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California notary exam

California Notary Exam Practice Test

Junaid KhalidResearched and edited by Junaid KhalidUpdated Every answer quotes the law

Quick answer

The California notary exam practice test below has 20 multiple-choice questions written from the Secretary of State's 2026 Notary Public Handbook, the booklet every real exam question must be based on. The real exam needs a score of 70 to pass and costs $40 with the application, after a required six-hour approved course.

70score needed to pass[1]
$40exam and application fee, no cash[1]
6 hoursapproved course before your first commission[2]
1 yearhow long exam results stay valid[2]

Practice test

20 questions on California notary law

The test covers 20 rules from the 2026 handbook, from the seal, journal and ID rules to fees, conflicts of interest and signature by mark. Pick an answer to see if you are right, why, and the exact line of law it tests. Study mode shows each answer as you go. Exam mode holds them until you finish.

0 of 20 answered0 correct
  1. Qualifications1What is the minimum age to be appointed a California notary public?
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Government Code 8201 requires applicants to be at least 18, a legal California resident, course-trained, exam-passed and background-checked.

    Be at least 18 years of age;
  2. Qualifications2How long is the approved course a first-time California notary applicant must complete?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. All applicants must complete a six-hour course approved by the Secretary of State before appointment.

    All persons are required to take and satisfactorily complete a six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State prior to appointment as a notary public.
  3. Oath and bond3After the commission is issued, how long does a new California notary have to file the oath of office and bond with the county clerk?
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. The oath of office and the bond must be filed with the county clerk within 30 calendar days from the beginning of the term in the commission.

    a person has 30 calendar days from the beginning of the term prescribed in the commission to take, subscribe, and file an oath of office
  4. Oath and bond4What is the amount of the official bond every California notary must file?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. California requires a $15,000 notary bond, filed with the oath in the county of the notary's principal place of business.

    California law requires every notary public to file an official bond in the amount of $15,000.
  5. Jurisdiction5A notary filed her oath and bond in Sacramento County. Where may she notarize?
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A California notary may provide notarial services throughout the state, not only in the county where the oath and bond were filed.

    A notary public can provide notarial services throughout the State of California.
  6. Seal6Which statement about the California notary seal is correct?
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Every California notary must have and use a seal that is photographically reproducible. An embosser may be used in addition to the inked stamp.

    Each notary public is required to have and to use a seal.
  7. Seal7A notary quits her job. Her employer paid for her seal and asks her to leave it behind. What must she do?
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. The seal stays under the notary's direct and exclusive control and must not go to an employer, whether or not the employer paid for it.

    must not be surrendered to an employer upon termination of employment, whether or not the employer paid for the seal
  8. Identification8A signer shows a California driver's license that expired 3 years ago, issued 7 years ago. May the notary rely on it?
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. A California DMV card or license, or a U.S. passport, may be relied on if it is current or was issued within 5 years. This one is neither.

    provided it is current or was issued within 5 years
  9. Journal9How many active sequential journals may a California notary keep at one time?
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. A California notary keeps one active sequential journal at a time, locked and under the notary's direct and exclusive control.

    A notary public is required to keep one active sequential journal at a time of all acts performed as a notary public.
  10. Journal10A signer acknowledges a grant deed. What extra journal entry does California require?
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. For deeds, deeds of trust, other real property documents and powers of attorney, the signer places a right thumbprint in the journal, or another finger if needed.

    the notary public shall require the party signing the document to place their right thumbprint in the journal.
  11. Conflict of interest11A notary is named as the grantee on a grant deed her mother is signing. May she notarize her mother's signature?
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. Notarizing for relatives is allowed unless the notary gets a direct financial or beneficial interest. Being named grantee is such an interest.

    If a notary public is named, individually, as any of the following to a real property transaction: beneficiary, grantor, grantee
  12. Acknowledgments12A California certificate of acknowledgment is executed under:
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. The acknowledgment certificate is signed under penalty of perjury and must be completely filled out when the signature and seal are affixed.

    The certificate of acknowledgment is executed under penalty of perjury.
  13. Acknowledgments13A notary's longtime friend mails her a signed deed and asks her to acknowledge it. What is correct?
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. An acknowledgment cannot be completed for a mailed document when the signer did not personally appear, even if the notary knows the signer.

    An acknowledgment cannot be affixed to a document mailed or otherwise delivered to a notary public whereby the signer did not personally appear before the notary public, even if the signer is known by the notary public.
  14. Jurats14Which is required for a California jurat but NOT for an acknowledgment?
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. For a jurat, the signer signs in front of the notary and takes an oath or affirmation. For an acknowledgment, the signer may have signed beforehand.

    That the signer signed the document in the presence of the notary public;
  15. Signature by mark15A signer who cannot write signs by mark. How many witnesses must sign the document?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Two people witness the mark and sign their own names as witnesses. One writes the signer's name next to the mark.

    The signer's mark must be witnessed by two persons who must subscribe their own names as witnesses on the document.
  16. Prohibited acts16A document presented for notarization has blank spaces that are clearly meant to be filled in. What must the notary do?
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. If a document is incomplete on its face or known to be incomplete, the notary must refuse to notarize it.

    the notary public must refuse to notarize the document.
  17. Advertising17May a California notary advertise as a notario publico if the required not-an-attorney notice is also posted?
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. The translation is barred even when the prescribed notice is posted. A first offense can lead to suspension or revocation.

    a notary public may not translate into Spanish the term "Notary Public," defined as "notario publico" or "notario," even if the prescribed notice also is posted.
  18. Fees18Two people sign one deed and both acknowledge it. What is the maximum total acknowledgment fee in California?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. The acknowledgment fee is up to $15 for each signature taken, so two signatures is up to $30.

    the sum of fifteen dollars ($15) for each signature taken.
  19. Change of address19A California notary moves her business address. Within how many days must she notify the Secretary of State?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Notice of an address change is due within 30 days. Willful failure is an infraction with a fine of up to $500.

    within 30 days. Willful failure to notify the Secretary of State of a change of address is punishable as an infraction by a fine of not more than $500.
  20. Remote and electronic20Under current California law as described in the 2026 handbook, does a signer appearing by live video satisfy personal appearance?
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Under current California law the signer must be physically present before the notary. A video image does not count as a personal appearance.

    A video image or other form of non-physical representation is not a personal appearance in front of a notary public under California State law.
Your answers stay in this browser only.

These 20 questions come from a bank of 48 California questions. The full pack adds the other 28, plus the complete New York bank, as a printable PDF too.

Get the full pack, $24

How the California exam works

California's exam is a written test prescribed by the Secretary of State, run by CPS HR Consulting, with every question based on the handbook's law. These rules come from the Secretary of State's exam page and its 2026 Notary Public Handbook.

What the official source saysExact wording
A score of 70 or more is needed to pass.A score of 70 or more is required to pass the exam.[1]
The exam and application processing fee is $40, or $20 to retake after a fail. Check or money order only.The $40.00 exam and application processing fee (or $20.00 exam fee for applicants who previously took the exam and failed).[1]
Results arrive by mail from CPS HR Consulting about 15 business days later.Exam results will be available 15 business days after the examination. CPS HR Consulting will mail the exam results to applicants.[1]
You may retake it, but not more than once in the same calendar month.The examination may be re-taken, but may not be taken more than once in the same calendar month.[1]
Bring photo ID, the application, a 2 inch by 2 inch color passport photo, your course certificate and your registration confirmation letter.The Proof of Completion certificate of your six-hour or three-hour approved education course; The registration confirmation letter; and[1]
To be appointed you must complete a six-hour approved course and pass a written exam prescribed by the Secretary of State.Pass a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State; and[2]
Every exam question is based on the law in the Secretary of State's notary booklet.All questions shall be based on the law of this state as set forth in the booklet of the laws of California relating to notaries public distributed by the Secretary of State.[2]
Exam results are valid for one year.Test results are valid for one year from the date of the examination.[2]
Bring your application, a 2 inch by 2 inch color passport photo and your course certificate to the exam site.staple your proof of completion certificate to the application and take both items with you to the exam.[2]
Applicants who pass are fingerprinted for a background check.Information concerning the fingerprinting requirements will be mailed to applicants who pass the examination.[2]

What the exam covers

Government Code 8201 says every exam question is based on the law in the Secretary of State's notary booklet. Our California bank follows the 2026 handbook, grouped by topic:

TopicQuestions in our bank
Qualifications4
Oath and bond3
Jurisdiction2
Seal4
Identification3
Journal7
Conflict of interest2
Acknowledgments4
Jurats3
Subscribing witness1
Signature by mark1
Certified copies1
Prohibited acts2
Advertising1
Fees5
Change of address1
Communication1
Remote and electronic1
Term and exam2

New to the rules? Read the California notary guide for the commission steps, fees and journal rules, then come back to the test.

How to study for the exam

Take the approved course, then drill the handbook. Approved six-hour courses include all the material the Secretary of State expects you to know for the written exam, and the Secretary of State recommends reviewing the handbook before you test.[2]

  1. Finish the six-hour approved course.The Secretary of State keeps the list of approved education vendors.
  2. Read the handbook's general information section.Seal, identification, journal, acknowledgment, jurat and fee rules carry most of the detail.
  3. Take the practice test in study mode.Read the quoted handbook line under every question you miss.
  4. Memorize the numbers.The table below lists the ones in our bank.
  5. Retake in exam mode, then sit the exam.Bring your application, a 2 inch by 2 inch color passport photo and your course certificate to the exam site.[2]

Numbers to memorize

The numbers that come up most are the $15 per-signature fee cap, the $15,000 bond, the 30-day filing deadline and the 5-year ID rule. Every number in this table comes from the Secretary of State's 2026 Notary Public Handbook and the Government Code sections it reprints.[2]

RuleNumber
Minimum age18
Course, first commission or after a lapse6 hours
Refresher course, renewal before expiry3 hours
Commission term4 years
Bond$15,000
Deadline to file oath and bond30 calendar days
Acknowledgment fee$15 per signature
Oath or affirmation with jurat$15
Deposition$30, plus $7 for the oath and $7 for the certificate
Certified copy of a power of attorney$15
Immigration forms, non-attorney notary$15 per set
ID age limit for a California license or US passportCurrent or issued within 5 years
Reply to a written request for a journal copy15 business days, 30 cents per page
Notice of a change of address30 days
Delivering journals after the commission ends30 days, to the county clerk
Circular seal sizeUp to 2 inches across
Civil penalty for a false acknowledgmentUp to $10,000

Rules test takers often get wrong

The rules people miss are about control and identity: the seal and journal stay under your exclusive control, thumbprints are required for real property documents, and credible witnesses follow strict rules.[2]

  • You must keep one active sequential journal at a time, locked and under your direct and exclusive control.[2]
  • Deeds, deeds of trust, other real property documents and powers of attorney need the signer's right thumbprint in the journal.[2]
  • The seal and journal belong to you, not your employer, even if the employer paid for them.[2]
  • A single credible witness works only if you personally know the witness. Two credible witnesses are used when you do not.[2]
  • You may not translate Notary Public into Spanish as notario publico or notario, even with the required notice posted.[2]
  • A live video call is not a personal appearance under current California law.[2]

How we built this test

We read the January 2026 Notary Public Handbook on October 7, 2026 and wrote 48 original questions from it. None are copied from course sellers, apps, flashcard sites or the Secretary of State's sample workbook.[2]

Each question stores the verbatim handbook line it tests. We matched every quote against the handbook text word for word, then checked every answer key against its quote twice: once by hand and once with an automated consistency check. That review flagged seven questions. We tightened their quotes or explanations, and no answer key changed.

Twenty questions appear in the practice test above. When the Secretary of State publishes a new handbook, we update the questions and the date at the top of this page.

Read the law behind the questions

The handbook reprints these Government Code sections. The California Legislature publishes the current text of each one:

  • Government Code 8201: qualifications, the course and the written exam.[3]
  • Government Code 8204: the 4-year term.[4]
  • Government Code 8206: the sequential journal and thumbprints.[5]
  • Government Code 8207: the seal.[6]
  • Government Code 8211: maximum fees.[7]
  • Government Code 8212: the $15,000 bond.[8]

For the full commission steps, see the Secretary of State's notary qualifications page and our California notary guide.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the CA notary exam?

The Secretary of State does not publish a question count on its exam page or in the 2026 handbook. It does say you need a score of 70 or more to pass, that results arrive by mail about 15 business days later, and that every question is based on the law in the handbook.

What score do you need to pass the California notary exam?

A score of 70 or more. CPS HR Consulting mails the results about 15 business days after the exam. If you score under 70, you get a fail notice with a retake voucher, the retake fee is $20, and you may not test more than once in the same calendar month.

Is the CA notary test hard?

It tests precise detail. Every question comes from the handbook's law, and much of it is numbers and procedures: $15 per signature, a $15,000 bond, 30 days to file, thumbprints for real property documents and powers of attorney. The six-hour course plus practice with handbook-sourced questions covers it.

Does it cost $10,000 to become a notary?

No. California requires a $15,000 bond, but that is the amount of protection the bond provides, not a price you pay. The bonding company sets the premium. Your other costs are the approved course, the exam and application, fingerprinting and a seal.

How much do notaries get paid in CA?

California caps what a notary may charge, not what a notary earns. The maximum is $15 per signature for an acknowledgment and $15 for an oath with a jurat. A notary may charge less or nothing, and travel fees should be entered separately in the journal.

How long are California notary exam results valid?

One year from the date of the examination. If you are renewing, the Secretary of State suggests taking the exam at least six months before your current commission expires to avoid a gap.

Do I have to retake the six-hour course to renew?

Not if you apply before your current commission expires. A notary who has completed the six-hour course once may take the three-hour refresher instead. If your commission has already expired, you need the six-hour course again.

Sources

Every number on this page comes from one of these official pages. We read them on October 7, 2026.

  1. Take the Exam (California Secretary of State). sos.ca.gov
  2. 2026 Notary Public Handbook (California Secretary of State). notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov
  3. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  4. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  5. California Government Code 8206 (journal). leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  6. Buy your seal and journal. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  7. California Government Code 8211. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  8. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Junaid Khalid
Junaid Khalid

Junaid edits mobilenotarylist.com. He has read and quoted the notary fee law for all 50 states and DC, and wrote the practice exams from the official New York and California study materials. He is not a notary or a lawyer, so every rule here is quoted and linked to its source, and you can check every number yourself. How we check facts.

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