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Arizona Notary Exam Explained (2026): Requirements, Bond, Fees & 10 Practice Questions

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

How to become an Arizona notary public, explained from azsos.gov (Arizona Secretary of State, Business Services Division) and the October 2026 Arizona Notary Public Reference Manual, as of October 2026. Yes, Arizona now has a state exam: since July 1, 2025 (A.R.S. 41-270) every new and renewing notary must pass it. Register with Pearson first for a candidate ID; the exam is 45 multiple-choice questions from the 2026 manual in 60 minutes, $35 per attempt, online or at a Pearson test center, 80% to pass (36 of 45). It's open book only in the sense that the manual is built into the exam; no printed copy allowed. Three attempts, then a 30-day wait; a pass is good for 90 days. Eligibility (A.R.S. 41-269): 18+, U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, Arizona resident for income tax purposes, able to read, write and understand English, not disqualified under 41-271 (azsos.gov: no felony unless civil rights restored), and keep the manual. Buy a 4-year $5,000 surety bond from a licensed surety (oath of office on the bond, notarized), then print, sign and send the web application with the original bond and the $43 fee ($25 application + $18 bond filing); processing 4 to 6 weeks. Commission: 4 years. Seal: rubber stamp, dark ink, max 1.5 x 2.5 in or 1.5 in round, with your name, county, expiration date, commission number and the Great Seal of Arizona; one seal only. Paper journal kept at least 5 years; since September 12, 2026 (SB 1479) the signer's right thumbprint is required for deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, other real property documents and powers of attorney. Lost or stolen seal or journal: notify within 10 days or a $1,000 civil penalty. Address or surname change: 30 days. Fees: no charge up to $10 per notary signature (R2-12-1102), mileage at the state rate, post your fee schedule; overcharging is a class 5 felony. Remote online notary: must already be commissioned, no extra fee or bond, apply with your technology vendor, be physically in Arizona, keep the audio-video recording 5 years, same $10 cap. What notaries can't do (A.R.S. 41-273): practice law, act as an immigration consultant, use 'notario' or 'notario publico', or notarize where you or your spouse is a party. Then 10 original practice questions with answers, each checked against the manual and rules. For 50 more general notary questions, watch our notary exam practice test. Study plan is our own suggestion. Independent guide, not affiliated with the Arizona Secretary of State.

Full guide
Notary exam practice test: 50 questions (video)
New York notary exam explained (video)
Free notary public 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
0:58 What an Arizona Notary Does
1:36 Who Can Apply
2:19 The Notary Exam
3:09 Application, Bond and Fees
4:17 Your Seal and Journal
5:35 Fees and ID
6:15 Remote Online Notary
7:02 What Notaries Can't Do
8:05 How to Study
8:44 Practice Questions, Part One
10:15 Practice Questions, Part Two
12:01 Recap

Exam facts are from the official Arizona Secretary of State, Business Services Division 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 Arizona Secretary of State. Practice questions are not from a real exam. Narration is an AI-generated voice.

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

"Friday Morning" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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"Carefree" 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
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Sound effects: Kenney (kenney.nl), CC0.

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