notarization by video. Course, bond premium, seal and journal prices vary and are not quoted here. Then 10 original practice questions, each checked against the Handbook. Study plan is our own suggestion. Independent guide, not affiliated with the California Secretary of State.
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Chapters
0:00 The Short Answer
0:58 What a California Notary Does
1:35 Who Can Apply
2:15 The Seven Steps
2:55 The Exam
3:46 Exam Day and Results
4:32 Costs and Time
5:26 The Seal, Journal and I D
6:24 What Notaries Can't Do
7:27 How to Study
8:04 Practice Questions, Part One
9:59 Practice Questions, Part Two
11:54 Recap
Exam facts are from the official California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section pages as of 2026-10-25. 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 California Secretary 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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